Cedar Creek

History

In the early part of the century, the land along Neptune Way was used as for truck gardens.  Goods were trundled down wooden ramps out to deeper water loaded onto boats that would deliver goods up and down the coast.  In 1913 this area was plated for development as part of "Bayside Garden Estates".

In Mid-Century the land was put into pasture for cows. At some point large ditches/sloughs were dug to drain the land.  A 1939 Army Corps of Engineers aerial photos show the land north Neptune in row crops.   The drainage ditch can not be seen in this photo but can now be found on the property.  Neptune Way was built in 1999. 

Four parcels were acquired by a local couple who wanted to preserve the land as open space for wildlife.  Elk use the land as safe harbor when passing between state park and Alder Creek Farm.  They will stay for days or weeks at a time.  Most years they will spend much of late summer bedded down in the heaviest wooded portions. .  Beavers have built several dams in the waterways.

The Lower Nehalem Community Trust recognizing the importance of the wetlands along the North edge of the estuary and the escalating threat of land development approached the local couple and two other nearby land owners.  The Trust was able to acquire the property in late 2009 and early 2010 using funds from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Coastal Wetlands grant program, a Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board grant and local donations.