Rivers and Environs

Below are several maps that I created using the USGS's Gap Analysis program. You can access the site here: http://www.gap.uidaho.edu/species_data.html. Each map depicts an important river in the current literature on Salmon Conservation. I thought this would be a useful tool to get a feel for what the environments around these rivers are like, especially in the Pacific Northwest. Covered rivers include Cedar River (WA), Blue River (OR), Bristol Bay area (AK), Columbia River (OR/WA) and the Snoqualmie (WA). 

Legend for all Protected Areas Maps Below

Legend for all Land Cover Maps Below

Land Cover Map. The arrow here is pointing to Blue River in Oregon. Notice the large amounts of woodland surrounding t  this river system. This river traverses through relatively few miles of Developed areas. 

Protected Areas Map. This map is a bit askew, but you can see that there is not much by way of protected areas in the spawning grounds east of Eugene. The headwaters are near some USFS land, and small amounts of state trust land are also along the river.  

Land Cover Map. This is Bristol Bay, Alaska. You can see that in this area there is very little development. Most of the land is grassland (yellowish) with some woodland areas surrounding it (green). This is still one of the healthiest salmon runs, and it may be due to the fact that development is minimal. 

Protected Areas Map. This is another shot of Bristol Bay. I kept this one zoomed out so that you can really see the huge amounts of State Parks (blue), State Land (pink), and National Parks (dark green). Tribal and BLM land is shown in brown. 

Land Cover Map. This one is closer to home, the arrow pointing to Cedar River, just south-east of Seattle. This salmon run is not the healthiest, probably partially due to the huge amounts of developed land (in pink) the fish have to go through.  

Protected Areas Map. Again, this shows Cedar River. Notice that the spawning grounds are not near any protected areas. 

Land Cover Map. This map is showing the headwaters of the Columbia. The terrestrial systems around them are relatively unaltered, until you get to Portland area. 

Protected Areas Map. This is another river close to home, the Snoqualmie (I-90 basically parallels it the entire way). Notice large amounts of Forest Service land in the spawning areas. 

Land Cover Map, again showing the Snoqualmie. Notice that the entire area is wooded, except the developed city/urban areas. 

Protected Areas Map. Notice that for most of the Columbia, there is almost no protection along the waters. If the land is classified at all, it is usually USFS land.