What is the Hanford Reach?
The Hanford Reach is the last free-flowing stretch of the Columbia River in the United States. The Reach includes the river itself and lands on both sides of the river. It flows 51 miles from approximately Priest Rapids Dam to Richland, Washington, and provides the last significant fall chinook spawning habitat in the main stem river. The area also supports numerous species of birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians, including some recognized as species of concern by state and federal governments. The Reach shelters American Indian cultural resources and important archaeological sites. What kinds of habitat are found in the Hanford Reach? Three major kinds of habitats – aquatic, riparian, and upland – can be found in the Hanford Reach system. Aquatic habitats, covered with water most of the year, include the main channel of the Columbia River, near-shore, and backwater sloughs. Riparian habitat – a narrow strip of land near the water – includes cobble shorelines and islands. Riparian
