Kandoll Farm is the site of one of Columbia Land Trust’s earliest restoration projects. The effort included the reconnection of intertidal floodplain and riparian wetland habitats along the Grays River. Waterfowl hunting is available here on a first-come, first-served basis via a WDFW permit kiosk.
Recreational Activities: Hunting, Fishing, Birdwatching
Access:
⇒ Day use only
⇒ Waterfowl hunting: first-come, first-served each day of hunting season at the WDFW kiosk on site
⇒ Fishing and other walk-in activities: open access, no permission needed
Dogs: Allowed
Amenities: None
Trails: None
Acreage: 163 acres
County: Wahkiakum County
Nearest Town: Naselle, WA
Directions: Park at 46.327839, -123.649479 off Kandoll Road. There is space for about five vehicles.
Tips for Visiting: The Kandoll Farm site is very swampy and tidally influenced; use caution. During certain times of year, invasive reedcanary grass here is treated with herbicide. Please don’t disturb monitoring plots marked by PVC pipe or flagging tape. To the north of Kandoll Farm is Kandoll North, which is open to daytime, walk-in access but does not allow hunting.
Year Conserved: 2002
About: Kandoll Farm is one of the first sites restored by Columbia Land Trust. It sits along the Grays River, about three miles from the mouth, and is shaped by the tides of Seal Slough. For several decades, the land was used for farming and grazing, with dikes, levees, and tide gates built to keep tidal water out. Restoration work reconnected 163 acres of floodplain habitat to the river and tides. The restored wetland habitat provides young salmon places to grow, rest, and spend the winter. Major work in 2005 and 2006 opened parts of the Grays River dike, improved water flow at Seal Slough, filled drainage ditches, strengthened setback levees, and planted native vegetation. Ongoing work includes managing invasive weeds and cleaning up old structures and debris from past land uses. Scientists continue to monitor fish, water, sediment, plants, and stream channels to understand the effects of restoration.
Project Partners: Ducks Unlimited, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, US Army Corps of Engineers