Columbia River Restoration

Project Description: Columbia Stock Ranch (CSR) is a site in the Lower Columbia River Estuary that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Portland District (CENWP) and Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), the Federal partner, have identified as a site for a Section 536 ecosystem restoration program project.  Section 536 authorizes USACE to implement ecosystem restoration projects in the Lower Columbia River estuary necessary to protect, monitor, and restore fish and wildlife habitat. Columbia Land Trust (CLT) purchased the CSR property with funding from BPA. In exchange, CLT granted BPA a perpetual conservation easement for restoration and future operation and maintenance. The CSR project complies with all of the requirements of Section 536 and the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The project consists of breaching an existing Section 408 levee, authorized by the 1936 Flood Control Act, to inundate excavated tidal channels, graded overbank tidal marshes, and existing floodplain areas; thereby restoring access and habitat for juvenile salmonids for rearing and refuge. A new setback levee will be constructed to ensure flood control and protection at the same levels as the current authorized levee structure.  In addition, two bridges will be installed to improve water and habitat connectivity through the railroad embankment and the site will be revegetated with native species.