NPSO 2024 Annual Meeting

May 17 - 19     Spirit Mountain Hotel, Grand Ronde, Oregon

Field Trips

Saturday May 18, 2024    9 a.m. - 4 p.m.                    Field Trip # 25

Difficulty:     Easy - Walk short distances on flat but uneven and wet terrain.

Elevation:     Negligible

Group Size Limit:     12

Trip Description:     The exceptional Salmon River Estuary covers approximately 2,000 acres, with a tidal influence reaching to River Mile 4. Sitting in the middle of the United National Biosphere Reserve and Cascade Head Scenic Research Area, the estuary and the Marine Reserve at the mouth of the river are components of the UNESCO Cascade Head Biosphere Reserve. The estuary forms a bay between two basalt headlands - The Nature Conservancy's Cascade Head Preserve to the north, and Camp Westwind's High Meadow to the south.

The estuary salt marshes were diked in 1960 to exclude salt water and create pastureland. Administered by the U.S. Forest Service, the estuary restoration project began in 1978 with the goals of establishing natural processes by rebuilding native plant communities, controlling erosion, and controlling noxious weeds. Dikes and tide-gates were removed, which allowed salt water to return to the marshes, killing pasture vegetation and allowing native salt marsh plants to reclaim the land naturally. Extensive plantings of native shrubs and trees stabilized the marshland perimeters. Recovery and restoration of wetlands that were modified to support an old amusement park and a trailer park were completed by 2011.

We will visit the two largest restoration projects and discuss what was learned about recovery of the native vegetation and the return of juvenile salmon to the estuary and creeks feeding it.

Appropriate Clothing and Footwear:     Warm clothing, layers, knee-high or other sturdy footwear that can get wet are advised.

Special Considerations:     Drive to sites. Your trip leader will monitor the tides and ensure that the group avoids deep tidal channels.

Meeting Place and Time:     Trip # 25 leaves at 9 a.m. from parking lot west of Hotel. Plan to arrive 30 minutes before departure time to meet your group and arrange carpools.

Alternate Meeting:     Participants may also meet the trip at 9:30 a.m at Knight County Park Boat Landing, 2341 N. Three Rocks Road, Otis, Oregon 97368. If you choose this option, be sure to notify your trip leader in advance.

Driving Miles and Time from Spirit Mountain Hotel:     26 miles, 32 minutes to the Knight County Park boat landing

Driving Directions:     Trip leader will provide detailed driving instructions.

Leader:       Kami Ellingson

Kami is a hydrologist with over 25 years of field experience, ranging from landslide studies following the 1996 storm event in western Oregon, to restoration of wetlands and rivers from the headwaters to the estuaries. Kami worked for the United States Forest Service from 2002 to December 2023 and led the restoration of the Salmon River estuary, Lincoln City, Oregon, from 2007-2017. Kami is now working as a Natural Climate Solutions Project Manager for The Nature Conservancy and the Emerald Edge efforts along the west coast of North America. She has been recognized nationally and internationally for the success of physical process-based restoration and collaborative partnerships. Kami received both her bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources Management and her master’s degree in Forest Engineering and Hydrology from Oregon State University.

Plant Lists and Other Information:     Clink on the links below for more information about this trip.

Photo: Barbara Ellis-Sugai
The estuary today

Photo: US Forest Service
The estuary before restoration

Photo: Tamara Quays-Kellingson
View of the estuary during a King Tide

Photo: Kami Ellingson
Salmon River Estuary, view from Cascade Head