The Columbia Estuary Ecosystem Restoration Program (CEERP) aims to implement an ecosystem-based approach to understand, conserve, and restore the Columbia River Estuary, using science-based strategies and adaptive management to achieve measurable outcomes.
Columbia Estuary Ecosystem Restoration Program
Understand, conserve, and restore ecosystems in the Columbia River Estuary
Emerging Science
The program’s Expert Regional Technical Group (ERTG), a group of interdisciplinary scientists tasked with evaluating proposed projects, has new guidance on incorporating climate resilience into CEERP.
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Analysis of Future Stressors: ERTG considers long-term environmental trends and projections specific to the Columbia River Estuary region.
Resilience Strategies: ERTG develops strategies to enhance ecosystem resilience in the face of projected stressors.
CEERP Integration: ERTG incorporates project resilience guidance into CEERP’s restoration planning and implementation processes.
Ecosystem Restoration
Restoring estuary habitat can be complex. CEERP’s restoration partners are well versed in designing and implementing projects that benefit the estuary and broader ecosystem.
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Wetland Restoration
Reconnecting floodplains and restoring native plant communities to improve habitat quality.
Fish Passage Improvement
Enhancing connectivity for aquatic species throughout the estuary.
Beneficial Use of Dredged Material
Optimizing sediment distribution to support natural ecosystem processes.
Monitoring
As part of CEERP’s adaptive management structure, we monitor restoration sites to understand how they support salmon and contribute to the larger ecosystem. Over the past 20 years, we have paired our Action Effectiveness Monitoring and Research of restored sites with long-term status and trends data from our Ecosystem Monitoring Program—tracking conditions at reference sites to better understand physical and biological processes in the estuary and tidal river, and the extent to which CEERP actions improve habitat conditions.
Action Effectiveness Monitoring & Research
(AEMR)
Evaluating the impact of restoration actions on ecosystem health.
Ecosystem Monitoring Program
(EMP)
Tracking long-term trends in wetland ecosystem health and function.
Synthesis Memo 3
CEERP is developing a new Synthesis Memo as part of its ongoing adaptive management process. Distilling new learning from 2017 to 2023 since Synthesis Memo 2 and evaluating overall changes in the knowledge base since the estuary was first included in hydropower mitigation plans in 2000, this document will help guide the program into the future. Learn about how the monitoring and research community came together to share their thoughts on the future of science in the estuary. Stay tuned—Synthesis Memo 3 is scheduled to be published in 2025–2026.
Read the Synthesis Memos
- Synthesis Memo 1 (2012)
- Synthesis Memo 2 (2018)
- Synthesis Memo 3 (in progress)
1
Engage the community
Gather input from diverse stakeholders and researchers.
2
Analyze data
Synthesize 5 years of monitoring and research data.
3
Plan for the future
Develop recommendations for future estuary science and management.
4
Publish memos
Release the comprehensive Synthesis Memo 3 to guide CEERP’s future efforts.
Research
Many estuarine researchers have chosen the Columbia River Estuary as their focus—for good reason! The Columbia River Estuary is a complex landscape that balances intricate environmental systems while supporting services like recreation, navigation, flood control, and commerce. Several research institutions are hard at work uncovering how the estuary functions from many perspectives—sediment, hydrology, fish ecology, vegetation, and more. Our multidisciplinary research community is investigating all angles to better understand this complex system and inform program management and restoration approaches to optimize restoration effectiveness.
Sediment
Study sediment composition, transport, and change over time.
Hydrology
Investigate water flow patterns and dynamics in a variety of habitats.
Fish
Examine fish movement, food webs, and habitat use to support fish health and survival.
Vegetation
Analyze wetland plant communities and how they change over time.
Community and Resources
We are a community dedicated to sharing program resources and information. We aim to be transparent about our work because feedback makes us better. Want to learn more about who we are and what we’ve learned?
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UNDERSTAND | CONSERVE | RESTORE