The Washington Department of Ecology awarded the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership $5.4 million to further floodplain restoration along the lower East Fork Lewis River.
The conservation group will regrade three miles of the river that were impacted by gravel mining and developments, as well as remove levees and relocate public infrastructure existing along the channel.
Altogether, Ecology awarded $63 million among 12 tribal, county and conservation groups.
Funding came from the “Floodplains by Design” program, a public-private effort to reduce flooding risk and protect river habitats across Washington. Partners include Ecology, Bonneville Environmental Foundation and The Nature Conservancy.
