Kerry Island Esturary Restoration

Kerry Island is a part of the Lower Columbia River Estuary in Oregon, and has been severely degraded by agriculture and industrial development. The Columbia Land Trust acquired the land and removed a levee to restore tidal fluctuations. They also restored marsh habitat, improving populations of important fish species. Levee removal restored the floodplain’s daily inundation and reversed the loss of sediment deposition, nutrient exchange, and salmon habitat. This project aids the recovery of Pacific salmon, a critical source of food, livelihood, and culture for native tribes and communities throughout the Pacific Northwest.