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National Estuary Program (NEP)

State of the Bay Report for Lower Columbia Estuary

The ecosystem and species are protected by increasing wetlands and habitat by 16,000 acres by 2010 and promoting improvements to stormwater management. Toxic and conventional pollution is reduced by eliminating persistent bioaccumulative toxics, establishing maximum daily loads for streams that do not meet water quality standards, reducing hydrocarbon and heavy metal discharges, and reducing bacterial contamination.

Information about Columbia River ecosystems, economics, history, and culture is available to a range of audiences by compiling and evaluating data about the river, providing education programs for a range of audiences—focusing on children—and improving coordination among public and private partners.

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