Serving Cannon Beach, Tolovana, and Arch Cape
Neal Maine
A familiar face to many in Cannon Beach and Arch Cape, Neal Maine receives a conservation award from the Oregon Coast Trail Association.
On Tuesday, Feb. 2, Neal Maine was awarded the annual conservationist award by the Oregon Coast Trail Association at the Oregon Coast Trail: Journey Along the Edge of Infinity program at the Seaside Public Library. Al LePage, director of the National Coast Trail Association, said that Maine is being recognized for his significant contributions to conservation relative to the Oregon Coast Trail.
Maine currently serves as the conservationist for the North Coast Land Conservancy (NCLC), one of the oldest land trusts in the region and one that he helped to found over 20 years ago. Maine is also known in Cannon Beach and Arch Cape for his work with the Haystack Rock Awareness Program and the Ecola Forest Reserve.
"Neal's influence can be felt all along the coast," said Nala Cardillo, coordinator of the Haystack Rock Awareness Program. "He has inspired thousands around the state by his work for conservation."
"The question is not can one person make a difference," said LePage. "It's how much of a difference can they make. And with Neal Maine, it's not really even how much, because I think the value of what he's done working with others for conservation on the north coast is truly immeasurable. He's conserved land both for wildlife and people. He's helped protect much of what makes the north coast special. He's preserved its unique sense of place. I think his legacy will continue to be realized and appreciated for generations to come."
The Oregon Coast Trail runs from the mouth of the Columbia River down to the California border. The majority of the trail is on the beach, although portions of it run through forested land and a small part along highway 101. In the Cannon Beach area, the trail comes out of Ecola State park, into downtown, then onto the beach. At low tide, hikers can follow the trail along the beach all the way south to Arch Cape.
More information on the Oregon Coast Trail can be found online at the Web site: oregon.gov/OPRD/PARKS/OCT_main.shtml.