Restoration work is set to begin next week in the Nehalem estuary, reconnecting nine acres of wetland north of Wheeler to natural tidal influence for the first time in nearly a century!
Once part of a much larger wetland complex, the fragmented McCoy marsh will be reconnected to the Nehalem River and to Botts Marsh, the 35-acre tidal wetland directly to the south. These wetlands provide habitat for more than 125 species of birds and critical rearing habitat for Chinook and Coho salmon. Both marshes are owned by the Lower Nehalem Community Trust (LNCT) and stewarded by the Trust with the help of community volunteers.
LNCT is undertaking the project with the guidance of a robust Technical Advisory Team, including the Wild Salmon Center, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Tillamook Estuaries Partnership, and the Nehalem Bay Watershed Council. The project is supported by the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) and the Wild Salmon Center, with funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), and the Tareen Filgas Foundation.
The project will breach perimeter dikes in three locations and excavate 1,465 feet of new tidal channel. Large natural wood structures will be placed within the new tidal channels and across the marsh surface to increase habitat complexity and encourage diverse scrub-shrub and Sitka spruce swamp plant communities.
The loss of tidal wetlands is a major stressor for the Nehalem Coho salmon population. Estuarine habitats—the marshes, wetlands and channels where freshwater rivers meet the ocean—are essential to salmon as they transition between freshwater and saltwater environments. These habitats provide young salmon with food, shelter and areas where they can rest and grow before continuing their migration. The location of McCoy Marsh is an ideal stopover spot for juvenile salmon migrating downstream from the Nehalem River. The restored marsh will be the first opportunity for juveniles to find critical refuge habitat as they reach the open bay, which is especially critical during storm events. This project offers an opportunity to reconnect the marsh to the natural processes that once shaped it.
The project reflects LNCT’s long-term commitment to protecting and stewarding the Nehalem Bay region. Through conservation, restoration and community stewardship, the Lower Nehalem Community Trust is working to protect a network of lands that provide important habitat and create a buffer between developed upland areas and the region’s critical estuary ecosystems.
Restoration construction is scheduled to take place through the end of September with re-planting and monitoring continuing through the year and beyond. Project updates will be posted on LNCT’s website and social media channels. We invite you to follow along at www.nehalemtrust.org!
