Head to Otis for a great party

You may think reaching the age of fifty is no great shakes. But for a protected research area, it's a very big deal.

Join with the Cascade Head Biosphere Collaborative and the US Forest Service to celebrate as the Cascade Head Scenic Research Area approaches five decades of environmental stewardship and sensitive human use at the Cascade Head Experimental Forest Headquarters this Saturday, June 29.

The event, the first of two, will feature speakers, a short film, music and food, with many opportunities to learn more about CHSRA’s legacy of balancing cultural, environmental, scientific and recreational activities.

Established by President Ford on December 22, 1974, the research area, located along the central Oregon Coast between Lincoln City and Neskowin, stands as a beacon of environmental protection and scientific exploration.

Spanning 9,670 acres of pristine landscapes, it was the first non-wilderness land in the US designated by Congress for its scenic, ecological and scientific values. Over the years, it has served as a model for similar protected areas across the nation, including the Mono Basin and the Columbia River Gorge. Home to diverse ecosystems, including meadows, estuaries and forests, it provides critical habitat for native flora and fauna, including the rare Oregon Silverspot butterfly. Its significance as a research site for Sitka spruce and Western hemlock forests is internationally recognized.

​​The second event, the town hall and information sharing event “What Does CHSRA mean to me?” will happen on Aug. 14 at the Otis Fire Hall from 6 to 8 pm.

The June 29 50th anniversary event is from 11 am to 2 pm at the USFS Experimental Forest headquarters on Old Scenic Hwy 101, 2.5 miles north of Otis (look for signs on the road). For more information, go to cascadehead.org.