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$25M Steigerwald restoration kicks off

Politicians, Gorge stewards turn out for Sept. 5 event

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A group of local and regional leaders, including Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership (LCEP) restoration ecologist Chris Collins (far left), Columbia Gorge Refuge Stewards president Dave Pinkernell (fifth from left), Port of Camas-Washougal chief executive officer David Ripp (sixth from left), LCEP executive director Debrah Marriott (seventh from left), congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore. (fifth from right), Washougal mayor Molly Coston (third from right) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service project leader Christopher Lapp (second from right), dig holes in the ground at Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge during a groundbreaking ceremony Sept. 5. (Photos by Doug Flanagan/Post-Record)

A group of local and regional leaders, including Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership (LCEP) restoration ecologist Chris Collins (far left), Columbia Gorge Refuge Stewards president Dave Pinkernell (fifth from left), Port of Camas-Washougal chief executive officer David Ripp (sixth from left), LCEP executive director Debrah Marriott (seventh from left), congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore. (fifth from right), Washougal mayor Molly Coston (third from right) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service project leader Christopher Lapp (second from right), dig holes in the ground at Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge during a groundbreaking ceremony Sept. 5. (Photos by Doug Flanagan/Post-Record)

Washougal Mayor Molly Coston speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony for the Steigerwald Floodplain Restoration Project on Sept. 5 at Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge. (Doug Flanagan/Post-Record)

Washougal Mayor Molly Coston speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony for the Steigerwald Floodplain Restoration Project on Sept. 5 at Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge. (Doug Flanagan/Post-Record)

Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.) speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony for the Steigerwald Floodplain Restoration Project on Sept. 5 at Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge.

Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.) speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony for the Steigerwald Floodplain Restoration Project on Sept. 5 at Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge.

Columbia Gorge Refuge Stewards president Dave Pinkernell leads a tour of Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge at Sept. 5.

Columbia Gorge Refuge Stewards president Dave Pinkernell leads a tour of Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge at Sept. 5.

A construction crew works at Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife on Sept. 5. The Steigerwald Floodplain Restoration Project will reconfigure the Port of Camas-Washougal's existing Columbia River levee system to reduce flood risk, reconnect 960 acres of Columbia River floodplain and increase recreation opportunities at the Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge.

A construction crew works at Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife on Sept. 5. The Steigerwald Floodplain Restoration Project will reconfigure the Port of Camas-Washougal's existing Columbia River levee system to reduce flood risk, reconnect 960 acres of Columbia River floodplain and increase recreation opportunities at the Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge.

Port of Camas-Washougal chief executive officer David Ripp speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony at Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge during a groundbreaking ceremony on Sept. 5.

Port of Camas-Washougal chief executive officer David Ripp speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony at Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge during a groundbreaking ceremony on Sept. 5.

Several years ago, Washougal Mayor Molly Coston, then the president of the Columbia Gorge Refuge Stewards, was approached by Chris Collins of the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership (LCEP), a Portland-based environmental protection nonprofit coalition of public and private groups.

Collins told Coston about the agency’s plan to reconfigure the Port of Camas-Washougal’s existing Columbia River levee system to reduce flood risk, re-connect 960 acres of Columbia River floodplain and increase recreation opportunities at the Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge.

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