The Estuary Partnership was established in 1995, when the lower Columbia River and estuary were accepted into the US Environmental Protection Agency National Estuary Program. As the coordinating body for efforts to enhance and restore the lower Columbia River and estuary, the Estuary Partnership engages in a variety of planning, monitoring, restoration, and educational efforts. It receives guidance on scientific and technical issues from its Science Work Group, which consists of representatives of public agencies, tribes, academic institutions, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector who play a role in assessing estuary conditions and setting future actions.