July 23, 2024

Wyden, Merkley, Hoyle Announce $16.6 Million to Oregon for Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience Projects

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representative Val Hoyle today announced $16.6 million in federal funds for Oregon habitat restoration and coastal resilience projects made available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act.

“Salmon, fishing and our beautiful outdoors are all central to Oregon’s economy and identity,” Wyden said. “This funding is exactly what I fought for in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, and I will continue to advocate for more resources to preserve Oregon’s pristine waterways and coast.”

“Oregon’s native fish are the lifeblood of our state, supporting the health and vitality of our communities, local economies, and Tribes who have been here since time immemorial,” Merkley said. “Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, over $16 million in federal funding is coming to Oregon to ensure local communities, particularly coastal communities, are better prepared in the face of climate chaos-fueled extreme weather such as flooding. Crucially, the two projects receiving funding will strengthen coastal resiliency and go a long way to enhance habitat for fish populations, including our beloved coho salmon, spring Chinook salmon, and other native fish species.” 

“This $16.6 million investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act is so important,” said Representative Val Hoyle. “It will support better habitats for salmon on the Willamette River and the Oregon Coast. I’m looking forward to seeing the results of these investments, and I’ll continue working to bring federal funding back to Oregon.”   

The $16.6 million from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries’ Office of Habitat Restoration and will be distributed in Oregon as follows:

  • McKenzie Watershed Alliance - Resilience through Floodplain Restoration: Creating Conditions for Native Species and Communities to Thrive in the Upper Willamette: $8.5 million
  • Wild Salmon Center - Oregon Coast Coho Recovery Plan Implementation in Oregon: $8.1 million

“We thank Senators Wyden and Merkley and Representative Hoyle for securing generational federal investments that are changing the pace and scale of salmon recovery in the Pacific Northwest," said Guido Rahr, CEO of Wild Salmon Center. “This investment from NOAA in the work of Oregon's Coast Coho Partnership is putting our partners to work to recover Oregon Coast coho – as well as coastal rivers, estuaries, and wetlands.  And at this critical juncture for wild salmon, we know this work is taking hold with wild coho populations, which are showing marked improvement. Combined with policy changes across the landscape, these NOAA-funded projects are taking us closer to full recovery for fish populations, and closer to resilient, strong salmon runs for Tribes, economies, ecosystems, and local communities.”