By Joanne Kittel
Ridge Tours Continue
VtF board members and volunteers continue to bring people up to Yachats Ridge for a tour of the property. Two tours were conducted in August. One of the highlights for children is looking for newts in the quarry area!
For information on the tours, contact Board Co-Chair Joanne Kittel at joannekittel@viewthefuture.org
VtF Letter re Rocha Property
Meanwhile, VtF notified the City of Yachats of its firm support for its efforts to prevent a clearcut on 40 acres of privately-owned land immediately abutting the southeastern city limits and lying just below Yachats Ridge. In the letter, which was printed in YachatsNews online https://yachatsnews.com/view-the-future-explains-its-position-on-40-acre-logging- proposal/
VtF explained why that parcel, owned by Clemente Rocha, is not part of the Yachats Ridge project, which includes two parcels, 900 acres owned by Manulife Financial Corporation and another 200 acres owned by Weyerhaeuser. Oregon Parks and Recreation (OPRD) reached out to Mr. Rocha about including his two parcels if he would be willing to sell them for their appraised value. So far, he has not responded.
For now, VtF is focused on soliciting partnerships, fundraising, and other means of support toward achieving preservation of the 1,100 acres. At the same time, according to Joanne Kittel, co-chair of VtF, the organization will continue to pursue all available options to increase land conservation and passive-recreation opportunities.
