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Working Together To Make The “Fort To Sea” Trail
A Reality In Clatsop County
Trail will commemorate Lewis and Clark´s historic journey
from Fort Clatsop to the ocean
Governor Ted Kulongoski visited Fort Clatsop in December 2003 to celebrate the construction of a trail from the Fort Clatsop National Memorial to Sunset Beach. The Trail is a significant expansion of the existing National Park Service facility. The “Fort-to-Sea” trail will commemorate the historic overland paths that Lewis and Clark took to reach the ocean from their winter shelter at Fort Clatsop. The trail will be completed in time for the signature event in Oregon for the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial in November of 2005.
The Governor designated the Fort-to-Sea Trail as his first Oregon Solutions project in March 2003 in order to facilitate collaboration between local, state and federal partners on issues such as trail location, trail ownership, design, funding and construction, transportation solutions and other economic and community implications. The Oregon Solutions Team, convened by State Representative Betsy Johnson and former State Park Commissioner June Spence, includes:
- Clatsop County
- Fort Clatsop National Monument, US National Park Service
- Economic Revitalization Office Team
- Northwest Economic Revitalization Team members:
- Oregon Department of Transportation
- Department of Environmental Quality
- Oregon Economic and Community Development
- Division of State Lands
- Department of Land Conservation and Development
- Oregon Military Department (Camp Rilea)
- Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
- Weyerhaeuser Corporation
“This project is a wonderful example of what we can accomplish when we bring together local, state and federal partners,” said the Governor. “The Fort-to-Sea project will commemorate an important part of our history and will add a beautiful stretch of Oregon coast to the vibrant park system that visitors and Oregonians already enjoy.”
The Clatsop County commissioners voted unanimously last year to convey 149 unspoiled acres at Sunset Beach to Oregon State Parks. This transaction creates an oceanfront state park that will serve as the terminus of the Fort-to-Sea Trail. Oregon State Parks and the National Park Service are working as partners on construction of the Fort-to-Sea Trail and the trailhead at Sunset Beach.
Other collaborative efforts to complete the trail and park expansion include: Senator Ron Wyden, Senator Gordon Smith and Congressman David Wu working together to gain Congressional approval of the National Parks boundary expansion and secure $1.25 million in federal funding for the land acquisition through the Department of Interior. To ready the region for an expected onslaught of visitors, ODOT is completing numerous road and signage projects and investing $1.5 million in building a pedestrian underpass to allow the Fort to the Sea trail to cross under Highway 101. In addition, the Department of State Lands (DSL) is working with the US Army Corps, consultants and volunteers to identify wetlands along the trail corridor and coordinate potential permit requirements needed for construction.
“Two hundred years ago, the success of the Corps of Discovery relied on the strength of its partnerships - the teamwork of the members of the Corps of Discovery - and the relationships developed with the Native Americans the explorers met on their journey,” said Helen Westbrook, Chairperson of the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners. “We would not be here today to celebrate, if not for our partners and their willingness to work together for the public good.”
For more information about the Fort-to-the-Sea project, contact Robin Roberts, coordinator with the Economic Revitalization Team, at 503-988-3962 or Pete Dalke, coordinator with the Oregon Solutions Office and DEQ staff to the Economic Revitalization Team, at 503-229-5588.
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| Additional pictures/maps |
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Fort Clatsop in the spring |
Fort Clatsop "Fort to Sea"
Trail Alignment |
Sunset Beach |
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