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Salmonberry Trail Foundation asks Nehalem council for help securing $8 million in state funding
Summary
Caroline Fitchett told the Nehalem City Council the Salmonberry Trail Foundation is seeking $8 million from the Oregon Legislature to fund construction of prioritized segments of the 82-mile Salmonberry Trail and asked the city to support efforts to connect Nehalem and Manzanita.
Caroline Fitchett, executive director of the Salmonberry Trail Foundation, updated the Nehalem City Council on Feb. 10 on plans for the Salmonberry Trail and asked the city to support efforts to connect Nehalem and Manzanita to the route.
Fitchett said the Salmonberry Trail Intergovernmental Agency (STIA) and the foundation have been planning the trail for about 10 years. The planned route would run roughly 82 miles between Tillamook and Banks. The foundation is targeting four priority projects for detailed planning and construction: downtown Wheeler; a segment near the Tillamook Creamery; Rockaway Beach; and a link between Manning Trailhead and Stubb Stewart State Park. Fitchett said the foundation is asking the Oregon Legislature for $8 million for construction and invited council members to a lobby day in Salem on March 10 to press for recreational immunity, the construction request and ODOT’s active-transportation funding.
Why it matters: a state-funded Salmonberry Trail connection could expand recreation and tourism opportunities for Nehalem and neighboring towns and would require local coordination on routing, maintenance and amenities. Fitchett told the council the foundation is working with cities, Oregon Coast Scenic Railway and local community trusts to plan stewardship and maintenance, and that final maintenance responsibilities would be set through partnerships among local governments, entities and volunteers.
Council members asked how the trail would affect existing train tours, how maintenance would be handled and where restrooms might be located along rural stretches. Fitchett said the trail would not affect existing train tours, that maintenance roles would be determined in partnership with local jurisdictions and stakeholders, and that restroom siting in canyon and rural areas presents planning challenges that require further study.
Fitchett requested the city’s continued assistance in communicating local interest and connectivity options for Nehalem and Manzanita and encouraged council participation in the March 10 Salem advocacy day. The foundation’s next steps include further planning for the four priority segments and continued coordination with local partners on funding and upkeep.
