The purpose of the LCSG is to serve as the key bi-state clearinghouse to coordinate policy, projects and research related to dredge material disposal and sediment management on the lower Columbia River and Littoral Cell. The LCSG focuses on finding sustainable solutions to policy issues, research, operations and conflicts. Sustainable solutions integrate economic, social and environmental objectives.
While the LCSG is not the only group involved in sediment management in the Columbia River and Littoral Cell, there is no other group that serves as the forum where key stakeholders from federal, state and local government and non-governmental entities come together to discuss and seek collaborative solutions to the multitude of issues that arise. The LCSG continues to serve as this forum, while fully recognizing its interdependency with many other organizations.
The LCSG will only get directly involved when it is clear that no existing process will adequately manage an issue, where the parties to the issue ask the LSCG to get involved, or where the LSCG can bring parties together to facilitate resolution of an issue. The LCSG may decline to assume management of an issue and instead lend its support to others.
Since each member of the LCSG is an independent organization and all agencies with regulatory authority over the river are not on the LCSG, actions of the LCSG are only recommendations to its members and others.
Since it is not the role of the LCSG to replace or displace the work of existing organizations, a key criterion is whether the new idea should properly be handled by others. The LCSG will only handle matters where its unique capabilities can be brought to bear to resolve issues. If a project is determined to be within the LCSG’s area of competence, staff will develop a detailed project plan and budget and the LSCG will approve or disapprove proceeding.
Lower Columbia Solutions Group 