SEASIDE-AREA WETLAND RESTORATION GARNERS LAND BOARD AWARD

The State Land Board has recognized the Neitzel Farm Habitat Restoration in an awards ceremony honoring exemplary efforts to promote responsible stewardship of Oregon's natural resources.
In presenting one of two 2009 Wetland Project Awards, Secretary of State Kate Brown, a member of the Land Board, praised the project as a "model of rural community networking."
The Neitzel farm is the last historic truck farm in the area that has not been subdivided. The owners ­ Ernestine Neitzel and her son Les ­ wanted to ensure the property would be preserved in a natural state in perpetuity. The project turned .61 acres on the farm into active wetlands.
The Neitzels worked with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Department of State Lands and Carex Consulting to construct the wetlands, which involved restoring and reconnecting off-channel wetlands to improve habitat for Coho salmon and other species.
The project involved a wide variety of partners, including the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, the North Coast Land Conservancy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Campbell Group LLC, Longview Timber Company, State Rep. Debbie Boone, the Necanicum Watershed Council, Trout Unlimited, Brims Farm & Garden, and many more public and private entities.
"More than 20 community groups contributed support ranging from hard dollar funding to donations of Christmas trees for use in the wetland complex," said project consultant Doug Ray of Carex Consulting. Ray noted that one of the more innovative concepts used in the design was placing upside-down conifers with root wads for raptor perching and potential nesting sites.
Ray also said that since connecting to the Necanicum River in November 2009, the created wetland complex has provided critical over-wintering habitat for more than 1,000 juvenile Coho and for spawning amphibians, including Oregon red-legged frogs, a state-listed species.
In her remarks, Secretary of State Brown noted the Neitzel Farm wetland restoration is "a wonderful example of how landowners with a vision can truly make a difference."
The State Land Board consists of Governor Theodore Kulongoski, Secretary of State Kate Brown and State Treasurer Ted Wheeler. The Department of State Lands administers diverse natural and fiscal resources. Many of the resources generate revenue for the Common School Fund, such as state-owned rangelands and timberlands, waterway leases, estates for which no will or heirs exist, and unclaimed property. Twice a year, the agency distributes fund investment earnings to support K-12 public schools. The agency also administers Oregon's Removal-Fill Law, which requires people removing or filling certain amounts of material in waters of the state to obtain a permit.