Welcome to the Tillamook Estuaries Partnership!
The Tillamook Estuaries Partnership (TEP) is one of 28 designated National Estuary Projects. The National Estuary Program (NEP) was established by Congress in 1987 to improve the quality of estuaries of national importance. TEP is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the estuaries of Tillamook County, Oregon and the many watersheds that sustain them. Organized as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, our Board convenes a wide array of stakeholders to implement the conservation plans established under the Tillamook Bay Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, or CCMP.
Estuary (n) - a coastal area where salt water from the ocean mixes with fresh water from rivers, rainfall, and upland runoff. Salt and fresh water proportions within an estuary differ daily depending on the season, weather, and tides. Vital coastal ecosystems exist in these dynamic conditions.
TEP is directed by a 20 member Board, comprised of industry, government, non-profits, special districts, and individuals representing the community at large. A six person staff develops and manages projects that restore and monitor our watersheds, while promoting stewardship among the county's 24,000 residents and millions of annual visitors. In addition to managing projects, the TEP also supports the conservation activities of local partners through financial and technical assistance, as well as administrative and programmatic support.
Watershed (n) - the physical area or basin drained by a distinct stream or riverine system, physically separated from other watersheds by ridgetop
boundaries.
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