NEW NEWS

Continuing the Legacy ......

Two New Additions;

First;

We want to send out a big welcome to our newest board member Mark White. 

Mark is the Natural Resources Director for the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation. He has worked in the natural resources area for over a decade and has an amazing wealth of knowledge in Water Quality, Water Quaintly, and Wildlife Habitat issues in our region.

Sharing common goals and concerns with the Chehalis Tribe for the Scatter Creek Watershed, and the Chehalis Basin, we felt it would be a great match to have Mark join HE in a collaborative effort to have the ability to tackle some tough regional issues.  We know that Mark will be a tremendous asset to our foundation and our future endeavors.

Second;

We look forward to some amazing new projects just around the corner.  One of the first projects we will tackle in 2011 will be the acquisition of the Mill's property in Rochester WA. HEF will receive funding from the Recreation and Conservation Salmon Recovery Funding Board in 2011 specifically to purchase this intact, and ecologically functioning property located between Grand Mound and Rochester, WA.  This 30 acres has been in the Mill's family for over 4 generations and has been untouched for approximately 60 years.   There is a 1/2 mile of Scatter Creek mainstem running through the middle of the property, and the surrounding riparian area is covered in mature Oregon ash, and White oak. 

This property is going to be added to HEF's other protected properties and will become a wildlife refuge in perpetuity.  Even though the upstream and downstream properties are privately owned, this property will remain an intact wildlife corridor, allowing migrating wildlife to move along the mainstem. 

An additional bonus to this property is that it is a perfect location for regional schools to use as an "outdoor classroom."  Our hope is to establish a permanent water quality monitoring station, which can be used by schools, agencies, and community members to do environmental education workshops.

We have lots of positive projects in motion, and are always looking for help.  If you want to be a volunteer, or wish to help in other ways, please contact HEF at any time heernett@aol.com, or 360.264.7777.

Remember you can make a difference!!