Site 59 was once a ranch, supporting thousands of sheep and cattle annually. Once diked and leveed, a natural breach in infrastructure has allowed tidal function to return to this landscape. The property boasts functioning wetlands that support salmon and other aquatic species. Additionally, a few remnant Sitka spruce line its edges, providing rare and important coastal habitat that is a high priority for conservation in the Siuslaw basin.
Tidal wetlands provide critical habitat for salmon to grow as they transition between fresh and saltwater environments. The Siuslaw River and its tributaries are one of the largest estuaries in the state of Oregon, with more than 20 miles of tidally influenced river moving up and downstream out of Florence. These estuaries provided dynamic and diverse ecosystems before the impacts of diking and land reclamation limited and simplified the landscape here. As cattle ranching moves onto greener pastures, there is an incredible opportunity to let the river reclaim these lands so that they can support critical species including Coho Salmon and Lamprey. Protecting and restoring tidal wetlands can have a cascade of positive benefits that serve both the natural world and human communities alike.