Oak and Tree Fungus Along the Trail

Lovely walk today along the Columbia River Trail bordering the Columbia River in Vancouver. We started at Columbia Springs, the site of The Hudson's Bay Company's first sawmill built in 1828. 

Nearly 100 years later in 1938, The Vancouver Fish Hatchery was built on this site as a New Deal WPA project. Spring water bubbling up at the base of the Columbia Slope provides a constant supply of cold, clean water that’s ideal for raising trout and salmon, hence the decision to locate the hatchery at this site.

In 2000, the descents of pioneers in this area came together with environmental and government agencies and 200 + individuals to create the Biddle Nature Preserve, designed to protect the spawning ground of Chum Salmon. 

The extra: a lovely weeping willow, glowing yellow in the late afternoon sun on this near-winter day.