Bateman Island
Encyclopedia
Bateman Island is an island located on the Columbia River
between the cities of Richland
and Kennewick, Washington
. It is approximately 1 miles (1.6 km) long and 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) wide (160 acres (64.7 ha)) and is part of the city of Richland.
mentioned Bateman Island in their journals in 1805. William Clark and two other men made their way towards the mouth of the Yakima River
, but due to the time the farthest they got was Bateman Island.
Lewis and Clark never made it past Bateman Island; it was the furthest upstream they traveled on the Columbia.
In 1872 the island was being used for wheat
farming and in 1912 it was used for raising cows. From 1941 to 1952 the Batemans used the island to raise turkeys and for farming.
The island has suffered damage from wildfire
, most recently on August 8, 2001. The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental, as opposed to still smoldering leftover debris from just five days prior.
In 2002 thanks to support by Bechtel Hanford and with help from many volunteers
, about 27 tons worth of beer cans, and other debris left there over the last 60 years was removed.
Presently, the island is open to the public for numerous activities. It has recovered significantly from the 2001 fire, though there are still signs of it. The island is home to many different species of wildlife, including deer
, birds, carp
in the wet season, and numerous small animals. Common recreational activities include fishing, bird watching, and hiking.
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
between the cities of Richland
Richland, Washington
Richland is a city in Benton County in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Washington, at the confluence of the Yakima and the Columbia Rivers. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 48,058. April 1, 2011 estimates from the Washington State Office of Financial Management put the...
and Kennewick, Washington
Kennewick, Washington
Kennewick is a city in Benton County in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Washington, near the Hanford nuclear site. It is the most populous of the three cities collectively referred to as the Tri-Cities...
. It is approximately 1 miles (1.6 km) long and 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) wide (160 acres (64.7 ha)) and is part of the city of Richland.
History
Lewis and ClarkLewis and Clark Expedition
The Lewis and Clark Expedition, or ″Corps of Discovery Expedition" was the first transcontinental expedition to the Pacific Coast by the United States. Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson and led by two Virginia-born veterans of Indian wars in the Ohio Valley, Meriwether Lewis and William...
mentioned Bateman Island in their journals in 1805. William Clark and two other men made their way towards the mouth of the Yakima River
Yakima River
The Yakima River is a tributary of the Columbia River in south central and eastern Washington State, named for the indigenous Yakama people. The length of the river from headwaters to mouth is , with an average drop of .-Course:...
, but due to the time the farthest they got was Bateman Island.
Lewis and Clark never made it past Bateman Island; it was the furthest upstream they traveled on the Columbia.
In 1872 the island was being used for wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
farming and in 1912 it was used for raising cows. From 1941 to 1952 the Batemans used the island to raise turkeys and for farming.
The island has suffered damage from wildfire
Wildfire
A wildfire is any uncontrolled fire in combustible vegetation that occurs in the countryside or a wilderness area. Other names such as brush fire, bushfire, forest fire, desert fire, grass fire, hill fire, squirrel fire, vegetation fire, veldfire, and wilkjjofire may be used to describe the same...
, most recently on August 8, 2001. The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental, as opposed to still smoldering leftover debris from just five days prior.
In 2002 thanks to support by Bechtel Hanford and with help from many volunteers
Volunteering
Volunteering is generally considered an altruistic activity, intended to promote good or improve human quality of life, but people also volunteer for their own skill development, to meet others, to make contacts for possible employment, to have fun, and a variety of other reasons that could be...
, about 27 tons worth of beer cans, and other debris left there over the last 60 years was removed.
Presently, the island is open to the public for numerous activities. It has recovered significantly from the 2001 fire, though there are still signs of it. The island is home to many different species of wildlife, including deer
Deer
Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
, birds, carp
Carp
Carp are various species of oily freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae, a very large group of fish native to Europe and Asia. The cypriniformes are traditionally grouped with the Characiformes, Siluriformes and Gymnotiformes to create the superorder Ostariophysi, since these groups have certain...
in the wet season, and numerous small animals. Common recreational activities include fishing, bird watching, and hiking.