Bandon Marsh

Accomplishment: addition of 407-acre diked former estuary property to Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge.

Location: On the north side of the Coquille River (Coos County), immediately upstream from the U.S. Highway 101 bridge.

Partners: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The Archeological Conservancy, Shoreline Education for Awareness, Ducks Unlimited, Oregon Wetlands Joint Venture, Coquille Indian Tribe, Cape Arago Audubon Society, Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve and Port of Bandon.

Notes: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service acquired the parcel now known as the Ni-les’Tun Unit in 2000, more than doubling the size of Bandon Marsh refuge. This addition includes more than 300 acres of diked pasturelands with excellent potential for restoration to tidal wetlands. The parcel also contains Fahys Creek, forested wetlands, shrub / scrub wetlands and upland pastures and grasslands. The property also includes one of the most significant archeological sites on the Oregon coast. The lower Coquille River valley is the most important wintering area for waterfowl on the Oregon coast, supporting up to 57,000 ducks and geese. Restoration will also provide essential habitat for native salmon, steelhead and cutthroat trout stocks as well as improve the overall health of the estuary.

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