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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 6, 1995
EPA Names the Lower Columbia River to the National Estuary Program
Olympia -- Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved the lower Columbia River to be part of the National Estuary Program. The National Estuary Program is focused on protecting and restoring the health of estuaries while supporting economic and recreational activities.
"This is excellent news for our state and the health of the environment. The Columbia River is a resource of local, regional, national, and international significance," said Washington State Governor Mike Lowry. "Having the lower Columbia River named a national estuary means, along with many others, we will continue to work to protect and improve the health of the Columbia River."
The distinction of being a national estuary means federal funding for continued research, planning and specific activities geared at protecting the river will be provided. In total, the EPA will be giving Washington and Oregon $2 million during the next three years toward improving the health of the lower Columbia River.
The Puget Sound is the only other national estuary designated in Washington state. Approximately $100 million has gone into the cleanup and protection of the Puget Sound, since it was listed as a national estuary.
The Department of Ecology in Washington state and the Department of Environmental Quality in Oregon state are currently assessing the health of the lower Columbia River through the Lower Columbia River Bi-State Water Quality Program, which they jointly manage. The agencies are in the fourth year of that Program, and will be completing technical studies this year. The preliminary results show that some contaminants may be present in the water, sediments and fish tissue at concentrations which could impair beneficial uses such as swimming, boating and fishing.
"The Lower Columbia River Bi-State Program has given our states a great deal of information about the lower Columbia River. Now we need to use that information to better protect that valuable resource," said Governor Lowry. "The National Estuary Program will provide the additional technical and financial resources that are needed to identify specific actions that we need to take next."
The departments of Ecology and Environmental Quality have been working with several interest groups, including the public ports, industries, environmental groups, tribes, local governments, and others to improve and protect the water quality in the lower Columbia River. Now the agencies will prepare a plan with the interested parties to determine just how the national estuary program will go forward.
The Environmental Protection Agency approved a total of seven estuaries throughout the nation to become part of the National Estuary Program.
For more information contact the Governor's Communications Office at 360-753-6790, Helen Bresler, Dept. of Ecology at 360-407-6480 or Mary Getchell, Dept. of Ecology at 360-407-6157.
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
