Government Island Restoration

Location: This project is located on the mainstem of the Columbia River near the Portland International Airport.
Objective: The Government Island restoration reconnected 289 acres of off-channel habitat to the Columbia River. The Port of Portland is the landowner of Government Island and was an integral partner in this effort, along with Bonneville Power Administration.

Restoration elements included removing a large water control structure that was creating fish stranding conditions during high flood events. CREST also improved channel connections to the interior wetlands of the island at two separate locations and removed an old dock and 35 remnant pilings to maximize natural habitat conditions at the site. All equipment for this project had to be barged on and off the island, as there was no land access.
By restoring unimpeded access to nearly 300 acres of wetlands at Government Island, CREST and our project partners have reestablished off-channel habitat opportunities for migrating salmonids on a reach of the Columbia River that is almost entirely developed and has little off-channel habitat availability.

Location of Project