For thousands of years, the Columbia River has cut a magnificent channel through the volcanic plateaus of the Pacific Northwest. It brings power and energy, food, and endless recreation opportunities. But for the treasure it is, the Columbia River is in trouble. In the last 120 years, we have destroyed more than half of the habitat and we have left toxic contaminants in fish tissue and sediment. We have made some choices that, given the chance, we can change. Join us. The stewardship we build lasts a lifetime.
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Make a Donation to the Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership Your tax deductible donation can benefit the Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership's education and stewardship programs. The Estuary Partnership is a 501 (C)(3) Non-Profit Organization.
The Estuary Partnership is accepting proposals for habitat restoration projects in the lower Columbia River and estuary. For this funding opportunity, projects must improve or protect salmonid habitat and be located within the range of contemporary tidal influence. Applications will be accepted throughout the year, and reviewed by the Estuary Partnership’s Science Work Group three times per year. The next review cycle will take place in February 2012. To be considered for funding during this review cycle, applications must be submitted by January 20th. Individual award amounts are expected to range between $50,000 and $500,000, although all requests that meet the criteria of this funding opportunity will be considered. These funds can be used to support all phases of restoration projects including planning and design, permitting, implementation, monitoring, and reporting. Click Here, or contact Evan Haas (503-226-1565 x 238) for more information on this funding opportunity.
Summit Reviews Effects of Climate on Estuary On Friday, June 3rd the Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership hosted its annual Science to Policy Summit with the focus Climate Change: Adapting our Actions. An outstanding panel of leading climate scientists presented current research: Dr. Philip Mote, Director of the Oregon Climate Change Research Institute; Dr. Robert Bilby, Weyerhaeuser Co. Technology Center; Dr. Richard Feely, NOAA, Pacific Marine Environmental Lab; and, Dr. Curtis Roegner, NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service. Northwest Power and Conservation Council member and former Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury offered a challenge to focus on the science and the impacts as we move forward. Nearly 100 community leaders, practitioners and scientists gathered at the Vancouver Hilton to hear about current issues, resources, and the impacts of climate change and to discuss potential adaptations for the lower Columbia River region. Oregon Senator Jackie Dingfelder and Washington Senator Craig Pridemore were the honorary co-hosts, continuing the cross-river partnership.
Diverse Audience Attends Sediment Management Workshop Members of the California Coastal Sediment Management Workgroup (CSMW) drew more than 60 people to Portland State University on May 9 to learn about the development and implementation of Regional Sediment Management Plans in California. The workshop was designed to share lessons learned in California with Oregon and Washington stakeholders interested and engaged in sediment management activities in the lower Columbia River and elsewhere. The Estuary Partnership, Lower Columbia Solutions Group and CSMW organized the workshop with funding from the West Coast Governor’s Agreement on Ocean Health. Presentations from the workshop are linked below. Regional Sediment 101 – Cliff Davenport
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Call for Abstracts Please consider submitting an abstract for the 2012 Columbia River Estuary Conference. The biennial conference will be held May 15-17, 2012 at the Liberty Theater in Astoria, Oregon. The theme of the 2012 conference is “New Scientific Findings and their Management Implications”. Presentations that provide new scientific findings, contribute to a better understanding, describe innovative techniques or discuss new emerging issues for the lower Columbia River and estuary ecosystems or ESA listed species are welcome. All presentations should include a synthesis and interpretation of results and a discussion of the application of these findings to management. Click here for more information.
2011 Year in Review Report Now Available This brochure reports on the work of the Estuary Partnership and our partners over the last year to protect and improve the lower Columbia River. Read highlights on the progress and successes made towards the goal of a healthy Columbia River along with the challenges we still face.
The Estuary Partnership’s 12th Annual Dinner & Art Gala brought the Portland Art Museum to life on November 5th. Guests gathered to support the Estuary Partnership and got busy bidding on art in the Art Scramble and later on fabulous live auction packages. Congressman Earl Blumenauer spoke about his ongoing work in Congress to support restoration of the Columbia. Amy Borde, PNNL, Lyndal Johnson NOAA and Jennifer Morace, U.S. Geological Survey were each presented a 2011 Stewardship Award in recognition of their scientific contributions to protect the Columbia River. Proceeds from the event support our Outdoor Education Programs that bring classroom lessons, field programs, service learning and canoe experiences to students in kindergarten through the twelfth grade. View photos of the event here.
Funds are available to help project sponsors develop, design, and implement habitat restoration projects in the lower Columbia River and estuary. Funds can be used to initiate concept designs, access engineering, hydrology, geotechnical and other technical expertise, collect critical baseline data, and for other purposes. No matching funds are required for this funding opportunity. Projects must be suitable for eventual funding through the Estuary Partnership’s Habitat Restoration Program, which uses funding provided by the Bonneville Power Administration’s Fish and Wildlife Program to support salmonid restoration efforts. Contact Evan Haas (503-226-1565 x 238) with any questions or for more information. Click Technical Assistance Application for more info.
The Estuary Partnership is accepting proposals for habitat restoration projects in the lower Columbia River and estuary. For this funding opportunity, projects must address salmonid restoration and protection. Applications will be accepted throughout the year, and reviewed by the Estuary Partnership’s Science Work Group three times per year (typically January, April and September). The next review cycle is anticipated for January 2012. The Estuary Partnership estimates that up to $2,000,000 will be available annually for restoration projects. Individual award amounts are expected to range between $50,000 and $500,000, although all requests that meet the criteria of this request for proposals will be considered. These funds can be used to support all phases of restoration projects including planning and design, permitting, implementation, evaluation and reporting. Applications are due mid January 2012. Click here for more information. Estuary Partnership Science Work Group Meeting SWG meetings take place the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Estuary Partnership office. Meeting materials and past presentations are archived on our website's SWG page. Contact Catherine Corbett (503.226.1565 x. 240) for more information.
At a September 23rd press conference on the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, EPA Region 10 administrator Dennis McLerran released EPA's plan to reduce toxic contamination in the Columbia River. The plan provides a framework for reducing contamination from DDT, PCB, mercury, flame retardants (such as PBDEs), and other toxics that are causing ecosystem and human health concerns in the Columbia River Basin. The Estuary Partnership, along with more than 15 other organizations helped develop the plan. Check out the full Toxics Reduction Action Plan, EPA's September 2010 Toxics Reduction Newsletter, EPA's State of the River Report for Toxics, or press from the Action Plan's release: Columbian Oregonian.
Restoration work at Mirror Lake continued in late August when an excavator placed large woody debris to create pools that capture organic-rich debris, enhance the food chain, and create places for salmon to rest, feed, and hide from predators. The Estuary Partnership is coordinating restoration work at the site with project partners the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, Oregon Department of Transportation and others. The Bonneville Power Administration and Oregon's salmon license plate fund are providing project funds.
The lower Columbia River and estuary, as part of the entire Columbia River Basin, moved one step closer to receiving resources to reduce toxic contaminant and improve ecosystem conditions when the Columbia River Basin Restoration Act of 2010 was unanimously passed by the Senate's Environment and Public Works Committee on June 30th. The Act was introduced by Senator Merkley (D-OR) with co-sponsorship from Senators Wyden (D-OR), Crapo (R-ID), Baucus (D-MT), and Tester (D-MT). A similar bill was introduced in the House in February by Representative Blumenauer (D-OR). For more information view the Estuary Partnership press release.
In the last 10 years, over 100 partners have been protected or restored 15,700 acres of habitat in the lower Columbia River! The Habitat Restoration 2000-2009 Brochure provides a moment to celebrate and pause to assess the successes, challenges and changes in the system and knowledge.  Estuary Partnership Expands Habitat Restoration Goal to 19,000 AcresOn July 30, 2009, the Estuary Partnership Board of Directors voted unanimously to expand their habitat restoration goal to 19,000 acres by 2014. Amending their Management Plan’s original goal of 16,000 acres aligns the Estuary Partnership with the US EPA’s 2009-2014 goal for the lower Columbia River region and estuary. View the Press Release and the related Oregonian Article. |
Estuary Habitat Restoration Proposals Due January 20th 
NOAA Fisheries Estuary Recovery Plan Module Available 
