Sacajawea State Park
Confluence of the Snake and Columbia rivers
Pasco, Washington

Lewis and Clark first passed this spot, at the confluence of the Snake and Columbia rivers, on October 16, 1805. Now Sacajawea State Park, it was here that members of the expedition knew exactly where they were for the first time since entering uncharted territory. Maya Lin is using the words of Lewis and Clark as a lens to give insight into the physical and cultural histories of each of the Confluence Project sites, where habitats on federal, state and local lands are being restored. Through her artwork, Maya Lin asks viewers to rethink the nature of place, to envision the Columbia and Snake rivers not as isolated points, but as elements in a fluid, ever-changing environment.

Maya Lin's designs at this site explore the connectedness of cultures to each other and to the landscape through the seasons and over time.

Story Circles

This place offers more than 10,000 years of rich human history, which Maya Lin plans to explore by drawing upon tribal stories to create seven story circles, some raised and some lowered, at the point where the Columbia and Snake rivers converge. The story circles represent aspects of the cultures and landscapes of this historic site and how it has played an important role in gathering, fishing and other subsistence activities.

Boat Dock

Maya Lin, in collaboration with Seattle-based architecture and landscape architecture firm Jones & Jones and Landscape Architects Ltd., will redesign the boat dock and incorporate content from the Lewis and Clark journals documenting one day's portage.

Viewpoint

A pathway through restored landscapes will lead visitors to a viewpoint overlooking the Snake River.

Improvements

The design team, led by Jones & Jones, with the assistance of Anchor Environmental and other consultants, created a design concept for the entire park, including these features:

• New ADA-compliant boat-trailer parking near the boat launch
• Reconfigured access road, parking and boat-launch areas
• Beach expansion and reconfiguration to enhance public use
• Small rain garden to filter runoff and keep pollution out of the river
• New and improved picnic shelter to replace the existing shelter
• Viewpoint overlooking the Snake River
• Several new pathways and trails throughout the park

Restoration and Preservation

• Core park lawn area and trees preserved for public gatherings and picnics
• Shrub steppe landscape and shoreline around the cove restored with native vegetation to honor the history of the landscape and serve as a buffer between the plantings at the water's edge and the lawn
• Shoreline restoration efforts to benefit migrating salmon, raptors, waterfowl and many other fish, bird and animal species
• Historic vista structure and existing docks preserved for public use
• View corridors between picnic sites and the water maintained by planting groundcovers, grasses, herbs and trees for public enjoyment
• Added native vegetation to provide an educational opportunity for park visitors to connect to the early landscape of the river

Landscape restoration is scheduled to begin in early 2009.

Project Partners and Stakeholders

Army Corps of Engineers

Battelle

Benton County

City of Kennewick

City of Pasco

City of Richland

Colville Tribe

Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation

Confluence Project

Franklin County

Jones & Jones Architects and Landscape Architects, Ltd.

Maya Lin Studio

Nez Perce Tribe

Pasco School District

Port of Benton

Port of Kennewick

Port of Pasco

Tri-Cities Rivershore Enhancement Committee

Tri-Cities Visitor and Convention Bureau

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Wanapum Tribe

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

Washington State Parks

Yakama Tribe