about us

The Columbia Gorge Refuge Stewards are a group of volunteers who help the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service preserve and maintain the three National Wildlife Refuges in the western Columbia River Gorge: · Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge - 1,049 acres near Washougal · Franz Lake National Wildlife Refuge - 590 acres near Beacon Rock · Pierce National Wildlife Refuge - 329 acres near Beacon Rock Our mission is to promote public awareness, appreciation and active support for Steigerwald Lake, Franz Lake, and Pierce National Wildlife Refuges. We do this by: · Educating people of all ages about the purpose and benefits of the Refuges and the opportunities for non-consumptive recreation on them (e.g., bird watching, nature photography, hiking) · Supporting the operating activities of the Refuges · Advocating for the Refuges to the community, news media, and government officials · Encouraging people to volunteer their time and talents for the benefit of the Refuges · Recruiting Refuge Stewards members and volunteers Our projects include: · Restoring habitat by planting and maintaining native shrubs and other vegetation and removing blackberries and other non-native species · Coordinating public outreach and environmental education programs in local communities to generate awareness and support · Monitoring water quality and coordinating with state and local agencies and the public to improve water quality of streams impacting the Refuges · Developing or improving public use facilities · Raising funds to support these projects