WESTPORT, Wash. – Forterra has permanently protected 40 acres of coastal wetland habitat in the Elk River estuary in Grays Harbor County, safeguarding rare salt-marsh habitat and an area that may provide important refuge for native salmon species.
“The property is a valuable addition to the ecological network of the Elk River estuary,” says Forterra Vice President of Real Estate Julie Currier. “We’re excited to continue our work protecting one of the largest, highest-quality remaining estuarine systems in Washington and Oregon.”
Forterra purchased the property from LeMay Investments LLC with $452,400 in funding through the Aquatic Species Restoration Program. Managed via the Department of Ecology’s Office of Chehalis Basin, the program began in earnest in 2019 and has since restored aquatic habitat in the Chehalis Basin and protected communities from the predicted increase of flooding.
The property is adjacent to the Elk River Natural Resources Conservation Area (NRCA), managed by the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Connecting lands with supportive partners like DNR helps protect habitat within a larger conservation landscape. Wildlife documented in the NRCA includes Roosevelt elks, black bears, and harbor seals.
“DNR Natural Areas protect nearly 175,000 acres of habitat for rare plants, animals, and plant communities across Washington,” says Carlo Abbruzzese, DNR’s Natural Areas Manager for the Pacific Cascades Region. “Often, purchasing land outside of our established preserve boundaries is difficult if not impossible. Adjacent development and private lands can fragment habitat and negatively affect the health of protected areas. That’s why we’re excited and very grateful to have organizations like Forterra jump in and conserve important parcels that help enlarge our natural areas and reduce edge effects in some of our state’s most important natural areas.”
Forterra will continue to work with other partners like Grays Harbor Conservation District, which will oversee restoration of the Elk River site. The District plans to manage invasive species and establish native plants. Such established trees and shrubs will provide forage and dam-building material for beavers, a keystone species that provides numerous benefits to wetlands.
Forterra plans to assess the property’s culverts and determine whether maintenance or upgrades could improve fish passage to the wetlands. Intertidal and adjacent wetland habitats can provide important rearing and refuge areas for juvenile salmon migrating toward the ocean.
To learn about such projects and more, visit www.forterra.org.
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Media contact:
Kristi England, Chief Governance, Policy & Innovations Officer
media@forterra.org
ABOUT FORTERRA
Forterra is an unconventional land trust that works across Washington’s communities and landscapes. From the estuaries, farms and forests of Washington’s coast to the ranches and shrub-steppe of eastern and central Washington, reaching more than 100 counties, cities, towns, and rural communities. For 36 years, we’ve innovated and scaled land-based solutions to address the climate crisis, conserve and care for wild and working lands, and support equitable, green and prosperous communities. Visit Forterra.org.
