The Oregon Coast/Lower Columbia Habitat Branch focuses its efforts on activities in estuarine, freshwater, and associated upland areas which have an impact on the species or habitats residing in our geographic location. The area includes the Columbia River estuary from approximately river mile 96 (Columbia County line) to the mouth, and the nearshore/freshwater plume environment. The branch also engages in estuarine issues above river mile 96 with organizations such as the Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership. The area of responsibility on the Oregon coast extends from south of the Columbia River through the Siuslaw watershed and inland up to the crest of the Coast Range. Within these geographic areas, the branch focuses its efforts on natural resource issues affecting salmon, steelhead, and essential fish habitat for West Coast groundfish, coastal pelagic species, and Pacific Salmon.

Branch staff members review projects from federal, state, and local governments, watershed councils, private citizens, and the tribes that can affect NOAA trust resources. Types of projects in the lower Columbia River include siting of liquid natural gas facilities, dredging and disposal, jetty repair at the mouth of the Columbia River, and Regional Sediment Management issues. Other important areas of collaboration with partners include recovery planning, habitat restoration and monitoring relating to ESA-listed salmon and steelhead. Branch staff are involved in implementation of the FCRPS BiOp as it relates to Caspian tern predation and habitat restoration in the Columbia River estuary. 

The branch works with federal, state and local partners on conservation of Oregon coast coho and essential fish habitat in estuarine/nearshore/marine environments. Activities on the Oregon coast include review of federal forestry actions, gravel mining projects, reclamation of lowland areas to restore estuarine rearing habitat, and projects affecting estuarine/nearshore/marine environments.

The branch has the lead in the Oregon State Habitat Office for two state issues:  (1) working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Oregon Department of Environmental Conservation on water quality and toxic issues, including water quality standards and development of total maximum daily loads; and (2) review of forest practices on state and private lands, including forestry habitat conservation plans under Section 10 of the ESA.