 Due to over grazing, levee construction, and installation of tide gates in the 1900s, Salmon Creek was severely degraded.Humboldt Bay NWR acquired the land in 1988 and deemed Salmon Creek in need of restoration to improve estuarine habitats.Phase 1 of restoration began in 2006 and aimed to increase tidal connectivity, construct new tide gates, and to reconnect several off channel ponds to the stream.