CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:
‘Smiles, Bubbles of the Sun’ by Don Frank.
‘Beach Morning Glory’ by Carol Riley.
‘Heartbeat’ by Billy Lutz.
A watercolor painting by Clayton C. Elmer.
Continued from Page 8
trees on the banks of salmon-stocked riv-
ers grow three times faster than rivers free
of salmon.
Similarly, coho salmon bring nutrients to
the trees that provide shade over the area,
which is the root behind the salmon-in-
spired art installation, Blake said.
“Hopefully that will draw attention to
people about how delicate and sacred some
of the spots are because they are so frag-
ile,” Blake said. “We’re trying to educate
people.”
Preserving history
When visiting the Sunset Empire Park &
Recreation District for the auction, partici-
pants are also invited to stop by the Necani-
cum Watershed Council’s information table
setup in Broadway Park.
One of the council’s projects include
turning the Seaside Mill Ponds into a Nat-
ural History Park with special signage and
art to greet visitors. The council plans to
also install a trail compliant with the Ameri-
cans with Disabilities Act.
The ponds started out as a gravel quarry
in the early 20th century, which was used to
construct the Astoria Regional Airport. The
quarry was converted into a Shingle Mill,
followed by an Alder Mill, which burned
down.
The land was later acquired by the
North Coast Land Conservancy. Commu-
nity-driven efforts, such as those by the
Parks Advisory Committee and the Neca-
licum Watershed Council, are bringing
awareness to the history of the ponds as
well as the thriving wildlife that inhabit
them.
“We have just gone through so much and
this is like coming back slowly for all sorts
of good reasons,” Blake said.
THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2021 // 9