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Columbian Plateau

Columbian Plateau. Alex Purdy, Emily Crowe, Michael Aflleje. The Columbian Plateau. The Columbian Plateau is the largest ecoregion in the state. It is located in eastern Washington (#10). Abiotic Factors.

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Columbian Plateau

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  1. Columbian Plateau Alex Purdy, Emily Crowe, Michael Aflleje

  2. The Columbian Plateau • The Columbian Plateau is the largest ecoregion in the state. It is located in eastern Washington (#10)

  3. Abiotic Factors • Climate-The Columbian Plateau is inside of the rain shadow created by the Cascade Mountain range, making this ecoregion the hottest and driest part of Washington state, with less than 10 inches of annual precipitation in the driest locations and an average of 15 inches of annual precipitation. Summers are extremely hot and dry, with temperatures around 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and winters are cold and cloudy.  • Landforms-Palouse Hills, Channeled Scablands, the Pasco Basin, the Yakima Fold Hills  • Soil-Soil in the Columbian plateau region contains loess, an element of the soil that makes the Columbian plateau one of the world's most productive wheat-producing regions. The loess was deposited in the soil thousands of years ago when glaciers scoured volcanic rock into fine silt. The glaciers retreating deposited this silt into the soil, making it rich with nutrients. • Hydrology-Water is the most limiting factor for agriculture in the Columbian Plateau. The richness of the soil accounts for the lack of rainfall in the region, making irrigation vital for agriculture in this region.

  4. Biotic Factors • Plants- Bluebunch Wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneriaspicata) Endemic to the area. The roots of the grass have a waxy layer that helps it resist desiccation (extreme dryness) in dry soils Indian Ricegrass (Oryzopsishymenoides) Endemic to the area, adapted to grow in sand and clay. • Animals- Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchustshawytscha) Have the ability to feed on insects when young. Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchuskisutch) Develop a red belly when matured enough to mate.

  5. Ecosystems • The aridsagebrush steppe and grasslands of the region are flanked by moister, predominantly forested, mountainous ecoregions on all sides. • The Columbian river runs through the Columbian plateau

  6. Tourism Davenport- Figge Art Museum, German American Heritage Center, Vander Veer Botanical Park Kennewick sailing, boating, waterskiing, swimming, fishing, windsurfing, bicycling, bowling, hunting and outdoor sports Moses Lake Potholes State Park, House of Poverty Museum Pasco Franklin County Historical Society, Sacajawea State Park, Wahluke Slope Pullman Washington State University, Kamiak Butte, Airway Hills Miniature Golf Richland Hanford Nuclear Reservation, Barnard Griffin Winery, Bookwalter Winery Spokane Manito Park, Green Bluff, Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture Walla Walla Walla Walla Vintners, Gramercy Cellars, Wine Valley Golf Course Yakima- hops, wine, apples, hiking, wine tasting, skiing, wildlife viewing  Goldendale Maryhill Winery, Maryhill Museum of Art, Goldendale Observatory State Park

  7. Threats and Issues • Faces contamination from: -Pesticides, herbicides, and other agricultural chemicals -Industrial effluents from pulp mills and aluminum plants -Radioactive wastes from the Hanford Reserve • Salmon runs have declined to less than a tenth of their former size due to the effects of dams, diversions, over-fishing and upland habitat degration.

  8. Conservation • The CPCRC conducts research on soil and water conservation issues in the Columbia Plateau and related land resource areas.

  9. Cites • http://birdweb.org/birdweb/ecoregion/columbia_plateau • http://www.landscope.org/washington/natural_geography/ecoregions/columbia_plateau/landforms/ • http://oregonprogress.oregonstate.edu/summer-2005/blessed-soil-and-precious-little-water • http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/site_main.htm?modecode=53-56-00-00 • http://www.landscope.org/washington/natural_geography/ecoregions/columbia_plateau/Impact/ • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_Plateau_(ecoregion)

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