In response to federal funding disruptions in early 2025, NSEA made the difficult decision to pause our summer instream restoration projects until 2026. While this delay was disappointing, our Project staff quickly pivoted to an equally important priority: revisiting and assessing legacy restoration sites—projects completed over 20 years ago.

Originally funded through federal sources, these sites often lacked long-term maintenance support. In 2025, a dedicated community member partnered with NSEA to fund a long-standing vision of returning to these earlier projects. Through a strategic outreach effort, NSEA staff reconnected with over 150 past project sites, updating records, re-engaging landowners, and conducting formal site assessments.

The data collected will inform future restoration planning and help illustrate the long-term benefits of habitat restoration. These efforts also open new opportunities for community involvement through ongoing monitoring and maintenance, particularly when aging projects need blue tubes and caging removed. While not directly addressing fish passage barriers, this work strengthens the foundation of our mission—supporting healthy salmon habitat and resilient watersheds.