This agreement provides funding under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) (PL 117-58) to the lower columbia estuary partnership (lcep)

The recipient will support implementation of the comprehensive conservation and management plan (ccmp) and strategic plan to improve water quality, protect the natural habitat and living resources, and support sustainable human uses. In their 2024-2025 bipartisan infrastructure law (BIL) funded budget, these funds are primarily projected to support a total of 3.5 FTE of their projected 27.05 FTE of available lcep staff resources that are implementing their EPA approved comprehensive conservation management plan, and includes activities that are related achieving their overall management goals including activities and projects to: restore 25,000 acres of habitat by 2025, conserve land to protect water quality and habitat; reduce impacts from land use practices; reduce armored shoreline by 10% by 2025; maintain impervious surface at no more than 15%; reduce or remove contaminants and clean-up contaminated sites to improve water quality; provide education and engagement activities while providing state of the art data and information for a range of audiences; reach 5,000 students each year and host at least ten volunteer events each year, while convening and coordinating with partners to enhance regional strategies and partnerships that heighten protection of the lower columbia river.activities:the activities proposed include several broad project types during the life of the BIL funding, those project types include: habitat restoration projects of varying size and complexity that are intended to identify, protect, conserve, and enhance priority habitats throughout the estuary. Water trail non-motorized boat access and infrastructure projects that are focused on education and stewardship, with emphasis on improving public access to the lower columbia river. Stormwater and green infrastructure projects intended to improve water quality and reduce contaminates to the lower columbia river study area. Assessment and monitoring projects intended to provide data on the status and trends of ecosystem conditions in the estuary; expand regional monitoring of toxic and conventional pollutants; and expand knowledge and understanding of the value of blue carbon within the estuary study area. Subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:specific benefits will focus on the following potential benefits: increased technical assistance and community engagement of disadvantaged communities; increased floodplain mitigation benefits; green stormwater infrastructure; community engagement and training; abandoned gravel mine land areas; and increase community resilience to climate change. Anticipated outcomes and deliverables include: increase habitat and habitat function for multiple species; restoring 25,000 acres of habitat by 2025, identifying and conserving land needed to protect water quality and habitat; helping to reduce impacts from land use practices; reducing armored shoreline by 10% by 2025; maintaining impervious surface at no more than 15%; conducting monitoring activities that are intended to identify opportunities to reduce or remove contaminants and clean-up contaminated sites to improve water quality; providing education and engagement activities while providing state of the art data and information for a range of audiences; reaching up to 5,000 students each year and hosting at least ten volunteer events each year, while convening and coordinating with partners to enhance regional strategies and partnerships that heighten protection of the lower columbia river and associated aquatic resources. The intended beneficiaries of this grant and national program are the citizens of oregon and washington that live, work and recreate along the 146 miles of the lower columbia river and its connected estuary.