Vegetation plays an essential role in producing and maintaining Coho salmon habitat in the floodplain of the Siuslaw and its tributaries. Riparian plants provide shade and create cover for Coho salmon rearing, they also filter out pollutants and reduce turbidity. Plants absorb pollutants that would otherwise enter the stream through groundwater flow and stabilize stream banks which lowers sediment supply. Trees and shrubs also contribute to stream complexity, providing a source of woody debris that creates habitat for the full array of aquatic life.

In this video, Siuslaw Watershed Council Programs Manager, Kyle Terry, talks about native plants, their important role in restoration, and the benefits they bring to an array of wildlife. Featured in the video is the nursery we maintain with partners at Fivemile Bell, formerly a dairy barn. SWC Restoration Field Crew members Kamari Moeller, Jesse Jones and Rich Peterson work together to plant and maintain native plants at Fivemile Bell and restoration sites throughout the Siuslaw and Coastal Lakes watersheds.

Salmon are a keystone species, meaning many other species rely on them for survival. When we restore our watershed for the benefit of salmon, we restore it for the remarkable breadth of biodiversity that exists here as well. In turn, this diversity improves the health and beauty of the Siuslaw watershed, adding to what makes this place so special.