This is the first of a two-part series about a volunteer project to measure the water level of 11 lakes on the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge.

The project began in February when an e-mail arrived in my inbox listing several 2012 volunteer opportunities in the Mid-Columbia River National Wildlife Refuge Complex.

The projects included: Connect Teens with Nature: Teens are losing touch with the marvels of the natural world. As the next stewards of our environment, they need to learn why they should care.

We need a volunteer to develop and try out ideas to help teens connect with nature. McNary National Wildlife Refuge, Burbank.

Produce Study Skins for Display: Road killed wildlife need to be made into study skins for use in educational displays. Direction for making study skins will be given by Fish and Wildlife Service staff and Friends. McNary NWR, Burbank.

River Kayak Assistant: One or two people needed to accompany a staff person and several youth down Columbia River at the Hanford Reach National Monument in kayaks. Date will be set in spring for July and/or August trips. McNary NWR, Burbank, WA.

River Kayak Shuttle Driver: Two people are needed to shuttle a van and pickup with kayak tow trailer to drop off and pick up kayakers along Hanford Reach.

Information Packet for Hunters and Fishermen: Compile all maps, hunting, and fishing regulations for all eight refuges in the complex into one pamphlet to help staff and outdoorsmen know the rules. May be done at home if desired.

Vegetation Mapping: Map Phragmites, bulrush, cattails, and open water using GPS. Download data into computer. Project to be accomplished spring-fall at Columbia NWR, Othello.  Contact Gordon Warrick.

Retaking of Photo Points: Using GPS, locate 105 photo points previously established, and retake photos. Download photos and related information to computer. Project to be accomplished in June at Columbia NWR. Contact Gordon Warrick.

Water Level Monitoring: Read water levels once a month. Enter data into computer. Project to be accomplished at Columbia NWR.  Contact Gordon Warrick.

The projects were spread across the eight refuges, some to be completed at home. There were many more projects available than shown here. However just two caught my eye for this year; the water level monitoring and photo projects.

What is the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge?

The refuge as explained by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is formed by extreme natural forces the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge reveals a unique geologic history and provides an important wildlife sanctuary.

Scattered across four counties in the Columbia Basin of east-central Washington near Othello, the refuge was established in 1944 in conjunction with the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project.

With 23,200 acres immediately downstream from Potholes Reservoir, and another 6,000 acres of scattered tracts toward the Columbia River, refuge lands surround much of Crab Creek.

Seepage from the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project has created lakes, sloughs, streams, wet meadows and marshes that provide diverse habitat for waterfowl and other migratory birds.

The refuge is a scenic mixture of rugged cliffs, canyons, lakes, and sagebrush grasslands. Formed by fire, ice, floods, and volcanic tempest, carved by periods of extreme violence of natural forces, the refuge lies in the middle of the Drumheller Channeled Scablands of central Washington.

This part of the Scablands, known as the Drumheller Channels, is the most spectacularly eroded area of its size in the world and was designated as a National Natural Landmark in 1986.

The contact, Gordon Warrick, is listed as a wildlife biologist on the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge, which is a part of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior.

He works out of an office in Othello. I contacted him and his first priority was the water level project.

There is a need to check the water level at 11 lakes on the refuge at least once a month.

This figure will be compared to the level of Potholes Reservoir on the same day to see the correlation between the level or the reservoir and the level of the individual lakes.

Next week: The May water measuring adventure.