After more than 10 years of land acquisition, planning, design and preparation the Ni-les'tun Tidal Marsh Restoration Project at Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge is now under construction and will be completed late this summer. Preliminary restoration work began during the summer of 2009 and included obliteration of some of the smaller agricultural drainage ditches. Some of the new tidal channels that will deliver tidal flows to the upper marsh were dug. In 2010 the majority of the tidal channels will be dug, larger drainage ditches will be filled, the dike along the river will be lowered, and tide gates will be removed. This will allow the unimpeded return of the daily tides on this area for the first time in more than a century and plants and animals will start adjusting to the newly restored conditions.

The restoration project will be constructed by the Knife River Corporation of Coos Bay, Oregon who is under contract with Ducks Unlimited to complete this work. The restoration project also involves two other major construction projects. North Bank Lane will be raised approximately 7 feet along two extended locations within the refuge to prevent this area from flooding due to tidal inundation and improve safety on north Bank Lane. Tidewater Contractors Inc. of Brookings, Oregon are under contract with the Federal Highway Administration to perform the road improvements. The third related project involves undergrounding a large electrical transmission line that crosses the Refuge and Coquille River. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has contracted with Doyon Project Services of Federal Way, Washington to underground the transmission line and this project is funded by Federal Stimulus (ARRA) Funds.