Government Island (Oregon)

Government Island (Oregon)

Government Island is a convert|1760|acre|km2|0|sing=on island in the Columbia River north of Portland, Oregon in Multnomah County. Though Interstate 205 passes over it on the Glenn L. Jackson Memorial Bridge, access to the island is only by boat. (Although there is a city controlled locked gate in the 205 fence) Government Island is known for its great blue heron colony cite web | title=Government Island |url=http://www.oregoniba.org/governmenti.htm| accessdate=2007-12-28] and the Government Island State Recreation Areacite web | title=Government Island State Recreation Area |url=http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_250.php| accessdate=2007-12-28] (primitive camping, beaches). The interior of the island, off limits to the public, contains a seasonal cattle ranch and protected natural areas, including Jewit Lake. There are also remnants of old pioneer buildings on the island. Camping is permitted below the vegetation line around the perimeter, and picnic tables and restrooms can be found in these areas as well. Many threatened or endangered wildlife species live on the island, including red-legged frog, bald eagle, peregrine falcon, pileated woodpecker, little willow flycatcher, olive-sided flycatcher, western meadowlark, horned grebe, red-necked grebe, bufflehead, purple martin, and possibly the endangered Columbian white-tailed deer.

According to "Oregon Geographic Names", Government Island was first visited by British explorer Broughton in 1792 and American explorers Lewis and Clark in 1805, and acquired its current name after being appropriated by the U.S. military (to grow hay) in 1850.

The island (except for convert|224|acre|km2|1 on the east side owned by Metro) is owned by the Port of Portland. The Port acquired the entire island (as well as adjacent Lemon Island and McGuire Island) in 1969 in order to expand nearby Portland International Airport. Though those plans have been abandoned, it continues to control the land to prevent any uses incompatible with its location under the airport's primary flight path. In 1999 the Port sold a small parcel of the island to Metro, and leased the remainder to the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department for 99 years.

References

External links

* [http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_250.php Government Island State Recreation Area]
* [http://www.portofportland.com/PDFPOP/Miti_Gvrnmnt_Is.pdf Government Island Management Plan] (Port of Portland, March 7, 2002)


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Oregon State Capitol — U.S. National Register of Historic Places …   Wikipedia

  • Oregon Zoo — The Oregon Zoo has the world s most successful elephant breeding program. Here are the females in the herd (from left to right): Chendra, Shine, Rose Tu. Chendra is the only Borneo Elephant in the United States, and Rose Tu is the only surviving… …   Wikipedia

  • Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge — IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area) Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach …   Wikipedia

  • Oregon Supreme Court — State Seal of Oregon Established 1841 Jurisdiction Oregon …   Wikipedia

  • Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area — IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape) …   Wikipedia

  • Oregon Badlands Wilderness — IUCN Category Ib (Wilderness Area) Oregon Badlands with sagebrush in bloom, Juniper trees, and proximity to Oregon …   Wikipedia

  • Oregon Steam Navigation Company — Fate stock bought by Oregon Railway and Navigation Company Successor Oregon Railway and Navigation Company …   Wikipedia

  • Oregon Lottery — logo The Oregon Lottery is run by the government of Oregon. It is a member of the Multi State Lottery Association (MUSL). Contents 1 History …   Wikipedia

  • Oregon Trail — For other uses, see Oregon Trail (disambiguation). Oregon Trail The route of the Oregon Trail shown on a map of the western United States from Independence, Missouri (on the eastern end) to Oregon City, Oregon (on the western end) …   Wikipedia

  • Oregon — This article is about the U.S. state of Oregon. For other uses, see Oregon (disambiguation). State of Oregon …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”