Historic Hood River
Fish Wheel
9-10-2020
Notes
This fish wheel is moored at high water. The location has a very familiar feel to it but I’ll leave it to you to pinpoint the location. Given the signs of recent fire, I’m thinking we’re seeing signs of the Yacolt burn, 118 years ago this week.
Gladys
This is what I think they called a “skow” as it was a fishwheel that they could move around easily. This has to be down looking across to the Washington side of the Columbia in the Cascade Locks area.
Will
Table Mountain.
L.E.
Spring flood time.
I think this would have been the lower Cascades, where the river was shallow and even today is known as a spawning area for salmon. It is the area between Beacon Rock and North Bonneville.
As Will says, Table Mtn. and to the right is Greenleaf Peak. The Pacific Crest Trail goes over the hill in the foreground.
Kenn
I believe this is the wheel that was at the mouth of Moffat Creek with Table and Greenleaf across the river.
There is a full size replica fishwheel in the museum at Stevenson, well worth a visit.
Kenn
On the east side of the mouth of Moffat Creek I remember a heavy access rope down the bank to the river close to some old pilings. Wonder if this relates to the fishwheel.
Kenn
Book “Fshwheels of the Columbia” on page 36 has this as Warrens Tanner Creek scow wheel number 4 with the same background view.. It also mentions a Moffat Creek wheel where I remember pilings..