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Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge reopened to the public on May 1. After nearly two years of closure to construct the largest habitat restoration project ever along the lower Columbia River, the Estuary Partnership, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and all the other project partners are excited to welcome the community back to the Refuge.
 

Public Reopening Ceremony

A public reopening ceremony will be held Saturday, May 7 at the Refuge. Family-friendly public activities will take place from noon to 4pm. Walk the new trail, participate in family friendly activities, talk to Volunteer

 The grand reopening ceremony of Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge was held on Saturday, May 7. We embraced the spring rains as we welcomed the community back to their Refuge. On behalf of all the project partners, we are thrilled to see the community back enjoying the Refuge. 

Thanks to all of our speakers and others who made the day special. Special gratitude to the drummers of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe for sharing their music, to Cowlitz Spiritual Leader Tanna Engdahl for providing an opening blessing, to Cowlitz Tribal Chair David Barnett for speaking, and to Vice Chair of the

The Steigerwald Reconnection Project, a $32 million restoration project covering nearly 1000 acres of floodplain habitat at the Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge, was the largest of its kind. Led by the Estuary Partnership, the enormous restoration project required the support of dozens of partners, funders, and other project advocates. To celebrate the project’s completion and the reopening of the Refuge to the public, the Estuary Partnership hired artist Allie Yacina to create a commemorative poster inspired by the Refuge. 

Allie toured the Refuge in February 2022 for artistic

For the first time in 60 years, the Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge floodplain was inundated by water from the Columbia River. From June 10-24th, the Columbia River below Bonneville Dam experienced a minor flood event. At times during this event, over 600 acres of the refuge was inundated by floodwaters, including small portions of the trail system and the Channel 3 bridge – though these features were designed to withstand occasional flooding.  

This stretch of the Columbia River peaked at approximately its five-year flood stage level – an event that has a 20% chance of occurring