Cannibal Island Restoration Project (Project)

The Cannibal Island Restoration Project aims to restore approximately 500 acres of former tidal marsh habitat by removing outdated water control structures, excavating historic slough channels, and enhancing the natural topography of the marsh to reestablish full tidal exchange. This restoration effort is designed to reconnect the area to natural tidal flows, which will improve habitat conditions for native fish, wildlife, and plant species, including sensitive natural communities, rare plants, and federally and state-listed endangered species such as Coho salmon. The project will revitalize tidal channel networks to support natural sediment movement and marsh accretion, increasing the landscape’s long-term resilience to sea level rise and promoting ecological sustainability. The initiative is managed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Region 1 – Northern Region, based in Redding and Eureka, with Shawn Fresz serving as the primary point of contact. The project was posted on June 1, 2026, and is tracked under WCB Project Tracker ID 2025130. It is being conducted in California, with all activities focused on the Cannibal Island area, and is intended to support long-term conservation goals by restoring critical estuarine ecosystems and protecting vulnerable species dependent on healthy tidal marsh habitats.