Council mission

To foster better stewardship and understanding of the Lower Columbia River Watershed resources in Columbia County, coordinate, cooperate and try to deal with issues in advance of resource degradation, encourage restoration of natural processes and functions where feasible, and help ensure sustainable watershed health, functions, and uses.

Council Vision:

A balanced ecosystem approach that supports a healthy watershed and provides for sustainable natural resources and for an economic base and viable communities.

The Lower Columbia River Watershed area encompasses 298 square miles along the Columbia River in Columbia County, Oregon. Columbia County is a rural county wedged between Oregon's largest city - Portland - and Astoria on the North Coast. It is comprised of the following subbasins drainages  Plympton Creek, Clatskanie River, Beaver Creek, Deer Island, Tide Creek, and Goble Creek. All of our watersheds are influenced in part by the greater Columbia River Estuary ecosystem.

The private timber industry has played a significant role in shaping the settlement and growth of the watershed with 77% of the land in the watershed in timber production. The next largest land use is farmland. A very small percentage of the land is urbanized with St. Helens the county seat and largest city. 

Take a VISUAL TOUR of some our watershed area.

The watershed Council

The Lower Columbia River Watershed Council (LCRWC) is a volunteer board representing a broad range of stakeholder groups. Authorized and established in 1997 by the Columbia County Commissioners, the LCRWC is non-partisan, non-political, and non-regulatory. The Council meets every other Tuesday of the month - 7 pm - at Clatskanie PUD (495 E Columbia River Hwy) in Clatskanie, Oregon. Meetings are open to the public and we welcome your participation (see records of past meetings-HERE). If you are interested in more background information, volunteer on the Council or specific projects ideas, please contact us.

LCRwc By-Laws (revised september 2021)

EXECUTIVE bOARD

  • K.C. Van Natta, Chairman, Oregon Farm Bureau

  • Chip Bubl, Secretary, Oregon State University (OSU) Extension Service

  • Ian Bledsoe, Friends of Fox Creek

AT lARGE BOARD MEMBERS

  • Michael Russell, Columbia County Public Works

  • Harpier Gahndi, City of Clatskanie Public Works

  • Margaret Magruder, Columbia County Commissioner

  • Agnes Petersen, Aggregate Mining

  • Gary Olsen, Landowner

PARTICIPATING MEMBERS

  • Fiscal Sponsor: Soil & Water Conservation District

staff

  • Council Coordinator - Vacant

Our Purpose

The LCRWC was formed to gather and share information, to reduce duplication of activities, and to help address watershed management issues in the Lower Columbia River area in Columbia County and to provide a framework for coordination and cooperation among key interests.

Our Mission

To foster better stewardship and understanding of the Lower Columbia River Watershed resources in Columbia County.  To coordinate, cooperate and try to deal with issues in advance of resource degradation, encourage restoration of natural processes and functions where feasible and help ensure sustainable watershed health, functions and uses.