On Aug 13th, Governor Kotek, Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade, and State Treasurer Tobias Read, who together make up the State Land Board which oversees the Department of State Lands (DSL) celebrated the 50th anniversary of the South Slough Reserve, the first National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR).

The 50th anniversary of the South Slough Reserve, located on state-owned land in the Coos estuary on Oregon’s southern coast, was celebrated with the opening of 12 new exhibits in the Visitor Center, which help visitors understand the habitats and wildlife in the Reserve, the history of people in relationship to this land, and the research and stewardship activities occurring at the Reserve.

“The new exhibits are a direct result of the state’s collaboration with Oregon’s sovereign Tribal nations,” Governor Kotek said. “They advance a core part of the Reserve’s mission: to couple scientific breakthroughs and traditional ecological knowledge to inform communities. I am excited to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the South Slough Reserve alongside so many partners who have played a role in its success.”

“For 50 years, the South Slough Reserve has demonstrated the power of partners coming together to protect and restore special places along our coast,” NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D said. “The research, education and stewardship activities pioneered at South Slough will continue to serve as a model for the larger research reserve system — and provide tangible benefits to Oregon’s coastal ecosystems and communities – for decades to come.”

“On Aug 13th, we celebrate South Slough Reserve’s past and future as a place of curiosity, learning, and exploration,” DSL Director Vicki L. Walker said. “What began in 1974 as a bold experiment now contributes so much to Oregon, the nation, and the world.”

The South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve is a protected estuary and natural area. It is managed in partnership by the Oregon DSL and the NOAA.

The first of 30 National Estuarine Research Reserves around the nation, South Slough Reserve is a leader in improving understanding of estuaries and coastal watersheds. The Reserve manages and studies nearly 7,000 acres of natural area, including open water channels, tidal and freshwater wetlands, riparian areas, and forested lands. A portion of this area includes waterways, trails, and a visitor center that are open to the public.

The National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) is a network of Reserves across the United States that protect and study more than 1.3 million acres of estuarine systems. The NERRS was established in 1972 by the passage of the Coastal Zone Management Act. Each Reserve is managed by NOAA and a state partner for the purposes of long-term research, education, and coastal stewardship.