Staff from the Colville Tribal Fish Hatchery have released 50,000 triploid rainbow trout into Rufus Woods Lake between February and March, a press release from the Colville Tribes Fish & Wildlife Department stated. The fish average two pounds each, and some are fitted with tags.
Rufus Woods Lake is the length of the Columbia River from the Grand Coulee Dam to Chief Joseph Dam.
Anglers who catch the tagged fish are encouraged to contact Colville Tribal Fish & Wildlife at (509)-634-2113, to report information related to the catch to assist biologist in managing annual fish releases.
All non-tribal-members who are fishing by boat on the boundary waters of the reservation or from the shore of Rufus Woods at the Designated Fishing Area (DFA) must have either a valid Colville Indian Reservation Fishing Permit or a valid fishing license issued by the State of Washington. Non-members fishing from the reservation shoreline outside of the DFA must have a tribal permit.
At this time, there is only one DFA on Rufus Woods which is located downstream of the Pacific Aquaculture Fish Farm net pens. Colville tribal members must possess a Colville tribal identification card that serves as a permit to fish. Anglers who purchase tribal permits help support the continued success of this fishery.
Pictured below are Erica Moses, Fisheries Tech, at the Rufus Woods release, and the Rufus Woods Net Pens
The Candy Point Trail is a pleasant, short-but-challenging hike that starts right in town at Coulee Dam and ascends about 700 feet up flights of stone steps and trail, eventually leading to either Candy Point towards the left, or Crown Point, our community’s popular spaceship-looking viewpoint, to the right.
Both offer a great overview of the dam, with Crown Point affording an additional panorama down river. We’ll focus here on the Crown Point path; the branch to the left from the top winds back down behind the town hall where work has recently been done to restore the trail.
“It’s one of the best trails I’ve ever seen.” — Alan Carter Mortimer, Washington Trails Association crew leader
Oddly enough, the trail starts in a private backyard, but don’t worry, there are signs on the sidewalk saying it’s perfectly fine to walk through the yard to the trailhead, which you can easily see from the road. As the sign says, it’s quite the workout, but the views are well worth it.
A sign near the north end of Colombia Avenue in Coulee Dam welcomes hikers.
From the get-go, it is common to hear birds singing their songs, and see nice green areas that look like a perfect place to have a picnic. It is not uncommon to see deer grazing along the hillsides. As is the case in most of eastern Washington, be prepared to give rattlesnakes a respectable distance if you see one, which you probably won’t.
The stone steps comprising much of the trail are very impressive landscaping work that must have taken a lot of hard work to install by the Civilian Conservation Corps, a federal project that put people to work in during the Great Depression. Now that you know this, you won’t be tempted to think you’ve stumbled on to the remnants of some ancient civilization.
Stone work on the trail was originally accomplished by the CCCs during the Great Depression.
In 2017, the town of Coulee Dam’s Parks and Natural Resources Board worked with the Washington Trails Association to clear brush along the 2.25-mile trail. With an OK from the Bureau of Reclamation after it conducted an archaeological survey, around 20 volunteers for the WTA did “tread work” on the trail, helping steady and repair the many stone steps that span lengths of the trail, as well as widening and defining it, clearing rocks, and more.
“It’s one of the best trails I’ve ever seen,” said Alan Carter Mortimer, the WTA crew leader on the project. “I’ve been doing this for 21 years, and … I was just amazed! It blew me away.”
Mortimer said that from a historical point of view, and considering the high quality of the rock walls and steps left by the CCC, the trail that has deteriorated for decades “should be way more popular.”
“It’s really cool because it goes up to a great view of the dam and everything,” he said. “You go up and it’s a really great place to have lunch on top.”
One view from Crown Point, looking toward the dam.
It takes 30 minutes or more to get to the top, quite the workout for the legs. Once at the top you’ll find magnificent views of the dam, the bridge, the river, the town, and beyond.
After resting a while, and taking in the views, heading back down takes about 20 minutes. In the end, you get to have a great workout, see wildflowers and birds, take some great photos of the dam … a great way to spend an hour or two.
An episode of the video series Nick on the Rocks, which explores the geology of Washington state, simulates what Dry Falls would have looked like when water was rushing over it during the Missoula Ice Age Floods.
Geologist Bruce Bjornstad recently released a visually stunning video highlighting the Great Blade near the Lake Lenore caves located between Soap Lake and Coulee City. The video is the 11th in a series exploring the geological impact of the Missoula Ice Age Floods.
Using a drone, Bjornstad captures aerial views of the region, offering a unique, birds-eye view of the coulees that we call our home. The videos are complemented by new age music and facts that explain, among other things, how glaciers and floods shaped the region.
On Saturday Oct. 8 at 10:30 a.m. in the CMC parking lot, a 3k Fun Run/Walk for breast cancer awareness will take place. Registration cost $15, and there will be “goodies and lunch.” Register online at cmccares.org or at the CMC Radiology department.
