The Wetlands Conservancy recently purchased 420 acres of salt marsh wetlands in the Yaquina Estuary near Newport.  These wetlands will become the cornerstone of a comprehensive protection system for the highest priority salt marsh sites as identified by the Mid-Coast Watersheds Council.  Funding for this important purchase came from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program and the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board.  These wetlands, coupled with earlier restoration efforts by private landowners, the city of Newport and local timber companies provide a bright future for the Yaquina Bay Estuary.

Approximately 70% of the Yaquina Bay’s historic estuarine marshes are gone. The remaining tidal marshes provide critical habitat for species listed on the Endangered Species Act (ESA) including coho salmon, brown pelicans, bald eagles, and marbled murrelets.  ESA candidate species sea-run cutthroat and steelhead trout and anadromous species such as chum salmon and Pacific lamprey depend upon this habitat. The remaining estuarine marsh habitat also supports the second highest use by waterfowl in Oregon and shelters high numbers and diversity of migratory shorebirds.

The Wetlands Conservancy has developed many new partnerships with private landowners, county, state and federal agencies, businesses and other non-profit organizations since the inception of this project.  We will begin working with Pacific Forest Trust on joint conservation and restoration strategies for our new acquisitions and the adjacent 2,500 acres owned by Pacific Forest Trust.

CLARENCE W. McQUEEN & FAMILY PRESERVE

Building upon the success and momentum of our acquisitions in the Yaquina Bay Estuary, The Wetlands Conservancy purchased 33 acres of estuarine marsh in McCaffery slough.  In partnership with the Central Coast Land Conservancy, the Clarence W. McQueen & Family Preserve was acquired with funds from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA).  With the addition of this property, almost 85% of the salt marsh habitat in the nearly 550 acre watershed will be conserved.  The City of Newport will donate an adjacent seven acre parcel to the Central Coast Land Conservancy.