Smith-Bybee Lakes and Columbia Slough, COA 056

VIEW DATA LAYERS IN COMPASS

Smith-Bybee Lakes and Columbia Slough area — Photo Credit: Elizabeth Ruther, ODFW

Smith-Bybee Lakes is located north of Portland, adjacent to the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers. The Columbia Slough flows out of Fairview Lake north of the City of Fairview, westward through a series of regulated levees to Bybee Lake. Area includes the former St. Johns landfill.

COA ID: 056

Recommended Conservation Actions

Control invasive plants and animals.
Expand Columbia Sedge meadow at Smith and Bybee Wetlands Natural Area
Identify movement barriers and improve fish and wildlife passage.
Improve riparian habitat conditions.
Manage the former St. Johns Landfill for grassland associated species and turtle nesting habitat.
Manage water levels to benefit fish, migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, amphibians, and turtles.
Promote beaver activity to improve wetland values and functions.
Protect and enhance habitat for turtles, in particular nesting and basking habitats.
Protect and improve quality of surface water and ground water.
Reduce human disturbance to protect fish and wildlife habitat.
Restore natural hydrology and stream conditions where feasible.

Local Conservation Actions and Plans

Potential Partners

Special Features

General

Largest known remaining population of western painted turtles in the state.

Previously Associated With

2006 COA ID WV-04 (Smith-Bybee Lakes)

Ecoregions

Finley Muddy Creek Area

Willamette Valley

The Willamette Valley ecoregion is bounded on the west by the Coast Range and on the east by the Cascade Range. This long mostly level alluvial plain has some scattered areas of low basalt, and contrasts with productive farmland and large urban areas. It has the fastest-growing human population in the state resulting in challenges due to land-use changes.

Strategy Habitats

Scott Lake is an example of the Oregon Conservation Strategy Natural Lakes Strategy Habitat.

Natural Lakes

Natural lakes are relatively large bodies of freshwater surrounded by land. For the purposes of the Conservation Strategy, natural lakes are defined as standing water bodies larger than 20 acres, including some seasonal lakes.

Example of Oak Woodlands, which is a Strategy Habitat within the Oregon Conservation Strategy

Oak Woodlands

Oak woodlands are characterized by an open canopy dominated by Oregon white oak.

Flowing Water and Riparian Habitats

Flowing Water and Riparian Habitats include all naturally occurring flowing freshwater streams and rivers throughout Oregon as well as the adjacent riparian habitat.

Ducks on a wetland in Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area, Oregon

Wetlands

Wetlands are covered with water during all or part of the year. Permanently wet habitats include backwater sloughs, oxbow lakes, and marshes, while seasonally wet habitats include seasonal ponds, vernal pools, and wet prairies.

Specialized Local Habitats

Bottomland hardwood forests
Columbia sedge meadows
Mudflats
Off-channel habitats
Shoreline and sandy beach
Upland prairie

Strategy Species

Acorn Woodpecker (Observed)

Melanerpes formicivorus

California Floater Freshwater Mussel (Observed)

Anodonta californiensis

California Myotis on tree

California Myotis (Modeled Habitat)

Myotis californicus

Cascade Torrent Salamander

Cascade Torrent Salamander (Modeled Habitat)

Rhyacotriton cascadae

Chinook Salmon - Spring/Summer Run

Chinook Salmon (Documented)

Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

Chipping Sparrow (Observed)

Spizella passerina

Chum Salmon

Chum Salmon (Documented)

Oncorhynchus keta

Clouded Salamander

Clouded Salamander (Modeled Habitat)

Aneides ferreus

Coastal Cutthroat Trout (Documented)

Oncorhynchus clarki clarki

Coho Salmon (Documented)

Oncorhynchus kisutch

Common Nighthawk (Modeled Habitat)

Chordeiles minor

Fringed Myotis (Modeled Habitat)

Myotis thysanodes

Hoary Bat (Modeled Habitat)

Lasiurus cinereus

Northern Red-legged Frog (Observed)

Rana aurora

Olive-sided Flycatcher (Observed)

Contopus cooperi

Oregon Slender Salamander (Modeled Habitat)

Batrachoseps wrighti

Oregon Vesper Sparrow

Oregon Vesper Sparrow (Modeled Habitat)

Pooecetes gramineus affinis

Purple Martin (Observed)

Progne subis arboricola

Short-eared Owl (Observed)

Asio flammeus flammeus

Silver-haired Bat (Observed)

Lasionycteris noctivagans

Streaked Horned Lark

Streaked Horned Lark (Observed)

Eremophila alpestris strigata

Steelhead / Rainbow / Redband Trout (Documented)

Oncorhynchus mykiss ssp

Townsend's Big-eared Bat

Townsend’s Big-eared Bat (Modeled Habitat)

Corynorhinus townsendii

Western Bluebird (Observed)

Sialia mexicana

Western Gray Squirrel (Modeled Habitat)

Sciurus griseus

Western Meadowlark (Observed)

Sturnella neglecta

Western Painted Turtle on a log

Western Painted Turtle (Observed)

Chrysemys picta bellii

Northwestern Pond Turtle (Observed)

Actinemys marmorata

White-breasted Nuthatch (Observed)

Sitta carolinensis aculeata

Willow Flycatcher

Willow Flycatcher (Observed)

Empidonax traillii

Winged Floater Freshwater Mussel (Observed)

Anodonta nuttalliana

Yellow-breasted Chat (Observed)

Icteria virens auricollis