The Smith/Umpqua Estuary Restoration was a multi-variable project that included tide gate removal, tidal channel restoration, bridge infrastructure replacement, native vegetation planting, and water management planning. The project includes work on the Glover Estuary Enhancement project and Kennedy Slough located off the south side of the lower Smith River, near the confluence with the Umpqua River in Reedsport. Work completed over the past two years at the Glover Estuary Enhancement project included replacing two failing top-hinge tide gates with side-hinge tide gates.

Funds from the N&WL Fund were used for each estuary restoration project to connect historic tidal channels identified through LiDAR elevation data and imagery, remove earthen embankments to restore tidal inundation areas and hydrologic exchange with freshwater streams, protect and plant seagrass beds of native vegetation within estuary habitat, and remove invasive plant species to assist with establishing native plants. Low marsh elevational habitat at the site is expected to restore salt grass, green algae , small spike rush , sandspurry , glaux, pickleweed, three square, and alkali bulrush.

View the presentation:

Natural Working Lands: Lower Smith River Tide Gate and Tidal Channel Restoration (pdf)