National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Fort Clatsop National Memorial Astoria, Oregon

"The object of your mission is to explore the Missouri river
& such principal stream of it, as, by it's course
and communication with the waters of the Pacific ocean...
may offer the most direct & practicable water
communication across this continent for the purposes of commerce."
- Thomas Jefferson, in his instructions to Meriwether Lewis

In November 1805, the Corps of Discovery arrived at the Pacific Ocean and accomplished the mission President Jefferson set for them. Two years had passed since receiving their charge from the President; to find the passage over water from the Missouri to the Pacific. During that time, the Corps explored some of North America's most rugged and spectacular country.

Now, two centuries later, the ongoing bicentennial commemoration of the Corps of Discovery's exploration of this nation has sparked the public's interest in learning more about the history of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The three sites presented in this study provide a unique opportunity to highlight the historic culmination of the Corps of Discovery's expedition across the continent to the Pacific Ocean.

This boundary study serves two primary purposes. First, the study provides the United States Congress with an assessment of the national significance of three prominent Lewis and Clark sites on the lower Columbia River and whether these sites are suitable and feasible additions to Fort Clatsop National Memorial. Second, the study presents four management alternatives for consideration by Congress that would protect the resources and provide public access to these sites.

One of the National Park Service's responsibilities is to identify nationally significant natural, cultural, and recreational resources and aid in their protection inside and outside of the National Park System. With this charge, the National Park Service recognizes that inclusion of these three study sites as part of Fort Clatsop National Memorial is only one of many management options for preserving the nation's outstanding resources. In keeping with this mission, only two (Alternatives C and D) of the four management alternatives would, if acted upon by Congress, add some or all of the sites to Fort Clatsop National Memorial.

Boundary Adjustment Criteria

This study examines these three sites under the Criteria for Boundary Adjustments in compliance with Public Law 101-628. These criteria are the basis for evaluating the worthiness of expanding the boundaries of an existing National Park unit.

The sites were evaluated for their national significance, suitability, and feasibility for inclusion into the boundary of Fort Clatsop National Memorial. The three sites assessed in this study are Megler Safety Rest Area, Station Camp, and Fort Canby State Park. All three sites are located near the mouth of the Columbia River in the southwest corner of Washington State. The Corps of Discovery, led by Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, camped at these three sites during the final days of the their epic journey to reach the Pacific Ocean.

All three of the sites presented in this study possess nationally significant resources relating to the Lewis and Clark story, and the analysis determined that these three sites are suitable and feasible to include within Fort Clatsop National Memorial.

Management Alternatives

Four management alternatives are presented in this study for consideration by Congress. The process of evaluating management alternatives includes the definition of resource protection, visitor experience, site management, and feasibility of each alternative. In addition, the study includes analysis related to the environmental consequences associated with the four management alternatives and denotes the environmentally preferred alternative, Alternative D.

The areas of analysis include cultural resources, natural resources, socioeconomic environment, transportation, and visitor experience.

The management alternatives are, in brief:

Alternative A
 No Action

Current site management continues

Alternative B
Lewis and Clark Washington State Park Sites

A Washington State Park focused management alternative

Alternative C
Expansion of National Memorial and Washington State Park Sites

A collaboration of Washington State and federal management

Alternative D
Lewis and Clark National and State Historical Park

A comprehensive and collaborative approach to all Lewis and Clark historic sites in the area, including the states of Washington and Oregon

Of the four alternatives, the most effective and efficient management alternative will be identified in the final document after the public comment period.