This report summarizes the results of several years of research into the sedimentology of the Columbia River Estuary. Two major objectives were attained during the study: 1) the sedimentology of the estuary was investigated and described, and 2) some understanding was gained of the processes important to sedimentation. As an introduction to the present study, background information on the tectonic, geologic, and oceanographic settings of the estuary are provided, as well as a brief listing of previous sedimentological studies performed in the estuary. The changes in relative sea level, the hydrography of the Columbia River, and the sources of sediments available to the system are considered because of their influence on the sedimentology of the estuary.
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