Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) prepared an EA that analyzes the potential environmental impacts of a proposal to restore floodplain connectivity to the Columbia River within the Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge. BPA proposes to fund the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership (LCEP) to restore portions of the Columbia River Floodplain at the Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) near Washougal, Washington. The project would involve reconnecting Gibbons Creek and the Steigerwald Lake floodplain to the Columbia River by breaching the Washougal Columbia River Levee (WCRL) as well as the naturally-occurring levee upon which the WCRL was constructed; constructing two new setback levees; removing a diversion structure, fish ladder, elevated channel, and water control structure; relocating the Refuge parking lot and bathrooms; reconfiguring refuge trails; enhancing wetland channels; and re-establishing the site’s historical riparian vegetation.

Additional information is available at https://legacy.bpa.gov/efw/Analysis/NEPADocuments/Pages/Steigerwald_Floodplain_Restoration.aspx.