Friends of the Dunes Is Interim Landowner of Samoa Dunes and Wetland

Samoa Dunes and Wetlands photo credit Michael van Hattem (2) (1)

Samoa Dunes and Wetlands [Photo credit Michael van Hattem]

Press release from the Friends of the Dunes:

Friends of the Dunes has completed a deal with Security National, the Humboldt Bay Harbor Recreation and Conservation District, the Wildlife Conservation Board, the California Natural Resources Agency, and the California State Coastal Conservancy to acquire the Samoa Dunes and Wetlands for the purposes of conservation and public access. The Samoa Dunes and Wetlands is a 357-acre coastal dune and bayfront property that includes the former Dog Ranch.

“We’re grateful to all of our partners who have worked together to protect this ecological treasure for our community,” said Mike Cipra, Executive Director of Friends of the Dunes. “A broad coalition has been working in collaboration here—from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, to the Coastal Conservancy, to Security National, to the Harbor District, to our Humboldt County Supervisors Virginia Bass and Mike Wilson, to the Wiyot Tribe.  And today, we stand in solidarity with all of our partners and the community to share that we have conserved a profound coastal dune forest, diverse wetlands, healthy habitat for wildlife and for rare native plants, and a truly special place where people can find inspiration in nature.”

Samoa Dunes and Wetlands photo credit Andrea Pickart

Samoa Dunes and Wetlands [Photo credit Andrea Pickart]

Friends of the Dunes is now interim landowner of the 357-acre Samoa Dunes and Wetlands, while the conservation non-profit works with its partners to identify the best long-term conservation landowner for this property. Friends of the Dunes has established partnerships with the Humboldt Bay Harbor District, the Bureau of Land Management, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Humboldt County, the State Coastal Conservancy, and the Wiyot Tribe. All of these parties are in the process of finalizing a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperative management of the Samoa Dunes and Wetlands.

Adding this property, which is located just south of the Manila Dunes Recreation Area, to the existing conservation lands on the north spit of Humboldt Bay will create a continuous connected area of more than 1600 acres of sweeping native dunes managed for habitat conservation and public access. Friends of the Dunes plans to lead small group tours of the Samoa Dunes and Wetlands when it is safe and appropriate to do so under existing public health guidance, so that the interested public can gain access and learn about this remarkable conservation land.

Samoa Dunes in the forest

Samoa Dunes in the forest.

“Friends of the Dunes does not see ourselves as the long-term landowner of the Samoa Dunes and Wetlands, and we do not plan to do any development of trails, parking areas, or restoration activities during our tenure as interim land manager,” said Carol Vander Meer, the Board President of Friends of the Dunes. “We are cooperating with our county, state, federal, and Tribal partners to determine what ownership or management is in the best long-term interests of this land and our community.”

“All of the partners working on this project are committed to protecting the beauty and diversity of this remarkable piece of land,” said Vander Meer. “That’s really the core of this conservation project—working cooperatively with committed partners so that the beauty and diversity of our coast can be enjoyed for generations to come.”

Facebooktwitterpinterestmail

Join the discussion! For rules visit: https://kymkemp.com/commenting-rules

Comments system how-to: https://wpdiscuz.com/community/postid/10599/

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

6 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
cu2morrow
Guest
cu2morrow
3 years ago

so, my hopes of a golf course are dashed

Dune destroyers
Guest
Dune destroyers
3 years ago

They have eroded the living hell out of a lot of beaches and destroyed so much habitat. The overlook at Clam Beach is basically blown out and covering hundreds of acres of marine life the devastation is of epic proportions.

“Friends” of the dunes that’s beyond ridiculous. It’s really sad to see that this happened. I miss all the wildlife diversity that used to call those areas home.

cu2morrow
Guest
cu2morrow
3 years ago

me too

Laurie Jensen
Guest
3 years ago

I agree Look what they did to the Manila dunes heading north towards Arcata slough? Use to be little forests, grass ect Now its all gone. Just massive sand-dunes blowing all over with the wind storms. The vegetation kept the sand dunes in check. Use to be wild-life out there, but not any more. They like the trees, grasses to live in I feel friends of the dunes, is more like enemy to all wild-life and the dunes

Bozo
Guest
Bozo
3 years ago

IMHO: Public paid for it. Should be publicly owned.