The Sandy River Delta is a popular natural area at the West end of the Columbia River Gorge open to non-motorized recreational activities.  The SRD is also known as “1000 Acres”

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The FSRD is a 501(c)(3) non-profit comprised of volunteers and users of the Sandy River Delta.  The Friends help the Forest Service maintain and manage the Delta by performing trail maintenance, managing the in-field trash cans (for dog waste), and providing education and outreach to the users.

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You!  The SRD is public land owned and administered by the National Forest Service, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Information can be found at www.fs.usda.gov/crgnsa

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Although you will find the majority of users to be dog walkers, the SRD is used for many other recreational activities such as hunting, bicycling, horseback riding, fishing, and birdwatching.

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The Delta is officially open from Dawn to Dusk.  The parking lot entry is gated and the exit is tire-spiked to allow after closure exit preventing lock-ins.  Currently the gate is not managed, but an agreement is being formed with Lewis and Clark state park to lock/unlock the gate, which will alter the hours according to the State Park management hours.

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No!  Although dog walkers are the most frequent users of the SRD, it is not a dog park.  The Delta is open to many recreational users, and it is a place where many types of users can coexist.  Please accommodate and respect the other users when visiting.

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Yes, some informal, some formal.  See website for details.

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Yes, Mostly.  We do require that dogs be leashed in the parking lot for everyone’s safety (including your dogs).  We also require that dogs be leashed on the Confluence Trail (see map).  This trail is an ADA* public trail to the Bird Blind, and is intended for visitors who may not want to interact with off-leash dogs.

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Yes, there are approximately 10 trailer parking stalls for horse trailers.  Weekends get busy at the Delta, and the parking lot fills up, so arrive early.  (although single vehicles are not allowed to park in trailer parking, they are often taken as the lot fills.)

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Yes, waterfowl hunting is legal at the Delta, and is governed by state regulations. (Consult the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife at http://www.dfw.state.or.us/)  There is dispute on whether deer hunting is allowed, but the latest interpretation heard is that only shotgun and waterfowl hunting is permitted.

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The Delta is a great place for bird watching.  There are many warblers and songbirds, flickers, woodpeckers, hawks, eagles, osprey, heron, and a wealth of other species.  Consult with your local birding groups as many lead the occasional tour in the Delta.

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The structure at the end of the Confluence Trail is known as the “Bird Blind”, designed by artist Maya Lin. As part of a series of six sites along the Columbia River Basin, the “Bird Blind” employs the journey of Lewis and Clark as a marker of time. Notations of the explorers etched on the “Bird Blind” provide a means to contemplate the ecological, cultural, and historical shifts that have taken place over time.

More information can be found at ConfluenceProject.org

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Nearly any type of recreation that doesn’t involve motors is allowed at the Delta.  Firearms are not permitted outside of allowable hunting activities (this includes paintball guns).  Many people run, collect blackberries, fish, and picnic at the Delta.  You will see occasional authorized vehicles in the Delta as part of habitat restoration, maintenance, or volunteer activities.

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There are many ways to help:

You can be an informal steward –  The delta is largely self-policed by it’s users.  Please pick up after your dog, and even pick up after those who haven’t (yes, despite our best efforts, some folks just don’t pick up).  Be polite and respectful of other users, and expect the same from others.

Participate in work parties – We do semi-regular trash pick-ups, brush clearing along trails, gravel projects on muddy sections of trail, and we still find barbed wire to remove.

Help us financially – You can make a tax-deductible donation through PayPal by clicking any of the “Donate” buttons throughout the website.  All donations go entirely to volunteer activities.

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In the case of emergency, call 911, and be ready to describe the incident and location.  For non-emergency situations, please call the police non-emergency number (503) 823-3333.   Emergency situations may include illegal hunting, fishing, or motor-vehicle use, physical threats, destruction or vandalism.  Non-emergency situations may include illegal camping trash dumping, car breakins.

To report trash dumping in progress, dial 911.  If after the fact call Nuisance control at (503) 665-5175 for Troutdale, (503) 988-3464 for unincorporated Multnomah County or (503) 234-3000 for Metro.

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