The populations of certain native species in the lower Columbia River, its tributaries and the lower Willamette River have declined, and certain ecosystem functions are impaired. Several species are now listed as endangered or threatened.
Population growth is anticipated to continue at significant rates.
The impacts of development practices and growth in the lower river could result in further loss of fish and wildlife habitat and could degrade our quality of life. Our activities of the last 100 years has significantly altered the estuary and has resulted in much habitat loss or modification. Dams, dikes, maintenance dredging, and our land use, agricultural and forest practices all contribute to this alteration. Point source and nonpoint source pollution have affected the water quality itself. Levels of PCB's, DDE and dioxin are high enough that they may be linked to reproductive failure in bald eagles and mink and river otter.