Columbia River Estuary Study Taskforce
  • About
    • Our Approach
    • The CREST Story >
      • Background | CREST
      • Origins of CREST
      • CREST's Current Vision
    • Team >
      • Objectives
      • Denise Lofman
      • Jason Smith
      • Jess Hoch
      • Jay Horita
      • Zach Bigelow
      • Kyle Purdy
      • Narayan Elasmar
      • Garrett Phillips
      • Robert Henicksman
      • Mandy Flaitz
      • Becky Onsgaard
    • In The News
  • Services
    • Restoration Planning & Implementation
    • Ecosystem Research & Monitoring
    • Environmental Planning & GIS Mapping
    • Wetland Delineations & Assessments
    • Resource Library >
      • Available Documents
  • CREST Projects
    • Reach A, Coastal Lowlands Entrance >
      • Colewort Creek Wetland Enhancement
      • Fee-Simon Wetland Enhancement
      • Ft Columbia Tidal Reconnection
      • Hungry Harbor
      • Megler Creek
      • Otter Point Estuarine Restoration
      • West Sand Island
    • Reach B, Coastal Uplands Salinity Gradient >
      • Bear, Mary's, and Ferris Creeks
      • Gnat Creek Wetland Enhancement
      • Harlow Creek
      • Karlson Island Wetland Enhancement
      • South Tongue Point Wetland
    • Reach D, Western Cascades Tributary Confluences >
      • Dibblee Point Wetland Restoration
    • Reach E, Tidal Flood Plain Basin Constriction
    • Reach F, Middle Tidal Flood Plain Basin >
      • 3-Finger Jack Restoration
      • Bridge at Buckmire Slough
      • Crane Wetlands Restoration
      • Deep/Widgeon Restoration
      • Domeyer Wetlands Restoration
      • Flights End Restoration
      • McCarthy Creek Restoration
      • Millionaire Lake Restoration
      • Ruby Lake Restoration
      • South Bachelor Island Restoration
      • South Slough Restoration
      • Sturgeon Lake/Dairy Creek Restoration
      • Willow Bar Restoration
    • Reach G, Upper Tidal Flood Plain Basin >
      • Government Island Restoration
  • Partnerships
    • CREST Members >
      • Oregon Members
      • Washington Members
    • CREST Partners >
      • Bonneville Power Administration
      • Columbia Land Trust
      • Lewis & Clark National Historic Park
      • Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership
      • National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
      • North Coast Land Conservancy
      • North Coast Watershed Association
      • OR Department of State Lands
      • OR Department of Fish & Wildlife
      • OR Watershed Enhancement Board
      • PC Trask & Associates
      • US Army Corp of Engineers
      • USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
      • US Fish & Wildlife Service
      • WA Dept of Fish & Wildlife
      • WA Dept of Natural Resources
      • WA Dept of Transportation
      • West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District
  • Contact
    • RFP's
    • Meetings
    • Employment

Background

Why protect and restore the Columbia River Estuary?

PictureYoungs Bay Bridge at Sunset
Signed in 1961, the Columbia River Treaty between Canada and the United States authorized dams to be built along the length of the river and its numerous tributaries from central British Columbia through Washington and Oregon. The purpose was to control flooding and meet the demand for hydroelectricity in the neighboring communities. In addition to dams and infrastructure already in place, this treaty led to further development, resulting in 14 major dams and diversion of various streams and smaller tributaries.  
Of the many impacts to the natural habitats during and beyond this period of development, one of the most adverse effects was to the life cycle of several anadromous species of fish -those that spend their adult life in the ocean, and migrate to breed in freshwater. Such fish include Chinook, Coho, Chum and Steelhead salmon, as well as White Sturgeon and Eulachon (smelt). Migratory pathways to adult spawning areas were obstructed by dams, and floodplain wetlands critical for juvenile rearing and growth on the way to the ocean were disconnected with levees and tide gates . Combined with impacts from overfishing, hatchery practices, habitat loss, and the concentration of predators, most fish stocks experienced rapid declines and loss of genetic diversity.  The subsequent lack of resilience in wild fish stocks means not only jeopardy for the fish themselves, but for the entire ecosystem that depends on the fish for nutrition, including animals, birds, indigenous tribes, and local fisheries. 
The estuary at the mouth of the Columbia River, located near Astoria, OR, is also a very productive mixing zone between river and ocean processes – physical, chemical and biological.  In the estuary, factors such as pollution from upstream urban areas, diversion of wetlands and streams, and increases of predatory populations continue to threaten juvenile salmon and the multi-generational livelihoods and traditions of the people who live here.


CREST's mission is to provide locally-based, high quality environmental planning, habitat restoration, and research services to the Columbia-Pacific Region."

Picture
© Copyright 2020 CREST - Designed by Ham It Up Strategies 
Columbia River Estuary Study Taskforce
​818 Commercial Street, Suite 203
Astoria, Oregon  97103
503-325-0435
Fax 503-325-0459
Site Directory
  • About
    • Our Approach
    • The CREST Story >
      • Background | CREST
      • Origins of CREST
      • CREST's Current Vision
    • Team >
      • Objectives
      • Denise Lofman
      • Jason Smith
      • Jess Hoch
      • Jay Horita
      • Zach Bigelow
      • Kyle Purdy
      • Narayan Elasmar
      • Garrett Phillips
      • Robert Henicksman
      • Mandy Flaitz
      • Becky Onsgaard
    • In The News
  • Services
    • Restoration Planning & Implementation
    • Ecosystem Research & Monitoring
    • Environmental Planning & GIS Mapping
    • Wetland Delineations & Assessments
    • Resource Library >
      • Available Documents
  • CREST Projects
    • Reach A, Coastal Lowlands Entrance >
      • Colewort Creek Wetland Enhancement
      • Fee-Simon Wetland Enhancement
      • Ft Columbia Tidal Reconnection
      • Hungry Harbor
      • Megler Creek
      • Otter Point Estuarine Restoration
      • West Sand Island
    • Reach B, Coastal Uplands Salinity Gradient >
      • Bear, Mary's, and Ferris Creeks
      • Gnat Creek Wetland Enhancement
      • Harlow Creek
      • Karlson Island Wetland Enhancement
      • South Tongue Point Wetland
    • Reach D, Western Cascades Tributary Confluences >
      • Dibblee Point Wetland Restoration
    • Reach E, Tidal Flood Plain Basin Constriction
    • Reach F, Middle Tidal Flood Plain Basin >
      • 3-Finger Jack Restoration
      • Bridge at Buckmire Slough
      • Crane Wetlands Restoration
      • Deep/Widgeon Restoration
      • Domeyer Wetlands Restoration
      • Flights End Restoration
      • McCarthy Creek Restoration
      • Millionaire Lake Restoration
      • Ruby Lake Restoration
      • South Bachelor Island Restoration
      • South Slough Restoration
      • Sturgeon Lake/Dairy Creek Restoration
      • Willow Bar Restoration
    • Reach G, Upper Tidal Flood Plain Basin >
      • Government Island Restoration
  • Partnerships
    • CREST Members >
      • Oregon Members
      • Washington Members
    • CREST Partners >
      • Bonneville Power Administration
      • Columbia Land Trust
      • Lewis & Clark National Historic Park
      • Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership
      • National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
      • North Coast Land Conservancy
      • North Coast Watershed Association
      • OR Department of State Lands
      • OR Department of Fish & Wildlife
      • OR Watershed Enhancement Board
      • PC Trask & Associates
      • US Army Corp of Engineers
      • USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
      • US Fish & Wildlife Service
      • WA Dept of Fish & Wildlife
      • WA Dept of Natural Resources
      • WA Dept of Transportation
      • West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District
  • Contact
    • RFP's
    • Meetings
    • Employment