Residents of Ilwaco and other communities of southwestern Washington are working through a transition in their economy. As the earlier booming fishing industry has declined, communities are looking to their unique environment to redefine themselves. New projects such as the Lewis and Clark National Park, and the Lower Columbia River Water Trail bring more attention to the area. New partnerships have come together, such as one between the Port of Ilwaco and the Forest Service, to put in a system to prevent toxic paints from washing into the bay. Through the Estuary Partnership, a long-term water quality monitoring program has begun work to determine impacts of pollutants on public health.

Kathleen Sayce, of ShoreBank Pacific in Ilwaco, comments on community work for the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial: “Originally, all we wanted was a little bit of art and a new trail between Long Beach and Ilwaco, the discovery trail that did go in. The idea surfaced of taking a small county park at Station Camp, and turning it into a park of state or national significance. Out of it, we gained a new national park, the Lewis and Clark National Historic Park. . . One key lead group, the Pacific County Friends of Lewis and Clark, went out and brought in everyone else they could as partners.”

Community members can craft a vision for a sustainable future. Consider water issues in Confluence Project communities and your own. . .

Each region has its own critical planning issues for water use and the health of its streams, lakes, coastline or wetlands.

• Along the Lower Columbia River, the desire to reduce toxins entering the Columbia River and Pacific Ocean has led to restructuring of boat yards and port facilities, and an effort to educate citizens about the chemical contaminants in some personal care products and fragrances.
• In the City of Vancouver, Washington, an interest in reducing the amount of water used to maintain ornamental plants led to a provision in the city plan for using native plants for landscaping public places. Also in Vancouver, Jones and Jones Architects designed a system for the Land Bridge to reduce run-off and collect rain water for irrigation.
• Near Troutdale, Oregon, the Marmot Dam on the Sandy River was removed in the effort to restore fish runs.