Latest news & volunteer opportunities from the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership
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Construction underway! East Fork Lewis River Reconnection Project groundbreaking held on May 9
The Estuary Partnership and Clark County welcomed nearly 75 people on May 9, 2025, to celebrate the groundbreaking of the East Fork Lewis River Reconnection Project. Project supporters gathered beneath a Caterpillar 390 excavator to hear remarks from our Executive Director Elaine Placido, Clark County Councilor Sue Marshall, Washington State Representative Peter Abbarno, and Tapani’s co-owner, Kevin Tapani.
Washington State Representative Ed Orcutt and Battle Ground Mayor Troy McCoy were also in attendance, along with staff representatives from the offices of Governor Bob Ferguson, Senator Patty Murray, Senator Maria Cantwell, and Representative Marie Glusenkamp Perez.
Attendees toured a portion of the project site and learned about the process of filling abandoned gravel pits, heard how the Estuary Partnership is procuring nearly 5,000 logs for the restoration project (over 80% of which will come from sustainable sources), saw examples of side channel creation, and got updates on the construction process and schedule. After the on-site event, the celebration moved to Podunk Pizza in La Center to enjoy pizza and Exit 16 Brewing’s Restore the River IPA.
Thank you to everyone who attended the groundbreaking celebration. It was a fantastic way to honor the many people who helped make the vision for a restored East Fork Lewis River a reality.
Pitch in to help the East Fork Lewis River Reconnection Project
Do you have field work experience? Are you looking for an interesting and fun way to help with the largest habitat restoration project to ever occur on the East Fork Lewis River? We need volunteers to pitch in to help the fish, lamprey, and mussel salvage efforts June 17 through July 3.
Before construction can begin to restore the former gravel mines into healthy floodplain habitat, aquatic species currently residing within the project area must be safely relocated to a suitable area beyond the project boundaries. Completing the fish, lamprey, and mussel salvage efforts is essential to keeping the construction of East Fork Lewis River Reconnection Project on schedule. This is hard work but it’s very rewarding and essential to the project’s success.
Volunteers are required to arrive at 8:30 a.m. and stay until 4:30 p.m., must provide their own tall rubber boots or waders, and be comfortable working in challenging terrain. The Estuary Partnership will provide all the necessary equipment for the fish, lamprey, and mussel salvage efforts. More information and requirements are listed on the sign up form.
You are invited to help us kickstart the green stormwater infrastructure project at Rigler Elementary School in Northeast Portland with our partners at Depave this Saturday, June 7. On Depave Day, volunteers will work together to remove pavement to make way for gardens and green stormwater infrastructure.
Training and equipment to participate in Depave Day is provided by the dedicated staff and volunteer team at Depave.
After the community Depave Day, over the course of the summer, construction crews with Grasstains will install green stormwater management facilities, plant trees and shrubs, and upgrade the schoolyard amenities with new seating, a swing set, and a gravel walking path.
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 grant (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.
Welcome to the Estuary Partnership, Nick Lewis
Please join us in welcoming Nick Lewis to the team. Nick joined the team in April as a Restoration Ecologist and dove right into the East Fork Lewis River Reconnection Project construction effort.
Nick has nearly a decade of experience in habitat restoration contracting, team supervision, and project management with Ash Creek Forest Management. He has experience overseeing large-scale, multi-phase restoration projects involving invasive species removal and native plant restoration.
Nick holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy and environmental studies from the University of Oregon and a master's degree in environmental science and management from Portland State University, with a focus on ecology and habitat restoration. Originally from San Francisco, Nick has called Oregon home for 14 years and has become deeply committed to ecological restoration and the natural world around him. Welcome, Nick!
Summertime = the return of our Big Canoe community paddles
The sun is shining, and the temperatures are rising and that equals that return of our popular Big Canoe program!Our 29’ bright orange Big Canoes can carry up to 12 people – providing a stable, unique, and engaging way to explore local waterways, learn about watersheds and water quality, and connect with nature.
The Big Canoe paddle program schedule is already packed with trips to Vancouver Lake, the Tualatin River, and the Willamette River (stay tuned for more waterways to be added to the list!).
The summertime Big Canoe program is supported by the City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services Portland Harbor Community Grant, the Tualatin Soil and Water Conservation District Conservation Education Grant, and Clark County, City of Vancouver, and Port of Vancouver for Experience Vancouver Lake programs.
Steigerwald Reconnection Project featured in the Gorge Audio Series
Visitors to the Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge can learn about the historic restoration effort in a new audio series produced by the Columbia Gorge Tourism Alliance. The Steigerwald Reconnection Project audio series can be accessed by scanning a QR code at nine different locations along the Mountain View trail and online at the Accessible Gorge website.
Each location features a short audio recording focusing on different aspects of the site, its ecology, history, and restoration. The first stop in the audio series is at the trailhead of the Mountain View trail and features the Estuary Partnership’s Chief Scientist, Catherine Corbett, discussing the Steigerwald Reconnection Project.
Catherine Creek, Fort Cascades, Lyle Klickitat Trail, and North Bonneville were also included in the Gorge Audio Series.
What does a Research Scientist at the Estuary Partnership do over the winter? They brave the low temps, wind, and rain to accomplish the critical ecosystem monitoring efforts at four sites in the lower Columbia River: Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Reed Island, Welch Island (within the Julia Bulter Hansen Wildlife Refuge), and Whites Island.
At Steigerwald and Reed Island, the Research Scientists serviced and updated the multiparameter sondes that measure the water quality of Gibbons Creek and Steigerwald Lake, and the mainstem Columbia, respectively. At Welch Island and Whites Island, the Research Scientists inventoried the on-site monitoring equipment, took measurements, and flew the new Harris Aerial H6 HE+ drone to collect LiDAR and multispectral data to provide insights into ecosystem health.
Our Ecosystem Monitor Program began 20 years ago as a long-term status and trends study aimed at gathering information about salmon habitat and ecosystem health at relatively undisturbed sites throughout the lower Columbia River. This program is accomplished in partnership with researchers from NOAA, OHSU, and the University of Washington, and funded by the Bonneville Power Administration.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to our successful Earth Month campaign! With your support, we met our matching goal at a time when our rivers and natural areas need us the most, raising more than $10,000 and more than tripling gifts from generous individuals over last April. Thank you for caring for our Columbia River!
You're invite to celebrate 30 years of partnership
Mark your calendars and join us on Sunday, September 21 for our 30th Anniversary Celebration! The party takes place from 6-9:00 p.m. at the Hotel Indigo’s Edgewater Ballroom. 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 will go on sale soon.
Thank you to committed 30th Anniversary Celebration sponsors Inter-Fluve and the Port of Portland. 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.
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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