Salmon Creek (Clark County, Washington) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Salmon Creek |
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 Location of the mouth of Salmon Creek in Washington
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Clark |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Elkhorn Mountain 1,638 ft (499 m) 45°44′33″N 122°22′55″W / 45.74250°N 122.38194°W |
| River mouth | Lake River near Vancouver Lake 10 ft (3.0 m) 45°43′31″N 122°44′05″W / 45.72528°N 122.73472°W |
| Length | 26 mi (42 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 89 sq mi (230 km2) |
Salmon Creek is a river in Washington. It is about 26-mile (42 km) long. The creek flows through Clark County. It starts high up on Elkhorn Mountain.
As it flows, Salmon Creek passes through forests and farms. It also goes through neighborhoods and city areas. Finally, it flows into Lake River. Lake River then joins the big Columbia River. Many smaller streams also flow into Salmon Creek. These include Mill, Woodin, Rock, Morgan, and Curtin creeks.
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Why is it called Salmon Creek?
Salmon Creek got its name because of the fish. Early pioneers who settled here saw many salmon in the stream. This is how the creek got its name.
There is also a community called Salmon Creek. It is named after the stream. A water treatment plant is also located along the lower part of the creek.
The Salmon Creek Area
Salmon Creek drains an area of land that is about 89 square miles (230 km2). This area is called its watershed. A watershed is all the land where water drains into a specific river or creek.
Near the start of the creek, the land is mostly forest. Further downstream, more buildings and cities are found. About 29 percent of the watershed is forest. Another 38 percent is fields and open land. The remaining 33 percent has been built up for city use.
Water Quality and Wildlife
The water quality in Salmon Creek changes along its path. It is good in the forested areas. But it can be very poor in the developed areas downstream.
Two main problems are high levels of harmful bacteria and cloudy water. Cloudy water is called turbidity. Even with these issues, many fish live in the creek. These include steelhead, coho salmon, and coastal cutthroat trout. They use about 43 miles (69 km) of the streams in the watershed.
Klineline Bridge Project
The Klineline Bridge carries Highway 99 over Salmon Creek. The first bridge was built in 1927. Over time, the creek wore away the bridge supports. Part of the bridge collapsed in 2007. Because of this, the bridge had to close.
A new bridge was built to replace it. Construction started in April 2008 and finished in September 2008. The new bridge has four lanes for cars. It also has special lanes for bicycles. There are sidewalks for people walking. Two viewing spots let people look at Salmon Creek. The county also improved the stream channel near the bridge. This helps salmon and steelhead fish move through the water better.
Fun Things to Do at Salmon Creek
Salmon Creek offers many fun activities. Klineline Pond and Battle Ground Lake are the biggest lakes in the area.
- Klineline Pond: At Salmon Creek Park, you can have picnics. You can also go fishing and swimming here. There are trails for hiking.
- Salmon Creek Greenway Trail: This trail follows the creek for about 3 miles (5 km). It connects Klineline Pond to Felida Bridge. Other trails connect to it, like Cougar Creek Trail.
- Battle Ground Lake State Park: This park is about 280-acre (110 ha) big. It is in the forest near the city of Battle Ground. You can camp here. The park has picnic spots and trails. There are also cabins to stay in. You can fish and launch a boat on Battle Ground Lake. The lake itself is about 28-acre (11 ha) large.
