Oregon Coastal Coho Recovery: A Recipe for Abundance

The Economic Benefits of Investing in Wild Fish

The recovery of Oregon Coastal coho salmon is more than a conservation success; it’s also a smart economic investment in Oregon’s communities and future.

As outlined in our broader Oregon Coastal Coho Recovery: A Recipe for Abundance story, science-driven habitat restoration and wild fish-focused management have helped bring coho salmon back from near collapse. But the benefits don’t stop at fish returns.

Investing in healthy rivers delivers real economic value to Oregonians today while reducing long-term public costs tomorrow.

These economic benefits include:

Jobs, Jobs, & More Jobs

• Habitat restoration supports family-wage jobs in construction, forestry, heavy equipment operation, native plant nurseries, and environmental consulting.

• Every $1 million invested in restoration creates 15–24 jobs & 90% of the funds invested stay in-state (Source: University of Oregon Ecosystem Workforce Program).

Recreation and Fishing Economy

• Healthier rivers support outdoor recreation and the guiding, hospitality, and service businesses that depend on recreational activities such as fishing, paddling, wildlife viewing, and tourism.

Lower Flood and Infrastructure Costs

• Reconnected floodplains reduce flood damage risk and help protect transportation corridors, homes, and working lands, lowering repair and emergency-response costs.

• ODFW reports $230+ million in deferred maintenance costs across state-owned hatchery infrastructure, and these costs are only going to increase over time.

Community Value

• Restoration projects enhance property values and improve the quality of life through cleaner water, healthier water corridors, and increased access to natural areas.

Bottom line:

Scaling the Oregon Coastal Coho’s recipe for abundance statewide is a practical economic development strategy. Prioritizing wild river and stream miles and investing in habitat restoration projects will create jobs now, lower costs later, and build stronger local communities across our great state.

Learn More:

Read the full Oregon Coastal Coho Recovery: A Recipe for Abundance article to learn how this approach helped coho rebound from near collapse.

Watch our “Oregon Coast Coho: From Collapse to Comeback” presentation delivered at the Nov. 18th, 2025 Oregon Senate Interim Committee Meeting Forum, where Native Fish Society and partners outline the science, strategy, and outcomes behind this proven recovery model:

Stay tuned for our upcoming article on the Environmental Benefits of the Recipe for Abundance!