Taking on a New Role at NCLC
It is exciting, and a little intimidating, becoming president of the board of North Coast Land Conservancy. I’ve watched NCLC grow from an idea in the mind of Neal Maine and a handful of other visionary citizens 38 years ago to becoming a statewide leader in nonprofit land conservation.
In the 13 years I’ve served on the board, I’ve witnessed the impact NCLC has had on this place I love: linking the shoreline at Ecola State Park with the Necanicum River valley to create an uninterrupted corridor for native plants and animals through acquisition of Boneyard Ridge on Tillamook Head; helping the city of Cannon Beach and other coastal communities protect the quality of their drinking water by acquiring the woods where their water is sourced; and most recently, protecting the mountainous horizon above Cannon Beach, knowing that those mountains I’ve gazed at since I was a child will remain forested forever.
“What gives me the confidence to take on this job is knowing that you, our growing family of supporters, have our back.”
What gives me the confidence to take on this job is knowing that you, our growing family of supporters, have our back. Thanks to community support, we now have a robust crew of land stewards caring for everything from the tide pools to the rocky balds—high wildflower-strewn meadows overlooking the shoreline.
We’re building a new building at Circle Creek Conservation Center in Seaside that will not only serve as our office but as a community gathering place. We’re partnering with Oregon Fish and Wildlife to support protection of Cape Falcon Marine Reserve, where scientists are unlocking mysteries of the nearshore ocean and un-fished waters are serving as nurseries that improve the health of the ocean well beyond the reserve’s borders.
Those of us who live here or love to visit can sometimes take for granted the beauty of this region. But when I stop to look around, I realize that many of the wild places I love are still wild because NCLC was paying attention and took steps to help those places thrive. I have been actively involved in the community all my life, from serving on my town’s city council to helping ensure that our youngest citizens get a good start in life, but nothing has brought me more satisfaction than helping NCLC do its important conservation work.
Thank you for everything you do to further NCLC’s mission: Helping to conserve Oregon’s coastal lands and waters, forever.
Betsy Ayres
President, Board of Directors
North Coast Land Conservancy