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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2025

Brookings, Oregon

Wild Rivers Land Trust: Protecting Southern Oregon's Natural Treasures, Hires New Executive Director

By Linda Lee Curry Coastal Pilot

Amy Knapp Pettit: The new executive director

Along the rugged and breathtaking southern Oregon coast, a dedicated organization is working tirelessly to ensure the region's irreplaceable lands and waters remain forever wild and abundant. The Wild Rivers Land Trust (WRLT), spanning from Reedsport to Brookings, operates on the fundamental belief that a thriving environment, a prosperous economy and the unique rural coastal culture are inextricably linked. This non-proﬁt, charitable organization acts as a guardian for the natural spaces that both peo-

ple and wildlife depend on for clean air, fresh water and healthy habitats across Coos, Curry and southwestern Douglas counties. The service area encompasses a vast 2.3 million acres. By forging partnerships with willing landowners, WRLT helps working farms, forests and ranches safeguard their legacies for future generations through various conservation tools. At its core, a land trust like WRLT acquires land or conservation easements, which are legal agreements that restrict development and protect speciﬁc conservation values. These values can range from preserving vital natural habitats and ensuring water quality to maintaining

scenic vistas and guaranteeing land remains available for farming, forestry, or outdoor recreation. WRLT collaborates closely with landowners, engaging in real estate transactions that sometimes involve purchasing property interests or accepting their donation. Crucially, the Land Trust also diligently stewards and monitors land already under its protection, striving to bring lasting conservation beneﬁts to local communities. The roots of WRLT trace back to the year 2000, when a group of passionate residents established the Elk River Land Trust with a shared vision of conservPlease see LAND TRUST Page 3

Freepenny Friday Highlights Threepenny Theater Co.'s Commitment to Accessible Arts hated it, we would give up the experiment and never produce another show," Kat Liddell recalled. Thankfully, the community's response was overwhelmingly positive, with audience members clamoring for more. The enthusiastic reception sparked a period of reflection, leading to the decision to establish a theater company with a focus on affordability and accessibility. "We finally decided that our best course of action would be to become a nonprofit," Kat Liddell explained. In 2024, Threepenny Theater Co. officially became a 501(c)3 organization, navigating the paperwork and establishing a board of directors. Their first full season culminated with the comedy Sylvia in November 2024, followed by their inaugural teen production, Escape Room, this past March. Unlike traditional theater com-

BY LINDA LEE

Curry Coastal Pilot

Local theater enthusiasts are in for a treat this May as Threepenny Theater Co. announces its upcoming Freepenny Friday performance of All in the Timing. Continuing their mission to make performing arts accessible to everyone, the Friday, May 16th show at the Brookings Event Center will offer a unique "pay-what-you-want" ticket initiative. This special performance underscores the core values of Threepenny Theater Co., a burgeoning nonproﬁt with a compelling origin story rooted in a passion for community engagement. The company's journey began in 2023 as an experiment by husband-and-wife co-founders Kat and Jason Liddell. Dipping into their personal savings, the duo staged a one-weekend run of the dark comedy Venus in Fur. "We joked that if audiences

Escape Room: Actors Cory Schoolland (l), Jaynie Gutierrez and Jayden Roberts (r), perform a scene from the one-act comedy Escape Room at the Brookings Event Center.

Please see FREEPENNY Page 3

Indian Creek Hatchery Bounces Back After Devastating Storm

BY LINDA LEE

Curry Coastal Pilot

The Indian Creek Hatchery, a vital facility on the Rogue River dedicated to bolstering fall Chinook salmon populations, is facing a significant recovery effort after an unprecedented storm caused widespread damage. Despite the destruction, the hatchery's fish were saved thanks to the swift actions of volunteers and partner organizations. Since 1997, the Indian Creek program has been strategically operating to support both commercial and sport fishing harvests of fall Chinook while carefully minimizing any negative effects on wild fish populations, particularly the threatened Southern Oregon Northern California Coast (SONCC) Coho Salmon. Before this focused approach, the hatchery served as a rehabilitation program for the lower Rogue fall Chinook population. The program's multi-faceted goals include providing adult Chinook for ocean and lower Rogue River fisheries, thereby

Bridge Rubble: The rubble from the bridge, trees and debris laid waste to the area. supporting crucial economic and cultural values tied to historic salmon ﬁshing. It also helps to alleviate pressure on ﬁsheries targeting listed or candidate species; furthermore, the hatchery actively engages in public education through the Salmon Trout Enhancement Program (STEP), raising awareness among students and the community about

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salmon biology and their habitat needs. To minimize risks to wild populations, the hatchery employs careful brood collection, rearing and release strategies. Returning adult Chinook are guided by a temporary weir into a ladder at the hatchery. Additionally, naturally

Indian Creek: The damage was widespread.

Please see HATCHERY Page 4

Phone Number: 541-813-1717 • Address: 519 Chetco Avenue, Unit 7, Brookings, OR 97415 • Email: Circulation@CountryMedia.net

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