Friday August 21, 2026
KRCR —
Construction is officially underway on the Elk River Estuary Restoration Project in Humboldt County, a major step in a decades-long effort to restore one of Humboldt Bay’s most important watersheds.
Led by California Trout in partnership with Tribal Nations, local landowners, public agencies, scientists and community partners, the project is designed to restore estuary habitat, improve conditions for native fish and help the Elk River adapt to rising sea levels and a changing climate.
The first phase of construction will restore about 40 acres at Swain Slough as part of a broader 857-acre restoration project aimed at restoring natural tidal processes, expanding habitat and reconnecting the river with the surrounding landscape.
“Construction beginning at Elk River represents years of science, collaboration, and commitment coming together on the ground,” said Katy Gurin, North Coast senior project manager at CalTrout. “This project is about restoring the natural processes that make estuaries thrive — bringing back tidal connections, creating habitat for native fish, and helping this landscape adapt to the future. It’s also about working alongside the people who know and care for this place to create a restoration vision that can last for generations.”