Description:
Snow accumulation and melt play an important role in shaping the Columbia River and the Columbia Wetlands, which are dependent on spring snowmelt to create a freshwater pulse that overtops levees and refills the wetlands. Wetland recharge from groundwater is also driven by snowmelt. Monitoring data from the Columbia Wetlands were used in this study investigated the relationship between snow water equivalent (the amount of water in the snowpack) and average wetland water level over the period from 2020 to 2025. The Columbia Wetlands Stewardship Partners (CWSP)  found that maximum winter snow water equivalent was significantly related to average wetland water levels, with a very strong relationship. Snow water equivalent predicted average water levels even better than maximum annual streamflow, suggesting seasonal snowpack is critical for providing source water to the Columbia Wetlands.

Keywords: wetlands; riparian; beaver; hydrology; climate change

Authors:

Organization: Columbia Wetlands Stewardship Partners

Category: Hydrologically Vulnerable Wetlands

Focal Area: Columbia Wetlands

Resource Type: Report

Year: 2026