Mark your calendars and join us on Sunday, September 21 for our 30th Anniversary Celebration! The party takes place from 6:00-9:00 p.m. at Hotel Indigo’s Edgewater Ballroom on the Vancouver waterfront. We’ll celebrate our Steward of the Year, display a fun retrospective of our 30-year history, eat a delicious dinner catered by El Gaucho, and enjoy the fabulous emcee, Poison Waters.
The Edgewater Ballroom boosts floor-to-ceiling windows and a heated patio overlooking the mighty Columbia River. You’ll also have the chance to play fun auction games to raise the critical funds needed to ensure another three decades of success! Tickets are on sale now!
If you or your business is interested in learning about sponsorship benefits or donating an auction item to the event, contact Erinne Goodell by email or at (503) 500-5247.
WATCH: East Fork Lewis River temporary diversion dam installed
Over the past several weeks, the mainstem of the East Fork Lewis River was diverted into a new channel. We set up a time-lapse video to capture this important construction moment. Check it out!
The temporary diversion dam is allowing construction workers to fill and re-grade the Ridgefield Pits. They are also installing woody debris structures and creating side channels.
Before water levels rise, the temporary diversion dam will be removed so the mainstem of the East Fork Lewis River can flow through the newly restored river system. However, the diversion channel will remain, becoming one of the new channels that is recreating the braided river system that existed in this stretch of river prior to gravel mining. Learn more about the East Fork Lewis River Reconnection Project.
Environmental Educators reached over 3,000 students during the 2024-25 school year
The 2024–25 school year was a busy one for our Environmental Educators! From September 2024 through June 2025, our awesome Environmental Educators provided hands-on, science-based learning experiences for 3,226 students across 43 schools throughout the lower Columbia River. Science lessons ranged from fish dissections to watershed science and all classroom lessons culminated in one or more field trips to explore local natural areas on land or on the water in one of our Big Canoes – giving students a direct application of the science they studied in the classroom.
Here is what teachers had to say about the program:
"The Estuary Partnership's class lessons and field programs significantly enhanced our science curriculum by actively engaging my students in hands-on, interactive science learning. The lessons provided a perfect complement to our units on ecosystems, reinforcing key concepts such as erosion, invasive vs native plants, and watersheds. My students were fully engaged throughout the experience, particularly appreciating the real-world connections and the opportunity to explore science in an authentic, applied setting."
"One student shared that they had never been to Salmon Creek before or had the opportunity to plant a tree. On the field trip, this student was thrilled to plant over 10 trees, and their excitement was contagious. As they worked, they talked about how proud they felt to be making a positive impact on the environment. What stood out most was when they said they plan to return someday to find their trees and see how they've grown. This program not only provided a memorable learning experience but also inspired a sense of stewardship and a personal connection to the natural world that will stay with my students for years to come."
"My students were able to connect their ecosystem unit and their water cycle unit to real world experiences through this partnership. This is specifically beneficial to fifth graders because their science standards directly relate to ecosystems, plant and animal matter, the use of water, preservation of habitats and more."
"Bird identification was a great lesson to incorporate because we talk about animal adaptations. Also, native plants helps us tie in our study of plants as well as our Native American curriculum."
"This field trip means our kids get outside doing something many of them have never done before and that I certainly wouldn't be able to provide on my own."
"Many students have never been on water. This trip makes this possible for so many kids that may never get the opportunity. They get to learn about plants, animals, and how estuaries work in the estuary itself. Every year I am always so impressed with how well this program is put together and how it inspires kids to want to do more in nature."
The Estuary Partnership’s classroom and field-based environmental education aligns with state standards in Oregon and Washington. Our programming is provided at no cost to schools or students thanks to the financial support from the Camas Washougal Community Chest, Clackamas County Water Environmental Services, East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District, Washington Department of Ecology, Washington Recreation and Conservation Office in collaboration with Washington State Parks and Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Gray Family Foundation, the Lower Columbia Fish Recovery Board, US Fish and Wildlife Service Urban Refuges, the Port of Vancouver, the City of Vancouver, and Clark County. Thank you!
Pollinator Paradise
Green stormwater infrastructure does a great job of removing toxic pollution from runoff. It also has added benefit of boosting habitat for native pollinators. Here are a few native pollinators spotted at the Sitton Elementary School stormwater project in North Portland:
The green stormwater refresh was funded by an award from the Columbia River Basin Restoration Program. Last month, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (OR) and U.S. Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04) introduced the Columbia River Clean-Up Act to reauthorize the Columbia River Basin Restoration Program (CRBRP). Since 2016, the CRBRP has focused federal attention on reducing toxics and pollution through voluntary efforts throughout the Columbia River Basin, like our school stormwater program. The act was co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (OR) and Patty Murray (WA). Learn more about the Columbia River Basin Restoration Program.
Decade-long restoration effort wraps up in the Columbia River Gorge
This spring we finished our decade-long restoration effort in the scenic Columbia River Gorge’s Horsetail Creek floodplain. Our work to restore the 190 acres of the Horsetail Creek floodplain included:
Fish passage improvements to the culvert under Interstate 84 that connects the Horsetail floodplain to the Columbia River;
The reconnection of the artificially channelized Horsetail and Oneonta Creeks to their historic floodplain;
The creation of habitat complexity through the placement of large woody debris and beaver dam analogs; and
The planting and stewardship of over 150,000 native trees and shrubs to increase plant diversity at a site previously dominated by invasive reed canary grass.
Collectively, these actions enhanced habitat quality and complexity, increased native plant diversity, and improved water quality across 190 acres of Columbia River floodplain that serves as critical rearing habitat for threatened and endangered juvenile salmonids. Floodplains provide juvenile salmon a nutrient-rich respite from swift river water with ample spots to hide from predators.
We couldn’t have done all this alone. We are extremely grateful for our partnerships with the USFS Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Friends of the Columbia Gorge, and Oregon Department of Transportation. Additional funding for the Horsetail Creek Floodplain restoration project was provided by Bonneville Power Administration, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District, Portland General Electric, Oregon Community Foundation, One Tree Planted, Bonneville Environmental Foundation, and Arbor Day Foundation. Thank you for being a part of this restoration project!
Construction Underway on Green Stormwater Project at Rigler Elementary
Construction is officially underway on a transformative green stormwater infrastructure and schoolyard improvement project at Rigler Elementary School in Northeast Portland. Led by the Estuary Partnership in collaboration with Portland Public Schools and Juncus Studio, the project broke ground on June 16, with local contractor, Grasstains, taking the lead.
The project kicked off with a community-powered depave event on June 7, organized by the nonprofit Depave. More than 70 volunteers—including students, families, and neighbors—came together to remove several tons of asphalt by hand. By the end of construction, approximately 4,600 square feet of pavement will be removed from the schoolyard and parking lot.
Grasstains has begun mobilization, fencing, and initial demolition work in the parking lot and in the schoolyard and concrete form work and concrete pouring is complete already in certain areas.
The final project will new playground elements, green stormwater gardens, depaved areas with trees, a porous pavement running track, a gravel walking path, and other elements.
The project is expected to be partially completed by the time students and teachers return to Rigler for the 2025-26 school year. Final touches, including planting and landscaping, are scheduled for early fall when weather conditions are more favorable for these activities.
The start of the school year will also bring Estuary Partnership Environmental Educators onto the project site to work with three classes of 4th and 5th graders to provide students with hands-on science education related to water quality, native plants, and other topics related to the new green infrastructure.
These improvements are part of Rigler’s Resilient, Inclusive, Sustainable, and Equitable Schoolyard Vision Plan, developed in 2022 by Juncus Studio in collaboration with students, staff, and the PTA. The plan emphasizes increased tree canopy, inclusive play spaces, and infrastructure to filter polluted runoff—efforts that will improve water quality, reduce urban heat, and attract native wildlife.
The Riger Elementary School green stormwater infrastructure project is led by the Estuary Partnership in collaboration with Portland Public Schools, Rigler Elementary School, Padres Unidos De Rigler, Juncus Studios, Depave, and Urban Forestry’s Learning Landscapes Program. The project is funded by three grants awarded to the Estuary Partnership: a City of Portland Percent for Green Grant; a Rose Foundation Columbia River Fund (a grantmaking fund created by Columbia Riverkeeper and administered by the Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment), and an EPA Columbia River Basin Restoration Program award. Additional funding is provided by an East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District grant awarded to the Rigler PTA, Padres Unidos de Rigler.
Paddle adventures in our Big Canoes
Our Big Canoe community paddle program offers a fun, creative way to explore local waterways, learn about watersheds, and beat the summer heat.
There is still plenty of summertime left to paddle but here is a quick photo recap of our adventures thus far:
Afghan Men's Support Group paddling the Tualatin River. Paddle trip supported by a grant from the Tualatin Soil and Water Conservation District.
Members of the Multnomah County Fish Advisory group paddle with us through the Portland Harbor, a Superfund site. This trip was supported by a City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services Portland Harbor Community grant.
The two baby ospreys in a nest along Vancouver Lake have been a big hit with paddlers this season. This paddle trip was supported by an Experience Vancouver Lake grant funded by Clark County, the City of Vancouver, and the Port of Vancouver.
Additional paddle trips are supported by the Oregon State Marine Board Waterway Access Grant Program. Funding comes from the purchase of Waterway Access Permits by nonmotorized boaters.
2 ways to support the Estuary Partnership in your daily life
Fred Meyer Community Rewards
Link your Fred Meyer Rewards card to the Estuary Partnership by searching for "Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership" or using the code EG199. Every time you shop, a portion of your total comes to support hands-on restoration and education.
BottleDrop
Supporters in Oregon can donate their BottleDrop credit to the Estuary Partnership! Just contact us to request the special blue bags designated for nonprofits. Once your bag is full of redeemable cans and bottles, drop it off at any BottleDrop Redemption Center, and the refund will automatically be donated to the Estuary Partnership, supporting efforts to restore and care for the lower Columbia River. You can also donate proceeds from your personal BottleDrop account to the Estuary Partnership here.
Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership 400 NE 11th Avenue Portland, OR 97211
To restore and care for the waters and ecosystems of the lower Columbia River, for current and future generations of fish, wildlife, and people.
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