CREST proposes to continue to implement estuary habitat restoration projects during this contract period. Projects developed, designed, and permitted during previous contract periods will move to construction. CREST will continue to develop and design BPA-approved new restoration projects working with landowners, stakeholders, and subcontracted design and engineering consultants. CREST will also continue to invest staff time in community outreach and project development including participating in regional meetings with BPA, the Corps, as well as partner coordination forums such as the Estuary Partnership's Science Work Group (SWG). CREST biologists will conduct Level 3 pre and post project evaluation (Action Effectiveness Monitoring; AEMR) at our restoration sites in coordination with partners and the Columbia Estuary Ecosystem Restoration Program (CEERP).  

Restoration of estuary habitat focuses on habitat opportunity, capacity, and realized function critical to the recovery of threatened/endangered salmon utilizing the Columbia River Estuary. CREST Habitat Restoration Program Deliverables include:
    1) Development of BPA-approved estuary habitat restoration projects.
    2) Presenting and prioritizing restoration projects based on guidance from BPA and the Expert Regional Technical Group (ERTG)
    3) Incorporating design feedback from the ERTG, Project Review Committee (PRC) and partners.
    4) Design, permit, and implementation of 2-5 estuarine restoration projects each year.
    5) Conduct CEERP Level 3 Action Effectiveness Monitoring and Research (AEMR) of restoration projects in coordination with regional partners.

The following projects are currently in full design, engineering, and permitting and will move to construction in 2025 and 2026:

• Hogan Ranch: This project will remove 3 water control structures and rock ford, along with 3 other berm removals, and marshplain lowering to reconnect approximately 170 acres of habitat to the Multnomah Channel and Scappoose Bay.
• Warren Slough: A new 60' long bridge will be installed to provide full fish passage to the 22 acres of floodplain habitat. Wetland and riparian plantings to improve wetland function.
• South Crane: This project will remove several water control structures, breach berms, perform marshplain lowering and channel excavation to provide full fish passage to approximately 67 acres of floodplain habitat on Sauvie Island. Wetland and riparian plantings will occur to improve wetland function.
• Toaheedliini: The Toaheedliini project will involve breaching (removing) sections of a deauthorized levee in a number of locations along the Walluski River, as well as creating new  marsh channels and enhancing existing channels into the interior of the wetlands. The project will result in fish passage barrier removal and full tidal inundation to approximately 55 acres along the Walluski River.
• Crosel Creek: This project will work with a planned ODOT project to remove a culvert with a tidegate, replacing it with a box culvert to allow full fish passage to approximately 55 acres of floodplain habitat.  Channel excavation, ditch fill, and topographic complexity mounding will provide improved in-channel and floodplain complexity across the site. Wetland and riparian plantings will occur to improve wetland function.
• Netul Landing: This project will involve the construction of a setback levee and breaching a levee in multiple locations to reconnect 24 acres of off-channel floodplain habitat. Channel excavation and marshplain lowering will improve off-channel and floodplain complexity. Wetland and Riparian plantings will occur to improve wetland function.

The following projects are currently included in the contract for design, engineering, and permitting phases with the plan to move to construction in future years:

• Carr Slough: Designs for the Carr Slough project will occur in 2025 and 2026. This project will entail breaching the existing railroad berm to create full fish access and hydrologic connectivity to approximately 121 acres of floodplain wetland habitat directly off of the mainstem Columbia River. Other project actions include creation of additional tidal channels, increased channel sinousity, marshplain lowering, and riparian and emergent plantings.
• Fertile Valley: Designs for the Fertile Valley project will begin in 2025 and continue through the end of the contract (6/30/2027). This project will entail breaching the existing railroad berm to create full fish access and hydrologic connectivity to approximately approximately 100 acres of floodplain wetland habitat directly off of the mainstem Columbia River. Other project actions include creation of additional tidal channels, increased channel sinousity, marshplain lowering, and riparian and emergent plantings.
• Netul Landing: Designs for the Netul Landing project will be finalized in 2025. The project involves breaching an existing levee, creation of new tidal channel, new culverts, and construction of a setback levee. The project will open up full fish access to 24 acres of floodplain habitat along the Lewis and Clark River.
• Toaheedliini: Designs for the Toaheedliini project will be completed during 2025 and 2026. Restoration actions for this project will include removing sections of the deauthorized levee along the Walluski River in multiple locations to an elevation that matches the interior marshplain elevation. Additional excavation will also occur in the interior of the wetland to enhance the wetland channel network to further improve tidal connectivity and fish access. The site will be revegetated with native plants following construction.
• Crosel Creek: Designs to occur in 2025 through 2026. Project will focus on wetland enhancement and reconnection of historic tidal channels throughout the 55 acre site.
• Colewort Creek: Ph3: Designs to commence in 2025 through June 2027. Restoration actions include installation of new bridge or large box culvert, removal of sections of levee, ditch fill, and reconnection of tidal channels.


CREST is also pursuing various projects at the feasibility design stage. These projects include:
Blind Slough, Clatsop Fairgrounds, Malarkey Ranch, Mansfield/Mathre, and Aaron/McNary.

CREST will pursue cost share for project engineering and construction during this contract period from the National Park Service, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, Salmon Recovery Funding Board, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership, and other funding sources.  

Within this contract, major work elements are directly related to implementation of previously designed projects and on engineering and permitting for outyear projects. Additional actions focus on action effectiveness monitoring, community outreach and project development.  

Projects in development will be subject to review by the Estuary Partnership's Project Review Committee (PRC) at 30% design and review and assignment of project benefits by the Expert Regional Technical Group (ERTG) at 60% design.  All projects in the estuary are also subject to cost benefit analysis and approval by BPA.  Each of the projects CREST is proposing during this contract undergoes a cost/PBU preliminary review and final scoring by ERTG.  If at any time during the scientific review and the ERTG process it is determined that proposed restoration projects do not meet BPA criteria for implementation, CREST will work with BPA to address these issues.

Post project evaluation (Level 3 AEMR) will be conducted by CREST biologists at many projects including: North Unit: Ph2, Buckmire, Bear/Mary/Ferris, Dairy Creek, Government Island, McCarthy: Ph2, John Day Crossing, West Sand Island, Woodland Islands, Hungry Harbor, Palensky, Dalton Lake, South Tongue Point, Aldrich Point, and Wolf Bay.

Both pre and post project monitoring will be conducted at Warren Slough and Hogan Ranch.  Pre project monitoring at Toaheedliini, Netul Landing, Crosel Creek, and South Crane will occur during this contract period.  Project monitoring is used at restoration sites to better quantify use and habitat lift for individual restoration sites and to inform benefits of restoration actions at projects in development.