| Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge | |
| Protected Area | |
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View from U.S. Route 101 near Millport Slough
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| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | Oregon |
| Region | Lincoln County |
| City | Lincoln City |
| River | Siletz River |
| Elevation | 0 ft (0 m) |
| Coordinates | [1] |
| Founded | in 1991 |
| Management | United States Fish and Wildlife Service |
| For public | Closed except for viewing from beyond the boundaries |
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Location of the refuge in Oregon
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| Website: Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge | |
Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge is a U.S. National Wildlife Refuge on Oregon's coast. It is one of six National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs) comprising the Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex.[2] The refuge consists of several discontinuous tracts north and south of the Siletz River where it enters Siletz Bay south of Lincoln City.[3] It is closed to public use, except for viewing from outside the refuge boundaries and during special events.[4]
Siletz Bay NWR was established in 1991 primarily to return salt marsh to its natural state. Formerly it had been diked and ditched to create pasture for dairy cows. One segment of the refuge near Millport Slough, an arm of the lower Siletz River, consists of a 100-acre (40 ha) tidal marsh restored by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Ducks Unlimited, and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz. Together they breached 220 feet (67 m) of dikes, removed dikes totaling 9,300 feet (2,800 m), filled 1,200 feet (370 m) of ditches, and added woody debris to improve fish habitat. Salt-starched skeleton trees are visible along both sides of U.S. Route 101 (which runs through the refuge) from the time when the salt marsh was diked. Red-tailed Hawks and Bald Eagles are often visible roosting on these snags. Abundant Great Blue Heron and Great Egret live nearby.[2]