A piece of the Pacific Americas Flyway will be conserved for migratory birds and other wildlife, thanks to the Lower Nehalem Community Trust (LNCT), Tillamook County and other partners. The Trust recently received a North American Wetlands Conservation Act grant to conserve 33 acres of high-quality intertidal salt marsh and tidal channels at Botts Marsh in Nehalem Bay, Oregon. Match funds for the NAWCA grant will come in part from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board. Additional matching funds needed to complete the project will be secured with a targeted fundraising campaign by LNCT.
In addition to estuarine marsh and tidal channels, the proposed acquisition contains mudflats and forested areas. It is directly connected to Nehalem Bay, which has been a Pacific Birds conservation priority since the 1990s due to its importance to numerous species of ducks, geese and swans and other water-associated species. This project conserves an especially important parcel, as Botts Marsh has been zoned for water-related development for decades. Once the property is acquired, a science-based management plan will guide the stewardship of the property and ensure that the ecological values remain in perpetuity.
To learn more about this project, or learn about making a targeted donation, contact Nancy Chase, board member at the Lower Nehalem Community Trust.
A few of the many species found at Botts Marsh:
Photos: Mick Thompson © Creative Commons/Flickr
