Take a guided historical walk on Richland island before access is torn out
With the last days to walk onto Bateman Island nearing, the Tapteal Greenway plans a “historical stroll” around the island to share its history.
It will be led by Scott Woodward on Sunday, Nov. 23. Access to the causeway that has allowed people to walk onto the island could be closed for demolition as early as the first week of December.
The walk will start at 10 a.m. at the Lewis and Clark overlook in the Richland Wye near the intersection of Columbia Park Trail and Columbia Center Boulevard.
The two-hour event is not recommended for children 6 and younger.
The island at the center of the Tri-Cities has a 2.8-mile trail and is popular for fishing, walking, mountain biking and bird watching.
The causeway, built in the 1940s, allows easy access to the island at the confluence of the Yakima and Columbia rivers, but it also restricts the water flow near the Richland Wye, raising water temperatures and degrading the river’s water quality.
The Army Corps of Engineers is having the causeway demolished to improve habitat for salmon.
As water backs up on the south and west side of Bateman Island behind the causeway, summer water temperatures can be as high as 86 degrees for sustained periods and 90 degrees at times.
The warm water creates ideal conditions for non-native fish, such as smallmouth bass, that prey with voracious appetites on young salmon migrating to the ocean in the spring.
It promotes algal blooms and provides a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
It also may prevent salmon returning from the ocean from entering the warmer Yakima River to spawn.
This story was originally published November 20, 2025 at 12:58 PM.