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Project Need:
The Central Coast has lost approximately 70% of its historic estuarine
marshes. The remaining tidal marshes provide habitat critical for
species listed in the Endangered Species Act including coho salmon,
brown pelicans, bald eagles, and marbled murrelets, as well as for
sea-run cutthroat and steelhead trout which are ESA candidate species.
Conservation of the remaining habitats will additionally protect key
habitat for state sensitive anadromous species: chum salmon and Pacific
lamprey. The remaining estuarine marsh habitat also supports the high
use by waterfowl and migrating shorebirds in Oregon. The economy and
land use of the central coast is changing. Identifying the critical
areas and building a diverse base of support early in the transition
process will assure the conservation of this critical resources.
Project Description:
The Wetlands Conservancy and Central Coast Land Conservancy are working
to expand the partnerships, strategies and planning efforts developed
for acquisition, conservation and restoration of biologically
significant wetlands in the Yaquina watershed to the two adjacent
watersheds to the south, Alsea and Beaver Creek. The plan will identify
properties for acquisition, conservation and restoration. Once the
properties have been prioritized we will begin to talk and work with
the landowners of the identified properties. A monitoring strategy will
also be developed to allow the tracking of impacts within and across
the basins.
Project Objectives:
Develop a diverse group of collaborators to identify priorities for
wetland and marsh preservation, conservation, and restoration work in
the lower portions of key watersheds on Oregon’s central coast:
Beaver Creek, Alsea Bay, and Yaquina Bay.
Develop a community based, multi disciplinary action plan for technical
planning and outreach to landowners of the key sites.
Introduce private landowners to the conservation options available to
them (easements, sale of property, donation, restoration).
Develop a funding strategy for conservation of these important
estuaries and wetland areas and their associated uplands.
Initiate discussion of monitoring methodologies and baseline
documentation needs that will allow the tracking of positive trends and
wildlife gains over time within and across basins.
Project Partners:
The Wetlands Conservancy
Central Coast Land Trust
Simpson Timber
Natural Resource Conservation
US Forest Service
Mid- Coast Watersheds Council
Ten Mile Creek Audubon
Oregon Dept of Fish and Wildlife
US Fish and Wildlife Service
Oregon State Lincoln County Extension
Private landowners
To learn more about the TWC
MidCoast Regional Plan, Contact Us.
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