The Methow Conservancy plans to develop a public access point to the Methow River on the 6-acre parcel it recently purchased near Mazama.
The Methow Conservancy announced this week that it recently purchased a 6-acre parcel at what’s known as the “Mazama Corner,” adjacent to the more than 30 acres of agricultural land that the locally based land trust has protected since 2005.
The Mazama Corner area is the highly visible land between Highway 20 and the river at the turn-off to Mazama.
“We have been working on the very complex puzzle of protecting the scenic qualities of this corridor for nearly two decades. We are especially excited about securing this piece of property because it will allow us to develop a public access point to the river in Mazama, while also providing for future restoration opportunities” said Executive Director Jason Paulsen in a press release.
“The Methow River is the thread that binds our valley and we are excited to have this opportunity to develop public river access in the heart of the quickly developing Mazama community while also building on the goals of maintaining the scenic view-shed, agricultural use and rural character,” Paulsen noted.
Over the next few months, Methow Conservancy staff will develop a plan for an access trail, interpretive information and a public trailside area for permanent public access to the river on the property, according to the press release. The Conservancy will be looking for volunteer help.
The purchase was made possible by a donation from former Mazama residents Nancy and Dick Gode, the Conservancy said in the release.
“Their generous vision to gift public access to the river to the community is incredibly inspiring,” Paulsen said of the Godes.
The public access project in Mazama follows on the Conservancy’s purchase of the 146-acre Heckendorn property in Winthrop, which was made possible by donors Tina and Eliot Scull, and also will ultimately provide public access.
