Wetlands Sunset

[AlanLichty]

We finally got a break in the seemingly endless parade of storms near the end of the day and I was able to catch a sunset. I have measured over 15" of rain since early December so the Columbia is running high enough to spill out into its traditional floodplains. The foreground fields were made by cutting sloughs to drain off the land but but about 10 years ago a conservation group bought out the farmers who were working that land and donated it to the State wildlife folks to use as a bird refuge. The first step was to breach the dikes to allow the river to flood the fields during high water peaks. You would get a much better feel for how expansive these wetlands are if I could fly up to about 1000' or so but 400' is the limit for a small unmanned drone.

C&C always welcome.

 

[JimFox]

How interesting. So is that are a real bird refuge that you can go to and photograph at like typical wildlife refuges?

A very nice sunset for sure.

 

[AlanLichty]

How interesting. So is that are a real bird refuge that you can go to and photograph at like typical wildlife refuges?

A very nice sunset for sure.

Thanks Jim - it's a state level wildlife refuge so lots of the rules for a national wildlife refuge don't apply. There is regulated hunting allowed and no restrictions on flying a drone although you need to be careful about where you fly there since this is near restricted flight space for PDX.

 

[Jameel Hyder]

Nice wide vista view and I like the subtle colors in the clouds with some colors reflected in the water.

 

[AlanLichty]

Nice wide vista view and I like the subtle colors in the clouds with some colors reflected in the water.

Thanks Jameel - the color reflection is the main channel of the Columbia River which doesn't stand out all that well from this low viewing angle in spite of being over 1/2 mile wide in that spot. This was the only workable sunset I have seen so far in 2024. Back to clouds and more rain today - business as usual in the Pacific Northwet