Wednesday April 23, 2025
The Columbian —
After a decade in the making, crews broke ground last week on Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership’s major habitat restoration project on the East Fork Lewis River.
Getting to the construction phase hasn’t been easy. It’s taken hundreds of hours of planning, design, writing grant applications, getting permits, speaking with area residents, as well as coordinating with local, county and state officials and staff, businesses, and environmental groups.
“First and foremost, it took Clark County’s vision for restoring the river. They have acquired strategic properties throughout this area and recognized that this river is a recreational, environmental gem for Clark County,” said Jasmine Zimmer-Stucky, public affairs manager for the partnership. “We wouldn’t be here if the county had not prioritized the restoration of this river for salmon, flood and erosion risk protection, and recreation.”
The restoration project covers a 3-mile stretch of the river impacted by past gravel mining operations, as well as development. One main area of focus is the Ridgefield Pits, nine abandoned pit mines about 4 miles upstream from La Center.