Friday, June 5, 2026

Photo: More than an hour after the levee was breached, channels in the Siuslaw Estuary begin to fill up with a mix of fresh and salt water on May 29, 2026. (Brian Bull / KLCC)

A major conservation project near the Oregon town of Florence has achieved its goal: connecting a large swath of restored farmland to the ocean.

The Siuslaw Estuary is a 217-acre expanse that is expected to accommodate the return of salmon, lamprey, and native plants as it transforms with the tides.

KLCC’s Brian Bull reports.

On a cool, misty morning at the estuary, Dan Kirk waves a burning bundle of sage as they walk through an old dairy farm site called the Waite Ranch.

Kirk is the restoration manager for the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians (CTCLUSI).

“I’ve been blessing the site almost daily, we really care about this project, and just putting as much intention and good thoughts and good feelings and gratitude as much as we can.”

Besides the tribes, members of the Siuslaw Watershed Council and McKenzie River Trust gathered to witness something historic.

Margaret Treadwell of the McKenzie River Trust watched a towering excavator crawl towards an earthen levee. It held back the Siuslaw River from the estuary.

“It’s really exciting, I have never seen a levee breach before.”

After the excavator broke apart the levee, brackish water surged in immediately. People cheered.

CTCLUSI Chief Doug Barrett watched as the reformed farmland became submerged.

“I kinda got goosebumps. It’s been a long time comin’.”

The restoration work took nearly three years and $15 million. Barrett shared its new name.

“Now it’s called haich ikt’ at’uu. Haich ikt’ at’uu is the ‘heart of the river’, and so this is a pretty awesome place now to call our home. Just awesome to see the water coming in, knowing that the salmon and lamprey could come in here and hide from all of our predators. It’s a pretty good feeling.”

Four hours later, a contingent of tribal council members arrived in “Lottie” a 32-foot long canoe. After crossing through the mouth of the newly-opened channel, the group sprinkled tobacco and tule seeds into the water.

Jesse Beers, CTCLUSI cultural stewardship manager, lowered the remains of a salmon into the currents.

“When we were in the channel there, almost brought tears to my eyes. Returned some salmon remains to let the Salmon People know it’s a good place to come again. And fatten up and be healthy. It’s just an amazing experience.”

The White House has nominated a citizen of the Klamath Tribes to lead the Indian Health Service (IHS).

The nomination comes after more than a year without a Senate-confirmed director at the agency responsible for providing health care to Native communities across the country.

The White House this week nominated Mark Cruz of Oregon to serve as IHS director.

If confirmed by the Senate, Cruz would oversee an agency that provides health care services to approximately 2.8 million American Indians and Alaska Natives through federal, tribal, and urban Indian health programs.

The nomination was announced June 1.

Cruz currently serves as Senior Advisor to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Native health issues. He became one of the highest-ranking Native officials in the department after being sworn into the position last year.

Native health advocates say the nomination is significant because IHS has operated without a permanent director since January 2025.

The agency continues to face challenges including workforce shortages, aging facilities, and growing health care demands in tribal communities.