Clover Island is a small island in the Columbia River located between the Blue Bridge and the Cable Bridge in Kennewick, Washington. It is roughly 2,400 feet (730 m) long, 700 feet (210 m) wide and has an area of 16 acres (6.5 ha). The island is owned by the Port of Kennewick. Prior to the construction of the McNary Dam near Umatilla, Oregon, Clover Island had an area of around 162 acres (66 ha).[1]
 The lighthouse on Clover Island with the Blue Bridge in the background. | |
  Clover Island Clover Island (Washington) | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Columbia River, Kennewick, Washington |
| Coordinates | 46°13′01″N 119°06′40″W / 46.217°N 119.111°W |
| Area | 0.025 sq mi (0.065 km2) |
| Length | 0.43 mi (0.69 km) |
| Width | 0.07 mi (0.11 km) |
| Administration | |
United States | |
| State | Washington |
| County | Benton County |
| City | Kennewick |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
Members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition visited Clover Island on October 17, 1805, while en route to the Pacific Ocean.[2]
Amenities
editUnlike Bateman Island, which is located upstream in nearby Richland, Clover Island is highly developed. It is connected to the shore by a causeway which is crossed by Clover Island Drive. Clover Island is also easily accessible by bicyclists, owing to its proximity to the Sacagawea Heritage Trail.
Clover Island is home to the Clover Island Inn, a four-story hotel at the east end of the island.[3] Also on the island is the Ice Harbor Brewing Company, and three eating establishments.
The Clover Island Yacht Club is located on the island,[4] as well as a two lane boat launch and a 62 feet (19 m) tall lighthouse.[1] The Clover Island Light is the first lighthouse to be built in the United States since 1962.[5]
Future development
editThe Port of Kennewick has extensive plans to further develop Clover Island. Future plans include constructing buildings to house a post office as well as retail space and mixed use developments. There are also plans to create a few new viewpoints at various locations on the island to provide scenic views of the Columbia River and the bridges crossing it. A tour boat dock is also planned.[6] Several of the projects, like the Village at Island Harbor, are in various forms of construction.[7]
Changes to improve fish habitats around the island are also planned, with the Port working with the Army Corps of Engineers. That project is expected to cost less than $5 million, with 75% of the funding going to environmental restoration and 10% of the budget going to recreational development.[8]
Coast Guard Station
editThe United States Coast Guard's Aids to Navigation Team (ANT) Kennewick is headquartered on the island. ANT Kennewick is part of Marine Safety Unit Portland and holds primary responsibility for fixed navigational structures in the Columbia River between Hood River, Oregon and Richland as well as in the Snake River from its mouth upstream to Lewiston, Idaho. They also hold secondary responsibility for all other navigational aids between Hood River and Fort Peck, Montana, which includes major lakes near Spokane and in the Idaho Panhandle.
ANT Kennewick was established in 1992. Previous to this it was known as Station Kennewick. The facility was built in 1962 when operations were moved from John Day, Oregon because Kennewick seemed like a more reasonable halfway point.[9]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ a b "CLOVER ISLAND Renewing An Urban Waterfront Destination". Port of Kennewick. Archived from the original on June 17, 2024. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
- ^ Topinka, Lyn (2004). "Side-Trip Up the Columbia River - Tri-Cities and the Yakima River". United States Geological Survey. Archived from the original on August 13, 2024. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
- ^ "Clover Island Inn". Clover Island Inn. Archived from the original on September 28, 2024. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
- ^ "Home". Clover Island Yacht Club. Archived from the original on 2024-05-24. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
- ^ Herald, Pratik Joshi, Tri-City (2010-01-07). "Kennewick's Clover Island lighthouse gets its lid". The Wenatchee World. Archived from the original on 2024-03-24. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Kennewick Washington https://www.go2kennewick.com/go2kennewick/default.aspx?option=com_docman&task=doc_view&gid=2168&Itemid=600. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help)[dead link] - ^ "*UPDATED* The Village at Island Harbor: Phase I *Re-bid*". Washington Bid Network. 2016-02-23. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
- ^ Beaver, TY (2015-04-29). "Clover Island restoration project moving forward". Tri-City Herald. Archived from the original on 2017-07-07. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
- ^ "Welcome to the 13th Coast Guard District!". United States Coast Guard - Pacific Area. Archived from the original on 2024-09-26. Retrieved 2024-10-30.