At the midpoint of the year, July is a time when I am reflecting on what the Elakha Alliance has accomplished so far in 2026 and what is still ahead of us. This has indeed been a busy year so far! Notable developments that the Elakha Alliance is involved with include:

• The launch of the America’s Ecosystem Restoration Initiative (AERI) grant awarded to the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians for the development of a regional sea otter reintroduction plan;

• The Oregon Legislature’s passage of the 1.25% for Wildlife bill (HB 4124) which will provide dedicated funding to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife for non-game wildlife conservation, which includes sea otters;

• The Wildlife Conservation Network’s Sea Otter Fund is providing new opportunities for funding and collaboration to support sea otter reintroduction and recovery efforts, including a new benthic monitoring program for Oregon.

So with all this momentum, one of the questions we are now often asked is:

When will sea otters be back in Oregon?

While there is still no certainty, we are starting to map out a timeline based on work completed and in progress. There are several factors that could impact the timing of a sea otter reintroduction, such as politics, public agency and Tribal capacity, funding, and community acceptance, as well as opportunities still to come. We anticipate that the planning phase of this work will be completed in 2028 and that a translocation of animals over a period of 5-10 years could potentially start as early as 2030. Stay tuned for more details to come!

The Elakha Alliance’s progress is possible because of the engagement and support of incredible partners, funders, and individuals like you who want a diverse, productive, and resilient Oregon coast for future generations.  THANK YOU!