Siuslaw River Estuary – Oregon Conservation Strategy

The Siuslaw River Estuary in Oregon's Coast Range ecoregion. Photo Credit: Oregon Coastal Management Program

A rather small bay for the size of the river the COA is low elevation and low gradient with many islands and salt/freshwater marshes

COA ID: 034

Recommended Conservation Actions

Limit the placement of docks and boathouses in the estuary
Protect and restore estuarine shorelines from hardening and dynamic revetment modifications (rip rap, rock, etc)
Protect islands with threatened plant species
Protect steep, landslide prone areas from harvest activities
Protect the estuary from commercial shellfish development
Remove remaining dikes and tide gated areas to recover lost salt marsh habitats

Local Conservation Actions and Plans

Coastal multispecies conservation plan
Important Bird Areas of Oregon

Special Features

General

Tidally influenced islands

Previously Associated With

2006 COA ID CR-23 (Siuslaw River area)
2006 COA ID CR-25 (Sutton Lake area)
2006 COA ID CR-26 (Siuslaw River Estuary)
2006 COA ID CR-27 (Siltcoos - Tahkenitch Basin)

Protected Areas

18th Street Pocket Park
Cox Island
Gallagher's Park
Harbor Vista Park
Hurd Park
Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park
Joaquin Miller
Miller Park
Munsel Creek Bike Path
Munsel Greenway Park
Munsel Road Park
Old Town Park
Oregon Dunes
Oregon Islands Wilderness
Pepperoaks Park
Port Of Siuslaw Campground And Marina
Prichard State Wayside
Rock Dock Park
Rolling Dunes Park
Singing Pines Park
Siuslaw National Forest
Siuslaw North Jetty
South Beach Park

Ecoregions

Coast Range

Oregon’s Coast Range, known for its dramatic scenery, is extremely diverse, with habitats ranging from open sandy dunes to lush forests and from tidepools to headwater streams. It follows the coastline and extends east through coastal forest to the border of the Willamette Valley and Klamath Mountains ecoregions

Strategy Habitats

Coastal Dunes

Occurring along the Oregon coastline, coastal dunes provide habitat for species that prefer open, sandy habitats with a high degree of disturbance from winds and tides.

Estuaries

Estuaries occur where freshwater rivers meet the oceanic salty waters, are influenced by tidal flooding, and experience frequent periodic changes in salinity, water levels, sunlight, and oxygen.

Grasslands

Grasslands include a variety of upland grass-dominated habitats, such as upland prairies, coastal bluffs, and montane grasslands.

Late Successional Mixed Conifer Forests

Late successional mixed conifer forests provide a multi-layered tree canopy, including large-diameter trees, shade-tolerant tree species in the understory, and a high volume of dead wood, such as snags and logs.

Natural Lakes

Natural lakes are relatively large bodies of freshwater surrounded by land. For the purposes of the Conservation Strategy, natural lakes are defined as standing water bodies larger than 20 acres, including some seasonal lakes.

Flowing Water and Riparian Habitats

Flowing Water and Riparian Habitats include all naturally occurring flowing freshwater streams and rivers throughout Oregon as well as the adjacent riparian habitat.

Ducks on a wetland in Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area, Oregon

Wetlands

Wetlands are covered with water during all or part of the year. Permanently wet habitats include backwater sloughs, oxbow lakes, and marshes, while seasonally wet habitats include seasonal ponds, vernal pools, and wet prairies.