River's Edge
River’s Edge is bordered on the west by the Dungeness River and along the east by Towne Road. Directly to the north are 38 acres of active dairy farmland that were permanently conserved by North Olympic Land Trust and Clallam County in 2008. “The River’s Edge project has given our community an exciting opportunity to invest in a land purchase that simultaneously conserves precious local farmland and restore valuable floodplain habitat,” states Land Trust Executive Director Tom Sanford.
The Land Trust will conserve 64 acres of the River’s Edge property as farmland, helping to preserve the strong agricultural tradition of the Dungeness Valley. 40 acres of wetter ground along the river will be reconnected with the Dungeness River floodplain after planned levee setback. This renewal of historical riparian habitat will support salmon recovery and boost overall ecosystem health. Chinook salmon, summer chum, bull trout and steelhead are among the fish that utilize the river and are federally listed on the Endangered Species Act. Public access will be maintained through a walking path along the relocated levee, where community members will be able to experience and enjoy the border between farm and river.
“We feel fortunate that the property owner was willing to work with the Tribe and Land Trust, giving the community a chance to purchase the property for farming and habitat before listing it on the public market,” says Sanford. “The community has an a huge opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to local land conservation.”
Please enjoy views of the property in this “River’s Edge” video by local videographer John Gussman.