Lewis’s description of the Camas-Washougal area in his journal, March 31st 1806:

We continued our rout along the N. side of the river passed diamond Island (Government Island) and whitebrant island (Lady Island) to the lower point of a handsom prarie opposite to the upper entrance of the Quicksand river (Sandy River) … a little below the upper point of the Whitebrant Island Seal river (Washougal River) discharges itself on the N. side. it is about 80 yards wide, and at present discharges a large body of water. the water is very clear. the banks are low and near the Columbia overflow and form severl large ponds. the natives inform us that it is of no great extent and heards into the mountains just above us. at the distance of one mile from the entrance of this stream it forks, the two branches being nearly of the same size. they are both obstructed with falls and innumerable rappids, insomuch that it cannot be navigated. as we could not learn any name of the natives for this stream we called it Seal river from the great abundance of those animals which we saw about it’s entrance.