December 2005, Volume 5, Issue 10

CLARK'S DISMAL NITCH TO BECOME PART OF PUBLIC LEGACY

A broad-based coalition including The Conservation Fund, the Washington Congressional delegation, National Park Service, Centex Homes, Hancock Timber Resource Group and the State of Washington recently announced the protection of historic forestland at Clark's Dismal Nitch in Pacific County, WA. Thanks in part to support from the Centex Homes Land Legacy Fund, The Conservation Fund acquired 154 acres of coastal forestland from Hancock Timber Resource Group. Next year The Conservation Fund will convey the parcel to the National Park Service for incorporation into the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, using federal appropriations from the Land and Water Conservation Fund secured by Senator Maria Cantwell, Senator Patty Murray and Congressman Brian Baird.

"Clark's Dismal Nitch and the lands and waters traveled by Lewis and Clark are an integral part of our nation's natural and cultural heritage and our economic future," said The Conservation Fund's northwest regional vice president, Mark W. Elsbree. "Thanks to the leadership, vision and support of our partners, we are ensuring the protection of historic resources, safeguarding important wildlife habitat and enhancing public recreation areas for future generations."

In 1805, the Corps of Volunteers for Northwest Discovery spent six days trapped along the rocky shoreline at Clark's Dismal Nitch, near the mouth of the Columbia River, just northwest of what is now the Dismal Nitch Safety Rest Area. The Corps battled thunderstorms, wind and high waves before they abandoned most of their supplies, buried their canoes and sought shelter in the cedar forest. Today the stands of spruce and hemlock surrounding the Dismal Nitch site harbor bald eagles, beaver, mountain lion and black bear.

Washington Congressman Brian Baird introduced legislation in the House of Representatives to authorize and create the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park last Congress.

"The addition of Dismal Nitch is absolutely vital to ensuring preservation of this national treasure," said Baird, who is also co-founder and co-chair of the National Parks Caucus in Congress.

In 2004 President Bush signed bipartisan legislation to create the nation's newest national park, the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park in Washington and Oregon, which includes two historic sites: Dismal Nitch and Station Camp. Earlier this year the Washington Congressional delegation secured $1.6 million to support the acquisition of strategic lands at Dismal Nitch and other areas using monies from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund.

"Our Northwest delegation worked hard this session to secure these essential funds," Baird said. Baird also credited fellow Washington Congressman Norm Dicks and Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell for their leadership. "We have built strong partnerships that will continue to work together to complete the Lewis and Clark National Park."

"With the addition of Clark's Dismal Nitch, we have secured an important part of America's newest national park," said Senator Maria Cantwell. "Preserving this critical piece of Pacific Northwest history helps ensure that future Americans will be able to appreciate Lewis and Clark's dramatic arrival at the Pacific Ocean, and will continue to promote Southwest Washington tourism for years to come."

Senator Patty Murray added, "Clark's Dismal Nitch is a vital part of our cultural and natural heritage, and this project is an opportunity to meet our responsibility to preserve that history for future generations. I'm proud to have supported this preservation effort. I applaud The Conservation Fund and its partners for their hard work and perseverance in making this important project a reality."

"It's extremely gratifying for Hancock Timber to join with The Conservation Fund's coalition in conserving Dismal Nitch two centuries after Lewis and Clark took refuge there," said John Davis, western regional manager for Hancock Timber Resource Group. "Our firm has a long heritage of working with conservation organizations to safeguard sensitive lands, and Dismal Nitch's historic significance makes this a very special occasion for us."

Dismal Nitch is the fifth of eight projects that the Centex Homes Land Legacy Fund will help protect in the first phase of its collaborative program with The Conservation Fund.

"Supporting the protection of Dismal Nitch for the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park is representative of our company-wide commitment to balancing land conservation with responsible development," said Steve Puls, president of the Portland division of Centex Homes. "We want to enhance the communities we build as well as preserve a legacy of historic resources and important wildlife habitat for future generations to enjoy."

In October, in observance of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commemoration, the Washington State Transportation Commission renamed the Megler Safety Rest Area to Dismal Nitch Safety Rest Area. In the coming months the National Park Service will work with closely with the State of Washington to develop a long-term management plan for the Dismal Nitch facilities.

"We appreciate the leadership that is coming from all levels in the State of Washington," said Lewis and Clark National Historical Park superintendent, Chip Jenkins. "We extend our thanks to the Congressional delegation for land acquisition funding, the state government for leadership in planning quality national park visitor facilities, and the private sector for working to protect this land for future National Park visitors."

The protection of the Dismal Nitch parcel is part of the Fund's larger effort to preserve the lands and waters explored by Lewis and Clark. Working on behalf of the National Park Service, the Fund recently protected land critical to completion of the Fort to Sea Trail and is currently working with interested landowners to preserve the forestland surrounding Station Camp and one additional site in Oregon.

"The Dismal Nitch acquisition substantiates and reinforces several important aspects about the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park; notably, the importance of partnerships and inter-agency team play, and the fact that the park will be recognized by future generations as one of the pre-eminent legacies of the bicentennial era," said David Nicandri, head of the State of Washington's inter-agency assistance team.

FORT CLATSOP TO REBUILD

View a slideshow of the Fort Clatsop replica presented by The Daily Astorian.

The National Park Service (NPS) took delivery of about 420 donated Douglas fir logs for the rebuild of Fort Clatsop. The new fort will replace an earlier replica, built near Astoria 50 years ago and destroyed by fire October 3.

Lewis and Clark and members of their Corps of Discovery built the original Fort Clatsop for quarters during the winter of 1805-1806 after completing their expedition to establish a route west to the Pacific Ocean.

Area forest products companies contributing and delivering logs for the rebuild are Stimson Lumber Company, Longview Fibre Company, Hampton Affiliates and Weyerhaeuser Company.

The Oregon Forest Resources Institute organized the contributions using log specifications provided by NPS.

"We promised that the rebuild of the fort will be done with the community," said Chip Jenkins, superintendent of the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park where Fort Clatsop is located. "We are doing this through donated materials, time, services and funds. These logs will form the core of the new Fort Clatsop."

As with the first replica of Fort Clatsop, the logs will be notched and fitted together off site—this time at the main arena at the Clatsop County Fairgrounds.

"We are following the model created by community volunteers for the construction of the first replica," Jenkins said. "But first the logs must be stripped of bark."

Debarking took place at the fairgrounds on December 10 following a ground-breaking and flag-raising ceremony at Fort Clatsop. Construction of the original Fort Clatsop began on the same date 200 years ago.

The logs will be debarked by hand to create a rustic, rough-hewed appearance not achievable with modern mechanical debarking systems. Community volunteers will assist with the debarking.

"Students from the Oregon State University College of Forestry will come up on their holiday break to help start this work," Jenkins said.

Once fully assembled at the fairgrounds, the fort will be taken apart, undergo a treatment process to inhibit deterioration from weather and then be transported to the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park for reassembly. The assembly is expected to be completed in March.

Jenkins invites the public to come and watch the assembly work at the fairgrounds, located four miles south of Astoria on Highway 202.

CHALLENGE COST SHARE PROGRAM FOR LEWIS AND CLARK TRAIL

The National Park Service announces the 2006 Challenge Cost Share program for the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. The program will distribute matching funds to non-federal organizations for projects that educate the public about the Lewis and Clark story and preserve the resources of the National Historic Trail, including projects that commemorate the bicentennial of the historic expedition.

"This year we are looking for projects that will provide a lasting legacy of resource protection, education and interpretation on the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail for many years following the bicentennial" said Richard Williams, Chief, Resource Management. "However, we also expect a number of organizations will apply for funds to assist in production of events and activities in 2006, the last year of the bicentennial" Williams said.

Local communities, states, Indian Tribes and non profit organizations are encouraged to apply for the Lewis and Clark Challenge Cost Share funds. Application packets and more information may be obtained at the Internet Web site www.nps.gov/lecl or from Richard Williams, Chief, Resource Management, 402-661-1830, toll free 888-237-3252, or richard_williams@nps.gov.

On-line applications must be submitted by January 20, 2006.

The Challenge Cost Share Program for the National Park Service was first authorized by Congress in 1995. Each year Congress appropriates funds for this program for use on National Scenic and Historic Trails, including the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.

WASHINGTON STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY AWARDS PROGRAM
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

The Washington State Historical Society announces a call for nominations for awards to be presented at the Society's annual meeting on June 17, 2006. Up to nine awards are presented each year to recognize excellence in advancing the field of history in the state of Washington through writing, teaching, historic projects, understanding cultural diversity and for volunteerism at the Washington State History Museum and the State Capital Museum.

We encourage you to help us honor the work that advances the Society's mission to make the study of history in Washington illuminating and inspiring by nominating candidates for the following awards: David Douglas Award, Governor's Award for Teaching History in Washington State, Peace and Friendship Awards, and the Robert Gray Medal.

For a description of the awards and information on the nomination process, please visit the WSHS web at http://www.washingtonhistory.org/wshs/awards.htm

WEBSITE OF THE MONTH

By Sharon Hultman, WSHS Digital Projects Manager

Wildlife Along the Lewis & Clark Trail
http://www.cof.orst.edu/lewis&clark/mainmap.html

The Oregon State University Leopold Project is a continuation of the cross-disciplinary studies of Aldo Leopold, intersecting forestry and wildlife science with ecosystems. The Leopold site features an interesting Geographic Information Systems (GIS) application based on the journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

Using daily journal entries they have developed "a spatial database, recording and mapping wildlife distribution and abundance, various ecological observations as well as encounters with the Native population." The database is focused on nine of the larger mammals, animals that were seen and hunted along the trail. One objective of the study was to "examine the relationship between wildlife observations and proximity to human settlements." The results showed that even low human population densities, such as Native American settlements, have a discernible impact on the presence of wildlife.

The website features just a single page, but there is a lot of information to be culled from that page. Dots on the trail are so densely placed as to appear as a solid line. Zoom in on the map to separate out individual locations. Journal entry dots from the westward trek are in red, eastward entries appear as green dots. Click on dots of either color to see data on latitude, longitude, date of entry, and how many animals were sighted and how many killed for sustenance. Click on any state shown and it turns yellow and displays information about the state--name, abbreviation, and area.

One problem with the data is the lack of explanation of the database field names, leaving the user to figure out the precise meaning of obscure terms such as FID or BOB_CAMPS_. Fortunately, however, most of the terms are easily translated, which insures that even novice users can find out a great deal about the wildlife seen and eaten by the members of the Corps of Discovery.

NEW LEWIS AND CLARK PICTORIAL BOOK
NOW AVAILABLE

Ocian in view! Oh! the joy:
Lewis & Clark in Washington State

The latest book offering from the Washington State Historical Society is Ocian in View! O! The Joy: Lewis and Clark in Washington State, with illustrations by Roger Cooke and narrative text by Robert C. Carriker (168 pp., 78 color illustration, 4 maps; $27.95 paper ). This volume is an ideal companion for anyone interested in retracing the Washington portion of the Lewis and Clark trail by car or boat—or from the comfort of a favorite easy chair. Cooke's unique illustrations draw you into scene, and Carriker's informative text and judicious use of quotes from the journals of William Clark and other corps members impart both a historian's perspective and a sense of actually being part of the expedition. These illustrations also grace a series of wayside markers erected at points of interest along the Washington portion of the expedition route as part of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial commemoration.

168 pp., 78 color illustrations, 4 maps, $27.95 on paper.

To order your copy, contact Amy Coggins at 253/798-5902. Shipping and handling are free to members of the Washington State Historical Society who purchase the book directly from WSHS.

EVENTS LISTING

We are now listing bicentennial events and promotions in a large, searchable database, with several different search criteria, freeing up space in the electronic newsletter for more news-related items. If you would like to have an event or promotion listed in this new database, please direct all information to Mark Vessey at mvessey@wshs.wa.gov and he will post the listing.

To access this new feature, visit our website at www.washingtonhistory.org/lewisandclark and click the Bicentennial Events Calendar Database at the top of the page —or click on the link below.

PLEASE LOOK for additional information and updates on Bicentennial planning activities and projects in next month's e-newsletter.

ALSO - if you have articles or news-worthy information that you would like to contribute to this e-newsletter or to Washington's quarterly bicentennial newsletter, please contact Mark Vessey at 360.586.0219 or mvessey@wshs.wa.gov.

The Washington State Historical Society, lead agency of the state's Agency Assistance Team (AAT) for bicentennial planning, will send this newsletter via e-mail on a monthly basis to provide updates on events, projects, and activities going on around the state in preparation for the commemoration.

Your name is in the state's Lewis and Clark Trail database as someone who has expressed interest in the bicentennial. If you do not want to continue to receive this newsletter and/or other bicentennial communications, reply to this e-mail or contact Mark Vessey at the Heritage Resource Center 360.586.0219.