The focus of this project is to work in partnership to restore aquatic connectivity in tidal wetland environments in the lower columbia river estuary for the benefit of federal trust resources

The Columbia River Estuary Study Taskforce (CREST) will receive $249,781 through September 2027 under a Cooperative Agreement from the Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Region 1. The funding is part of the National Fish Passage Program administered by the Service under Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number 15.685.

CREST will work in partnership to restore aquatic connectivity in tidal wetland environments in the lower Columbia River estuary, benefiting federal trust resources. Specifically, CREST will support implementation projects to remove barriers to aquatic connectivity in Cathlamet Bay and at South Tongue Point. This will restore natural tidal wetland and fluvial connectivity as well as access for fish to important rearing habitats. CREST will secure permits and funding, coordinate with the Service on permit documentation and compliance, and oversee restoration project implementation. The projects are expected to restore 86 acres of floodplain habitat and directly benefit 13 listed salmonid species under the Endangered Species Act that utilize the estuary.

This project will support implementation to address barriers to aquatic connectivity in cathlamet BAY and at south tongue point to restore natural tidal wetland and fluvial connectivity as well as access for fish to important rearing habitats.crest will work with partners to secure funding and permits, work with FWS to document permits and compliance, and will oversee implementation of the tidal reconnection projects. The projects will restore 86 acres of floodplain habitat to directly benefit all 13 endangered species act listed columbia river adult and juvenile salmonids as they utilize the estuary during the outmigration and return migration life cycle.