The project fulfills a vision first imagined more than twenty years ago, when LNCT launched the Protect the Edge campaign to safeguard and connect vital habitat from Alder Creek to Nehalem Bay State Park. These edge lands nurture wildlife, buffer neighboring communities from winter storms, filter water entering the bay, and provide access to connect with nature.
The campaign led to the creation of LNCT’s Sitka Wetlands and Cedar Creek conservation areas, inspired additional conservation across the estuary, and laid the foundation for today’s celebration.
“Conserving this land has been part of our community’s vision for decades, and seeing it finally happen is like adding the final piece to a large puzzle. It’s more than just a parcel of wetland — it’s a legacy we’re leaving for future generations, lending resilience and connection that will endure and define our community long after any of us.”
Community Celebration
Please join LNCT and The Nature Conservancy for a celebration marking the official protection of this Sitka Wetland addition on October 28th at LNCT’s Alder Creek Farm, located at 35955 Underhill Lane, from 3-5pm. Light refreshments will be followed by a short program and optional walking tour to the property. All are welcome.
Safeguarding Critical Habitat
Forested tidal wetlands in Oregon have experienced one of the most extreme habitat losses globally—with Oregon having lost an estimated 95% of what existed historically. Protecting this land ensures that this valuable habitat remains intact and protected.
This newly conserved land is home to Sitka spruce trees untouched since the 1930s, an interior meadow shaped by coastal windstorms, and diverse native plant life. It delivers a host of benefits including:
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Vital habitat for juvenile salmon
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Nesting and foraging grounds for birds and mammals
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Large amounts of carbon stored in soils and biomass
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Natural protection against coastal storms
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Cleaner water for the bay and its communities
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A beloved place to connect with community and nature
Strength Through Partnership
This conservation milestone was made possible through a partnership with The Nature Conservancy of Oregon who contributed private funds toward the project. The effort is part of a broader regional vision under TNC’s Emerald Edge Program, which supports Indigenous and community-led conservation across the world’s largest coastal temperate rainforest, spanning 100 million acres across Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon.
TNC’s partnership with LNCT to support the acquisition reflects its long-term commitment to conservation within the Emerald Edge region. TNC continues to invest in lasting stewardship strategies that ensure lands like these remain protected as ecological strongholds for generations. This acquisition adds to a growing network of conserved areas in Oregon that emphasize durable conservation outcomes through habitat connectivity, climate resilience and community-led care.
Conservation in Perpetuity
Conservation doesn’t end at acquisition. LNCT will continue the forever endeavor of caring for these lands: monitoring habitat, supporting natural processes, and engaging volunteers and partners so the estuary’s edge remains resilient for generations to come. To support long-term care, LNCT invites contributions to a stewardship fund for this and other conserved lands in support of a legacy of nature and connection for our region.
For more information or to contribute to the stewardship of Nehalem Point, visit www.nehalemtrust.org/donate/ and designate your contribution to the “LNCT Stewardship Fund.”