The Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership 12th Annual Dinner & Art Gala

Chris Hathaway - Deputy Director, Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership, Reed Waite, Board Member and Tina Waite

Portland, November 5th. The Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership held its 12th Annual Dinner & Art Gala at the Portland Art Museum. Chris Hathaway, Deputy Director of the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership, Reed Waite, Board Member, and Tina Waite were among those who enjoyed the evening. Three hundred guests attended the fundraiser to help raise funds for the Estuary Partnership’s Outdoor Education Programs. (Photo Credit, Andie Petkus)

Debrah Marriott honors the three recipients of the Estuary Partnership Annual Stewardship Award from left Amy Borde, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Jennifer Morace, U.S. Geological Survey, Lyndal Johnson, National Ocean & Atmospheric Administration and on right is Debrah Marriott, Executive Director

Guests were busy bidding on art contributed by local artists during the Art Scramble reception. Proceeds from the event help the Estuary Partnership engage students, teachers, and citizen volunteers from Oregon and Washington through its Outdoor Education Programs.

David Judd, Board Member, Kathryn Fitch, contributing artist, Dean Marriott, Board member and Director of Bureau of Environmental Services - City of Portland, Debrah Marriott, Executive Director and Brant Williams, Director of Economic and Capital Development, City of Lake Oswego.

The Estuary Partnership brings classroom lessons, field programs, service learning and experiences in its big canoes to over 16,000 students in 32 school districts from Astoria to Washougal each year.

Debrah Marriot, Exec. Director, Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership, Lisa Phipps, Executive Director of Tillamook Estuaries Partnership, and Roby Lane

Supporters at the Fitch/Judd Table included Art and Trudy Kayser and other friends

The Honorable Earl Blumenauer - US House of Representatives addresses guests regarding his continued efforts in Congress to support the restoration of the Columbia River.

The Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership restores habitat, over 50% of which has been lost, improves water quality to reduce pollution and gives students outdoor learning experiences on the lower Columbia. It supports and augments local efforts within a regional science-based framework focusing on the entire ecosystem. Its priority is on-the-ground results. The Estuary Partnership was established in 1995 by the Governors of Washington and Oregon and the US EPA to create a regional entity to coordinate multiple efforts, advance science and to get improvements in the lower Columbia River and estuary. The Partnership works from Bonneville Dam to the Pacific Ocean.

Elisa Klein

I’ve been a professional journalist and writer since 1987, (and long-time reporter for KOIN-TV.) As a nationally published reporter, with a Master’s Degree in Journalism, I love to report positive news and information. Journalism has also connected me with another non-profit where I served as a leader; the Northwest’s biggest writer’s organization: The Willamette Writers.