The Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership works to protect and restore the nationally significant lower Columbia River estuary with on-the-ground improvements and education and information programs. To augment existing efforts, the Estuary Partnership focuses on bringing together the whole picture; building capacity of partners and leverage resources and providing information; and removing barriers to better management of the lower Columbia River through collaboration, convening and coordination.

Mission
To preserve and enhance the water quality of the estuary to support its biological and human communities.

Guiding Principle
The health of the river will not significantly improve if new problems continually emerge even as old ones are addressed and solved.

Who We Are
What We Do
Where We Focus
How We Do It

Who We Are
The Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership, one of 28 programs in the National Estuary Program, is a two-state, public-private initiative. Using a watershed approach, the Estuary Partnership cuts across political boundaries - integrating 28 cities, 9 counties, and the states of Oregon and Washington over an area that stretches 146 miles from Bonneville Dam to the Pacific Ocean. The Estuary Partnership is a 501(C)(3) non-profit corporation with a 21 member Board of Directors representing the diverse interests and geography of northwest Oregon and southwest Washington.

Our primary responsibility is to implement the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan for the Lower Columbia River (Management Plan). The Management Plan was developed by bringing together diverse interests to reach consensus on how to protect this complex portion of the Columbia River. Its actions are based on scientific studies, the visions and objectives developed for seven priority issues, and significant input from citizens of the lower Columbia River and estuary. The Management Plan has no regulatory authority, and the Management Plan actions rely on voluntary participation. The plan continues to be supported by a broad stakeholder group now engaged in its implementation.

What We Do
The Estuary Partnership works concertedly in three areas to:

• Increase habitat and habitat functions by restoring 16,000 acres of wetlands by 2010; improve land use practices to protect ecosystems by reducing runoff of toxic and conventional pollutants into waterways.
• Provide education, information, and volunteer programs to all citizens, including children; implement and sustain long term monitoring to evaluate the river over time; and heighten coordination among existing entities.
• Evaluate the impact of actions and prevent toxic and conventional pollution; eliminate persistent bioaccumulative toxics; reduce PAHs and heavy metal discharges associated with petroleum powered vehicles and equipment; and reduce bacterial contamination.

Where We Focus
We work within our study area, a 146 mile segment of the Columbia River and nearby acreage from the Bonneville Dam to the mouth of the Pacific Ocean.

How We Do It
The Estuary Partnership provides a regional framework to support and enhance local efforts. That support includes providing funds to local entities. Many public and private partners help the Estuary Partnership accomplish its work. Funding from the states of Oregon and Washington and Congress – through the National Estuary Program – supports base operations and help secure matching public and private dollars. Every dollar invested in the Estuary Partnership currently leverages eight additional dollars.

Visit the Implementation page to learn more about the activities and accomplishment of the Estuary Partnership.