On June 24th, 2019 the acquisition of Botts Marsh was finalized. At 30 acres, Bott’s Marsh is the largest parcel of land preserved in LNCT’s Protect the Edge campaign to protect and connect wild land surrounding the Nehalem Bay estuary.
The marsh provides habitat for more than 125 species of birds and is a critical rearing habitat for Chinook and Coho salmon. Conservation of the marsh provides an opportunity to protect an intact salt marsh property, as well as opportunities to educate the public about intertidal wetlands importance for a variety of ecological services. These range from fish and wildlife protection to flood control, and carbon sequestration, important factors in off-setting climate change.
Funding for the acquisition was provided by gifts from individual donors, the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, through its North American Wetlands Conservation Act grant program. Special thanks is due to the North Coast Land Conservancy who, earlier in the year, partnered with Craft 3, a regional non-profit, who provided a bridge loan to purchase the property, allowing time for LNCT to complete Federal and State grant requirements.
A draft management plan for the marsh had been prepared in order to document the property’s history and guide the Trust’s future management efforts. Read the Botts Marsh Management Plan here. We appreciate your feedback, comments and suggested edits. Of special interest: information gaps, how Botts Marsh got its name or any management issues or natural resources that are not addressed. Please email your comments and suggestions to us at lnct@nehalemtrust.org.
