Steigerwald Reconnection Project: Construction Begins June 1st

This 20/20 Blog post is a collaborative effort of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership.

The Largest Restoration Project the Lower Columbia River has seen

One of the mightiest rivers of the West is about to experience one of its mightiest restoration efforts. Starting June 1st, 2020, construction begins at Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge to reconfigure the existing Columbia River levee system. The project will reduce flood risk, reconnect 965 acres of Columbia River floodplain, and increase recreation opportunities at the Refuge. This multi-year effort, known as the Steigerwald Reconnection Project, is a collaboration led by the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and Port of Camas-Washougal.

Coming up in 2020

There will be many signs of progress this year, including:

Raising a portion of SR-14 above the 500 year flood level
Realigning a portion of Gibbons Creek
Relocating the Refuge parking lot
Beginning construction of setback levees.

These setback levees will better protect the Port of Camas-Washougal Industrial Park, the City of Washougal wastewater treatment plant, and private residences from flooding. Next year, the new setback levees will be completed, and more than 2 miles of the existing Columbia River levee will be removed, thereby reconnecting the Columbia River to its historic floodplain for the first time in generations.

Impacts to Visitors

The Refuge will be closed to visitors for lengthy periods while construction occurs. Beginning June 1, the existing Refuge parking lot will permanently close. For the month of June and into early July, visitors can access the levee trail from Captain William Clark Park, East to the fish ladder. However, there will be no access to the interior trails of the Refuge, starting June 1. This means no access to the Gibbons Creek Art Trail near Red Tail Lake, nor to the Seasonal Trail at the fish ladder.

From July 6 to October 2 of 2020, the Refuge will be entirely closed to public access, including the levee trail East of Index Street coming out of Captain William Clark Park. This total closure will be in effect again from April 2021 until the April 2022, the anticipated completion of the project and re-opening of the Refuge.

The Refuge values its visitors and staff will assess public access to the trails during construction, when it aligns with the ability of the project to also continue forward. From early October 2020 until April 2020, there may be access to the levee trail and limited access to the Gibbons Creek Art Trail. This access would be limited to the portion of the trail from the Red Tail Lake trailhead to the stand of cottonwood trees just past the lake. This schedule and access is subject to change, so be sure to check back to www.refuge2020.info for updates.

Travelers and local residents may also experience intermittent lane closures on SR-14 from June 1 until September 30, 2020 during construction on SR-14.

A multi-year effort with lasting impact

Last year, the Steigerwald Reconnection Project broke ground when crews anchored 84 large wood habitat structures in the Gibbons Creek alluvial fan and began re-vegetation efforts. Next year, in addition to the levee work, crews will restore 115 acres of wetland habitat, build a larger parking lot and restrooms, and add an additional mile of trail to the existing network. Once state and local guidelines allow, volunteers and students will engage in planting native trees and shrubs to help re-vegetate the project.

Check out how local youth helped with site preparation in 2019.

Work in 2019 largely included the placement of large woody debris in the alluvial fan of Gibbons Creek.

Large woody debris in the Gibbon Creek alluvial fan will create resting spots for salmon and Pacific lamprey along their migration.

Ground preparation in 2019 included spreading seeds, as well as planting “live stakes” and bare root plants.

Early indications in Spring 2020 are that 2019 planting results are largely taking hold. Summer weather conditions will play a roll in further growth.

“Partners have collaborated on this project for nearly seven years. The shared funding, time, and talents of our partners have moved this project from concept to construction.”

— Eric Anderson, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

A project that will benefit wildlife and people

Salmon, lamprey, waterfowl, and many other species will benefit when the vast historic floodplain is reconnected to the Columbia River and to Gibbons Creek. This is the largest habitat restoration project along the lower Columbia River to date. It will provide fish with unobstructed passage to newly restored, high quality habitat in an area of the river where such habitat is lacking.

With Governor Jay Inslee lifting restrictions on construction, it is important to move this project forward. An estimated 503 family wage jobs will be created through the project and it will bring an estimated $67.4 million to the Southwest Washington economy. Local firms Rotschy, Inc. of Vancouver and LKE Corporation of Washougal will construct the project.

“Upon completion this large scale restoration project will provide healthy habitat to support native wildlife into the future. Additionally, the new trail system will create a user experience that invites visitors to reconnect and engage with the restored landscape,” said Eric Anderson of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

“This is an extraordinary project – the largest salmon recovery restoration project in the region that also solves multiple community needs”

— Debrah Marriott, Executive Director of the Estuary Partnership

“People have a deep love for Steigerwald,” remarked Debrah Marriott, Executive Director of the Estuary Partnership. ‘“We’ve had students and volunteers working at this site for nearly two decades – they love it! We love it! Our restoration team has worked extensively with the community over the last several years, to make this massive habitat restoration – flood management – recreation – student and volunteer – economic stimulus – recreation project, their project. It shows the power of working together.”

David Ripp, The Port of Camas-Washougal Chief Executive Officer stated, “The Steigerwald Reconnection Project is a great project which covers a realm of economic and public benefits from environmental, recreation and flood protection. The Port of Camas-Washougal sees this project as win-win for both the financial savings to the Port and the environmental improvements for the natural habitat of Steigerwald.”

“I’ve worked in land conservation for over 20 years. And, from start to finish, the depth of public support for this effort has been truly remarkable.”

— Dan Bell, Director of Friends of the Columbia Gorge Land Trust

A community-wide effort

“Over 1,600 people from 23 states gave to our Preserve the Wonder campaign, and without their support we wouldn’t ever have been unable to purchase the 175 acres of vital land adjacent to the refuge needed to make this restoration possible,” said Dan Bell, director of Friends of the Columbia Gorge Land Trust.

Dave Miller of the Columbia Gorge Refuge Stewards shared, “As the refuge friends organization, the Refuge Stewards have been leading and coordinating restoration and educational work at Steigerwald since 2006. This project brings that work to a whole new level. Volunteers and visitors will have a unique opportunity to see up close the dramatic seasonal changes in water levels, plant communities, and wildlife that the refuge lands experienced before the Columbia dike and Gibbons Creek elevated channel were built.”

The project is funded by Bonneville Power Administration, Washington State Department of Ecology’s Floodplains by Design Program, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the One Tree Planted Foundation.

More information can be found at www.refuge2020.info/steigerwald-reconnection-project and www.estuarypartnership.org/steigerwald.