The Natural World
Oysterville is situated at the northern end of the Long Beach Peninsula, on the edge of the Willapa Bay, a wide, shallow saltwater expanse known for its biodiversity. The village is shaped by the natural environment: by its serene vistas and dramatic weather, by the ebb and flood of tides and migrating birds, by the sound of the ocean breakers just a mile away, and by the diverse wildlife who nest and hunt in its waters, along its shores, in its open and thicketed wetlands, and in its stands of evergreens.
Although ORF's primary concern is preservation of the structures within the Historic District, we also extend our stewardship to the natural environment that has so much to do with the history and character of the village. ORF owns and maintains several parcels of open land, including "The Meadow", a wide, open green space on the bay side of Territory Road that is home to many indigenous species of plants and wildlife. Our care of these parcels includes periodic mowing, occasional thinning, management of noxious weeds in cooperation with County officials, and preservation of landmark trees.
After leading the effort to restore Oysterville's streetscape by having unsightly overhead power lines replaced with underground lines, the Foundation got serious about tending to the continued health of village's majestic Monterey cypress trees. We contracted certified arborist, Joe Balden, and a team of professional tree limbers to repair past injurious pruning and thin dead wood hindering healthy air circulation and threatening the longevity the trees. According to Mr. Balden our stand of Monterey Cypress trees is the most impressive outside of California.