Niawiakum River
Encyclopedia
The Niawiakum River is a short river in the U.S. state
of Washington. It is approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) long.
near Bay Center
and the mouth of the Palix River
. The river's entire length is only a few miles. The lower half of the Niawiakum River is a broad estuary
and tidal marshland. U.S. Route 101
crosses the river near its mouth.
name for the river.
, yet most of the land is controlled by Weyerhaeuser
which has resulted in significant clearcut logging and damage to the forest and river ecosystems. Two of the largest Western Red Cedar trees in the world, the Niawiakum Giant and the Seal Slough Cedar, sit on Weyerhaeuser
land, however, surrounding clearcuts have nearly killed the Seal Slough Cedar. The river estuary and its tidal salt marsh vegetation is among the highest quality of the entire Washington and Oregon coasts. There are ongoing efforts to protect more of the Niawiakum estuary along with the nearby Bone River
estuary.
(UW) in cooperation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA). The program was the first offered by the International Tsunami Training Institute, set up by NOAA in response to the Indian Ocean tsunami
of 2004.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Washington. It is approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) long.
Course
The Niawiakum River originates in the hills of the southwestern part of Washington. It flows generally west, emptying into Willapa BayWillapa Bay
Willapa Bay is a bay located on the southwest Pacific coast of Washington state in the United States. The Long Beach Peninsula separates Willapa Bay from the greater expanse of the Pacific Ocean. With over of water surface Willapa Bay is the second largest estuary on the United States Pacific coast...
near Bay Center
Bay Center, Washington
Bay Center is a census-designated place in Pacific County, Washington, United States. The population was 174 at the 2000 census. The population increased to 276 at the 2010 census...
and the mouth of the Palix River
Palix River
The Palix River is a stream in the U.S. state of Washington. Its tributaries include three forks, North, Middle, and South Fork Palix River, as well as the Canon River. The river's length, including the Canon River, its longest tributary, is approximately ....
. The river's entire length is only a few miles. The lower half of the Niawiakum River is a broad estuary
Estuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
and tidal marshland. U.S. Route 101
U.S. Route 101
U.S. Route 101, or U.S. Highway 101, is an important north–south U.S. highway that runs through the states of California, Oregon, and Washington, on the West Coast of the United States...
crosses the river near its mouth.
History
The name "Niawiakum" derives from the Lower ChehalisChehalis (tribe)
The Chehalis people are a native people of westernWashington state in the United States. They should not be confused with the similarly named Chehalis First Nation of the Harrison River in the Fraser Valley area of British Columbia....
name for the river.
Natural history
838 acres (339.1 ha) of the lower river is a protected land preserve called the Niawiakum River Natural Area PreserveWashington Natural Areas Program
The Washington Natural Areas Program, part of the Washington Department of Natural Resources, manages dozens of natural areas owned by the US state of Washington. These areas have received funding through the state's general fund since the Washington State Legislature enacted the Natural Areas...
, yet most of the land is controlled by Weyerhaeuser
Weyerhaeuser
Weyerhaeuser is one of the largest pulp and paper companies in the world. It is the world's largest private sector owner of softwood timberland; and the second largest owner of United States timberland, behind Plum Creek Timber...
which has resulted in significant clearcut logging and damage to the forest and river ecosystems. Two of the largest Western Red Cedar trees in the world, the Niawiakum Giant and the Seal Slough Cedar, sit on Weyerhaeuser
Weyerhaeuser
Weyerhaeuser is one of the largest pulp and paper companies in the world. It is the world's largest private sector owner of softwood timberland; and the second largest owner of United States timberland, behind Plum Creek Timber...
land, however, surrounding clearcuts have nearly killed the Seal Slough Cedar. The river estuary and its tidal salt marsh vegetation is among the highest quality of the entire Washington and Oregon coasts. There are ongoing efforts to protect more of the Niawiakum estuary along with the nearby Bone River
Bone River
The Bone River is a short river in the U.S. state of Washington. It is about long.-Course:The Bone River originates in the hills of the southwestern part of Washington, close to the source of the North Fork Palix River. It flows generally west, emptying into Willapa Bay near Bay Center just north...
estuary.
Geology
The lower Niawiakum River shows traces of the 1700 Cascadia earthquake and associated tsumani. Field trips to the river have been part of a Certificate Program in Tsunami Science and Preparedness offered by the University of WashingtonUniversity of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
(UW) in cooperation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , pronounced , like "noah", is a scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere...
(NOAA). The program was the first offered by the International Tsunami Training Institute, set up by NOAA in response to the Indian Ocean tsunami
2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake was an undersea megathrust earthquake that occurred at 00:58:53 UTC on Sunday, December 26, 2004, with an epicentre off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. The quake itself is known by the scientific community as the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake...
of 2004.