On August 27 the Cape Meares Community Association will celebrate two and a half years of hard work and negotiations to secure the protection of over 200 acres of property surrounding the small community of Cape Meares on the Oregon coast. The plan is for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to expand the Cape Meares National Wildlife Refuge by incorporating the property.
“We are the little community that could,” said Beverly Stein, President of the Cape Meares Community Association, referring to completion of the transactions that transferred both a forest parcel owned by CMCA and privately held property that was slated to be logged to The Conservation Fund (TCF), which is serving as a bridge buyer.
According to John Wros, TCF’s Alaska and Northwest Field Representative, “We expect to own the properties for two years while the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works to receive approval for a boundary expansion and confirms funding for the purchase.”
“This project happened because of the vigilance of Cape Meares and we were thrilled to assist,” commented Wros. The Conservation Fund is a national nonprofit organization that has protected more than 130,000 acres in Oregon.
“Protecting these properties from development in perpetuity is a major achievement for this small community and involved complex negotiations, fundraising, research and working with numerous environmental groups and governmental agencies,” said Stein.
She added, “Our watershed will be protected, a permanent old growth forest will surround our community which will benefit not just our community but will be an asset for the whole region,” said Stein.
The community and other supporters of the project will be celebrating this achievement on August 27, 4 pm at the Cape Meares Community Center, 5690 4th St. NW in Cape Meares. RSVP to capemearesca@gmail.com.
Here is a full report about the Cape Meares Community Association:
CapeMearesWCPReportJune2023
