The Southwest Oregon Habitat Branch (SOHB) focuses its efforts on activities in estuarine, freshwater, and associated upland areas which have an impact on the species or habitat residing in our geographic location. The geographic area of focus includes the southern Oregon coast from just north of Reedsport south to the Oregon-California state line. The branch area also completely encompasses the Rogue and Umpqua River basins, from their mouth at the Pacific Ocean to their headwaters in the Cascade and Siskiyou mountains. Depending on the specific location, the branch works on conservation of Oregon coast coho salmon and southern Oregon/northern California coho salmon ESUs, and conservation of essential fish habitat for West Coast groundfish, coastal pelagic species, and Pacific salmon. 

Branch staff members provide technical assistance and review projects proposed by federal, state, tribal and local governments, watershed councils, and private citizens that can affect NOAA trust resources. Types of projects involved with in the Rogue and Umpqua River basins include instream gravel mining, federal land management activities, irrigation diversions, streambank protection and restoration, watershed restoration, fish passage and dam removal projects such as Savage Rapids and Gold Hill. Within these river basins, the branch focuses efforts on natural resource issues affecting ESA-listed salmon and essential fish habitat for Pacific salmon. 

On the southern Oregon coast, the branch works with federal and state authorities on forestry actions, instream gravel mining projects, reclamation of lowland areas for estuarine rearing, and nearshore/estuarine development. Within this geographic area, the branch focuses efforts on natural resource issues affecting ESA -isted salmon and essential fish habitat for West Coast groundfish, coastal pelagic species, and Pacific salmon.