Hood River – State Wildlife Action Plan

Photo is needed for this COA. — Submit photos to: OCS.Revision@ODFW.Oregon.gov

The Hood River COA (40 mi²) extends from the confluence with the Columbia River upstream to where the river leaves the Mt Hood National Forest, and includes the floodplains and associated uplands of the lower Hood River. This COA is adjacent to the Mt Hood Area COA.

Recommended Conservation Actions

Work with partners to exclude livestock from riparian areas. Protect and restore riparian habitat / increase stream buffer widths.
Increase in-channel habitat complexity and in-stream flows.
Protect and enhance amphibian breeding sites.
Protect and expand Oregon white oak habitat and Ponderosa pine habitat.
Protect and restore wetlands; allow beaver to aid in wetland creation/restoration goals.
Reduce inputs of pesticides, fertilizers and other toxins to improve water quality.
Remove levees and armoring to reconnect floodplain habitats.

Local Conservation Actions and Plans

Potential Partners

Special Features

General

This area includes a portion of the East Fork Hood River designated as a Wild and Scenic River. It is fed by glacial streams coming off Mount Hood.
This is an important area for listed fish species, including two populations of bull trout.
This COA provides important habitat connectivity between Mount Hood and the Columbia River.
There is important habitat along this COA for numerous rare amphibian species.

Protected Areas

Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Eliot Park
Hood River Marine Park
Hood River, Middle Fork Wild and Scenic River
Mount Hood National Forest
Oak Grove Park
Panorama Point Park
Port Marina Park
Toll Bridge Park
Tucker Park

Previous COA Associations

Previously Associated with (2006 COA IDs)
- EC-01 (Hood River)
- WC-03 (Mt. Hood area)
Size Change from 2016 boundaries: +20.8 mi²(109% increase)

Specialized Local Habitats

Volcanic lava flows

Ecoregions

East Cascades

The East Cascade ecoregion extends from the Cascade Mountains' summit east to the warmer, drier high desert and down the length of the state. This ecoregion varies dramatically from its cool, moist border with the West Cascades ecoregion to its dry eastern border, where it meets sagebrush desert landscapes.

West Cascades

The West Cascades ecoregion extends from east of the Cascade Mountains summit to the foothills of the Willamette, Umpqua, and Rogue Valleys, and spans the entire length of the state of Oregon. It is largely dominated by conifer forests, moving into alpine parklands and dwarf shrubs at higher elevations.

Key Habitats

Grasslands

Grasslands include a variety of upland grass-dominated habitats, such as upland prairies, coastal bluffs, and montane grasslands.

Late Successional Mixed Conifer Forests

Late successional mixed conifer forests provide a multi-layered tree canopy, including large-diameter trees, shade-tolerant tree species in the understory, and a high volume of dead wood, such as snags and logs.

Example of Oak Woodlands, which is a Strategy Habitat within the State Wildlife Action Plan

Oak Habitats

There are several oak habitat types in Oregon, where oaks comprise most of the canopy. These can include oak woodlands, oak forest, oak chaparral, and riparian oak. Oak savanna is covered in the Grasslands Key Habitat. Oaks may also co-dominate a canopy in oak/fir, oak pine, and oak hardwood habitats.

Ponderosa Pine Woodlands

Ponderosa pine woodlands are common in Oregon’s eastside ecoregions. While dominated by ponderosa pine, these woodlands may also have lodgepole pine, western juniper, aspen, western larch, grand fir, Douglas-fir, mountain mahogany, incense cedar, sugar pine, or white fir, depending on ecoregion and site conditions. Known for their open forest structure, these woodlands generally have fewer …

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.