Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and
Ron Wyden announced today that the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership (LCEP)
will be receiving $1,818,000 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) for habitat restoration and conservation through the National Estuary
Program.
“Climate chaos and human actions are threatening to lead to
the permanent loss of plants and animals that have defined Oregon, including
salmon and steelhead,” said Senator Merkley, who, as Chair of the
Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and the Environment, wrote the
legislation funding the EPA. “These EPA funds will help the Columbia River
Estuary become more resilient to climate chaos, and at the same time provide
opportunities for Oregonians of all ages to access, enjoy, and learn about what
makes the Columbia River special.”“A healthy, resilient Columbia River Estuary protects our
state’s natural treasures, such as our iconic salmon and steelhead populations
as well as other essential drivers of our state’s economy and quality of
life,” Wyden said. “These restoration resources now flowing into
our state add up to a greener and healthier future for the Columbia River
Estuary and the surrounding communities.”
The EPA’s National Estuary Program (NEP) funds projects to
restore water quality and ecological integrity across 28 estuaries of national
significance and received funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
NEPs have also been at the forefront of addressing climate impacts and
environmental justice disparities in their watersheds and is part of President
Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver at least 40% of the overall
benefits from certain federal investments to underserved communities.
The award to LCEP is for habitat restoration projects of
varying size and complexity, water trail non-motorized boat access and
infrastructure projects that are focused on education and stewardship,
stormwater and green infrastructure projects intended to improve water quality
and reduce contaminates to the Lower Columbia River study area, and assessment
and monitoring projects intended to provide data on the status and trends of
ecosystem conditions in the estuary.
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