The Steigerwald Story: Explore the new StoryMap
Check out a new resource to learn about the Steigerwald Reconnection project through a StoryMap. If you haven’t yet grasped the magnitude and scope of the project, this tool will bring it all into focus.
Scroll through the story of the largest habitat restoration project in the history of the lower Columbia River: the Steigerwald Reconnection Project.
The new StoryMap shares behind-the-scenes photos and videos of how a $32 million project restored the floodplain and transformed the refuge into a beacon of hope for habitat restoration and flood risk reduction. The collaborative Steigerwald Reconnection Project reconnected 965 acres of Columbia River floodplain after generations separated by a levee, reduced flood risk from Gibbons Creek, improved habitat for fish and wildlife, and created new trails for recreation at the Refuge.
For the best navigation, view the Storymap on a computer. Follow along through the history of the land, details of the project, and a peek into the future of Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge.
As you scroll, you’ll learn the project specifics, history of the area, flood control efforts past and present, fish salvage stories, economic benefits. Find a slideshow that explains the wapato restoration effort and why it’s important. You’ll also look into the future and information about what monitoring and data collection will look like going forward.
The tools are interactive and easy to navigate. It is a useful learning resource for students.
Be sure to check out the sliders that show before and after photos to fully grasp the changes this massive undertaking has brought to the refuge.
“Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge has always been home to a diversity of wildlife. We are so grateful to our partners, volunteers and supporters. Through this amazing partnership, we have seen new habitats form right before our eyes and we are already seeing wildlife respond like never before. This is an amazing reconnection for salmon, lamprey, waterbirds, and other wildlife, but it is also an invitation for our visitors and valued community to reconnect in a whole new way.”
