Forterra acquires over 100 acres to help safeguard communities and wildlife in Grays Harbor County
MONTESANO, Wash. — Forterra recently acquired two properties totaling nearly 105 acres in Grays Harbor County. The acquisitions are part of a multi-partner multi-year effort to reconnect floodplains and conserve wetlands within the Chehalis River Surge Plain.
In September, Forterra purchased 88 acres of floodplain and wetlands along Peels Slough, a tidal channel located between Montesano and Cosmopolis which slowly filters into the Chehalis River. The adjacent Alder Grove property added 17 more acres to the Chehalis Basin watershed acquisitions.
The conservation of both the Peels Slough and Alder Grove properties contributes to a landscape that safeguards ecosystems and strengthens climate resilience for the communities of Grays Harbor County.
Funding for both acquisitions in part came from the Aquatic Species Restoration Program, an initiative funded by the Department of Ecology’s Office of Chehalis Basin.
“By working with partners like Forterra, we’re able to restore the natural functions of our state’s vital surge plains,” says Nat Kale, Director of the Office of Chehalis Basin. “Preserving this land alongside the Chehalis River maintains a buffer against flooding and protects vital salmonid rearing and migration habitat. We’re glad to have Forterra and others contributing to the Chehalis Basin Strategy, which addresses these challenges.”
Support also came from a generous contribution from Swire Coca-Cola, USA, which has invested millions of dollars and thousands of volunteer hours into environmental restoration across the U.S.
“We’re proud to partner with Forterra to help protect and steward the Chehalis Basin’s important floodplains and wetlands,” said Michele McKillip, Senior Vice President and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Swire Coca-Cola, USA. “By investing in the long-term health of these ecosystems, we’re helping strengthen community resilience, support wildlife habitat, and create lasting environmental benefits for generations to come.”
Swire Coca-Cola, USA’s contribution provides for stewardship of the property, including monitoring and invasive species removal. Funding from Department of Ecology grants will further support Forterra’s restoration of the properties. Securing this funding is a crucial part of Forterra’s post-acquisition work, considered well before the project is underway.
“This is often an unseen part of conservation work,” says Julie Currier, Forterra’s Vice President of Real Estate. “While acquiring property is a huge upfront cost, we also need to ensure that the property can be cared for and stewarded for years to come. We’re always grateful to the people and organizations who step in to fill that crucial funding gap.”
The Peels Slough and Alder Grove acquisitions join a number of others along the shores of Gray Harbor, including 40 acres of coastal wetland habitat in the Elk River estuary. Forterra’s acquisitions are connecting an ecological network from the Chehalis floodplains to the Pacific Ocean.
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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.
