Submitted by Chehalis River Basin Land Trust
The Chehalis River Basin Land Trust was recently awarded a $6,200 grant from the Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund. The mission of the land trust is to “conserve, protect, and restore ecologically significant lands in the Chehalis Basin.“
The donation will be used in two ways:
$5,000 will be used to provide the final matching funds needed to purchase 82 prime acres of protected wetlands and forest in the East Hoquiam River watershed, just outside the City of Hoquiam. “Protection of these lands will add to flood control, contribute to clean water in the Hoquiam River and Grays Harbor and will provide important habitat for migrating birds, salmon, and other wildlife,” noted Jan Robinson, Chehalis River Basin Land Trust President.
“The remaining $1,200 will be used to help steward the lands in the future.” said Jan Strong, current and founding board member with the land trust.
These surge plain lands experience a daily tidal influx of nutrient-rich marine waters which mix with East Hoquiam River waters. These waters provide vital rearing habitat for federally endangered bull trout and provide crucial rearing habitat for chinook, chum, coho, cutthroat and steelhead salmon. In addition, the new 82 acres are adjacent to close to 600 acres of currently protected lands. “This creates healthy and contiguous habitat for wildlife of all kinds, including fish, amphibians, birds, and mammals,” said Jan Strong.
For more information on how you can donate land to the Chehalis River Basin Land Trust or to volunteer to help the land trust steward it’s conserved and protected lands, please contact the Chehalis River Basin Land Trust at ChehalisLandTrust@yahoo.com.
