Rep. Huffman tours Baduwa't Mad River Estuary Restoration Project

MCKINLEYVILLE, Calif. — North Coast Rep. Jared Huffman was in McKinleyville Monday to tour the recently-completed Baduwa't (Mad River) Estuary Restoration Project site.

The site is one of several recent environmental conservation projects that Huffman has helped fund on the North Coast.

"We just toured some really wonderful restored areas that have enhanced public access for boating and fishing and just hiking in this beautiful area," Huffman said.

In addition to the community benefits, one of the project's main objectives is to increase the populations of federally threatened fish species including the Coho salmon, the Chinook salmon and steelhead.

"When you have an opportunity to take an area like this and restore these natural back channels where little salmonids can become big, fat salmonids and have a better chance at success when they go out into the ocean, that's what this project is all about," Huffman said.

The project is a collaboration of various different agencies, including many state agencies, local tribes and even Cal Poly Humboldt students who are helping with fisheries testing to measure the growth of the different fish populations over time.

"It's all basically a community-built project," CalTrout Regional Manager Mary Burke said.

The Wiyot Tribe is also very involved in the project, Huffman said, located on the tribe's ancestral territory.

"Tribal consultation is no longer an afterthought. It's something that people build into the front end," Huffman said.

Going forward, the site will serve as both a habitat for the important native species there and a community recreation space, as well as a learning laboratory for the Cal Poly Humboldt students who will continue monitoring it.

The site is located in McKinleyville at the end of School Road at Ocean Drive.