Tillamook Estuaries Partnership

WHO WE ARE: TEP is part of 28 National Estuary Projects working throughout the United States to protect and restore the health of estuaries while supporting economic and recreational activities. TEP’s work addresses some of the Oregon Coast’s biggest challenges; loss of key habitat (shellfish, fish, wildlife), decreasing water quality, and increasing magnitude and frequency of natural hazards events. TEP, together with its partners and the community, increasingly focuses on education and enhancing citizen involvement and stewardship.

OUR MISSION: WE ARE DEDICATED to the conservation and restoration of Tillamook County's watersheds through active stewardship, scientific inquiry, community engagement, and education.

WE BELIEVE in the intrinsic value of nature. OUR GOAL is to conserve and enhance the estuaries and watersheds of Tillamook County by creating productive dialogues around the natural resources at the social, cultural, and economic core of our community while providing active and adaptable environmental leadership that honors the community's principles and values and sustains our partners.   

WHOM WE SERVE: TEP primarily serves the rural, coastal community of Tillamook County. Because our focus is on the watersheds that flow into Nehalem, Tillamook, Netarts, and Nestucca Bays and Sand Lake Estuary, we also serve the rural communities in six adjacent Counties. The entirety of our service population is considered "disadvantaged" and "underrepresented" due to the low population (less than 30,000 people), poverty/low income, vulnerability to climate change (primarily flood-related), and other factors related to geographic isolation such as being medically underserved, experiencing transportation barriers, etc.