New Guide Helps Oregon Communities Assess Coastal Wetlands Value
Benefits of restoration include higher property values, reduced flood risk, and better water quality
Oregon’s tidal wetlands help reduce flooding and buffer communities against sea-level rise. They also improve water quality, sequester vast amounts of carbon, moderate water temperature, and provide exceptional wildlife habitat for species such as salmon that have commercial, recreational, and cultural value.
But it can be difficult for communities to quantify the benefits of restoring and protecting tidal wetland habitats. This new guide, produced by researcher Graham Shaw when he was at Oregon State University, in partnership with Bonneville Environmental Foundation and The Pew Charitable Trusts, includes a step-by-step process for quantifying the benefits that tidal wetland restoration projects provide. It also draws upon lessons learned from restoration work in Oregon’s Tillamook Bay.
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