Steward of the Year Award

The Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership has named Clark County Council Chair Sue Marshall as its 2025 Steward of the Year. This annual award honors individuals who demonstrate exceptional commitment to protecting and restoring the lower Columbia River and its tributaries.

Councilor Marshall was recognized for her strong advocacy of the East Fork Lewis River Reconnection Project. Her leadership included initiating a letter of support from the Clark County Council, authoring an editorial in the Ridgefield Reflector, and testifying before the state legislature to secure project funding. She has also visited the project site multiple times, observing lamprey surveys and restoration construction firsthand.

“Councilor Marshall’s efforts in support of the East Fork Lewis River Reconnection Project helped turn a 10-year planning process into a reality,” stated Elaine Placido, Executive Director of the Estuary Partnership, “She exemplifies what it means to be a steward of the Columbia River, its tributaries, and its communities. I am proud to honor her leadership and commitment to restoring this river for the benefit of people, salmon, and wildlife.”

Councilor Marshall is also a strong proponent of the Clark County Legacy Lands property acquisitions along the East Fork Lewis River. In 2024, the council voted to acquire 125 acres of land known as the “Ridgefield Pits”—the core project area for the East Fork Lewis River Reconnection Project. And last month the council purchased an additional 96 acres along the East Fork Lewis River known as the Lewis River Ranch Phase II project. Inspired by the Legacy Lands program goals to protect natural resources and provide public benefit, the county’s land acquisitions along the East Fork could one day lead the creation of a greenway trail between Lewisville Park and Paradise Park for passive recreation. 

The Steward of the Year award celebrates the dedication and hard work of those who champion environmental stewardship in the region. Past honorees include former Congressman Earl Blumenauer, former Port of Camas-Washougal CEO David Ripp, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, and many others. 

Councilor Marshall received the award during the Estuary Partnership’s 30th Anniversary Celebration, held at Hotel Indigo on the Vancouver Waterfront on Sunday, September 21, 2025.