Latest news & updates from the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership
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Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez visits the East Fork Lewis River Reconnection Project
Thank you, Congresswoman Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-3), for kicking off our Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service volunteer planting event at the East Fork Lewis River on January 19, 2026. The Congresswoman’s opening remarks included mention of her dear friend who remembers a time when the Columbia River froze over in the winter. The last time the Columbia River froze was 1930.
This was around the same time that gravel mining operations began along the East Fork Lewis River. Very few people with a living memory of the braided, wide floodplain of the East Fork Lewis River remain. But that is set to change. Over the past year, we’ve been working with Clark County, Tapani, and many other partners to restore the East Fork Lewis River to conditions like those that existed before impact.
New video: East Fork Lewis River Reconnection Project Year 1 recap
2025 was a big year for the East Fork Lewis River. Watch the new video recapping the first year of construction progress. And if you want more information about the restoration efforts, check out our project website.
Volunteer planting season is here!
We hope you'll join us for a fun, family-friendly volunteer event to restore a local greenspace, improve water quality, and create habitat for birds and other wildlife.
During these events, you will have the opportunity to learn about native plants, including how to identify and install them for optimal growth.
These volunteer opportunities include a 10–20 minute walk on trails with uneven surfaces. Gloves and tools are provided. Long-sleeved shirts, pants, sturdy shoes, and other weather-appropriate clothing are strongly recommended.
We’re thrilled to welcome Zoie Brauser to the team! Zoie joins our Monitoring Team as a limited-duration Field Research Technician focused on studying the carbon capture and methane release capabilities of Columbia River floodplains, including at the Wallooskee-Youngs Restoration Site near Astoria and at Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge.
Zoie holds a bachelor’s degree from New York University and will complete the Master of Science in Environmental Science and Management program with a GIS Graduate Certificate at Portland State University in June. Welcome, Zoie!
Thank you, Carl!
Please join us in thanking our VetsWork Intern, Carl Cruz, for his incredible contributions to the Estuary Partnership over the past ten months. Carl’s diverse skill sets, willingness to learn and to try new things, and positive attitude made him a favorite throughout the organization.
Carl quickly became an integral member of multiple teams within the Estuary Partnership: navigating groups down local waterways in our 29’ Big Canoes; leading volunteer planting efforts at important natural areas like Salmon Creek and the East Fork Lewis River; capturing and relocating fish, lamprey, mussels and other aquatic species away from the East Fork Lewis River project area prior to construction; and supporting our Ecosystem Monitoring and Action Effectiveness Monitoring programs with field work, data entry, equipment maintenance and UAV-captured lidar processingThank you, Carl!
State of the Estuary Chapter 1: Connecting People to the Columbia
Every five years, we release a report documenting conditions along the lower Columbia River and estuary. The delves into five specific indicators to mark the status, trends, opportunities, and challenges facing the Columbia River:
Connecting People with the Columbia
Habitat
Land Use
Imperiled Species
Water Quality
The first chapter of the 2025 report, Connecting People to the Columbia, is available now. Additional chapters will be released in the coming months.
Volunteer opportunity: water quality monitoring at Vancouver Lake
In partnership with Lacamas Watershed Council, a group of dedicated community members have begun a water quality monitoring program at Vancouver Lake.
Volunteers sample water quality weekly from April through early fall, and every two weeks throughout the rest of the year. Testing usually takes place on Wednesday or Thursday mornings, and includes pH, dissolved oxygen, and water temperature, as well as examining organisms through a microscope. Water quality monitoring results are shared with NOAA and Clark County.
If you’re interested in joining the volunteer monitoring efforts at Vancouver Lake, please contact Ellen Torres at vancouverlakewater@gmail.com or Cheryl Hryciw at hryciwc@gmail.com. There will be a training on Wednesday, March 25, from 12:00 - 4:00 p.m. at Lacamas Lake Lodge.
Save the Date: Earth Month kicks off March 31
It’s never too early to plan a trip to Astoria’s Fort George Brewery! We’ll be there on Earth Month-Eve (Tuesday, March 31). To celebrate Earth Month, Fort George is generously donating 10% of sales on March 31 to the Estuary Partnership. Stop in, grab a bite to eat and a pint to drink, and say hello! RSVP to get event updates and a reminder email about the event.
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.
