A cadre of volunteers spent the better part of a recent Saturday sprucing up the scenic Millicoma Marsh Trail (MMT) in Coos Bay’s Eastside district, capping off a handful of improvements to the popular destination. The impressive turnout was further evidence of public support and appreciation of the recreational offerings in South Coast communities.
Established in the 1990s for education and recreation, the MMT has served as an occasional outdoor “classroom” for life sciences students on short field trips from adjacent Millicoma Elementary School and the middle school.
Spearheading the efforts is retired Coos Bay life science teacher Jamie Fereday, who has obtained grants from agencies and organizations over the years to fund and maintain the trail system. Agencies ranging from the Coos Bay School District to the Port of Coos Bay, along with the Army Corps of Engineers, the City of Coos Bay, South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, the Coos Forest Protective Association and the Audubon Society have been involved.
Overseeing the MMT is a management group from some of the just-mentioned agencies and organizations, and interested citizens. They follow a detailed management program, and help coordinate work sessions. School district crews keep the trails mowed.
The latest work is funded by J.A. Mogan Foundation, Ford Family Trust, Travel Southern Oregon, Coos Bay/North Bend Rotary Club, Oregon Parks Foundation, Coos Bay School District and Brian Price, with alternate bids from Oregon State Parks recreational trails program, the Three Rivers Indian tribe and Marshfield High School Zonta program.
Perhaps the most noticeable project is the enlarged parking area, with bollards to keep vehicles off the track and ballfield. Another task upgraded the half-mile Swallow Loop trail, a short offshoot of the main trail. Previous sessions installed student-created interpretive signposts at key intersections.
Meantime, on the main trail, volunteers covered muddy stretches with wood chips. Still to come are brushing and graveling the remainder of the main trail. Fereday said the pricetag for all the work will be about $79,000, with a 20 percent in-kind contribution required, which can be in the form of volunteer work. He said he’ll need further foundation grants and funding. Volunteers have even established a bottle drop, with proceeds earmarked for the MMT. For more information e-mail mmt@cbk12.com.
Also helping during the recent work session were members of Oregon Bay Area Beautification group.
In addition to being a peaceful oasis not far from busy city streets, the MMT is one of the area’s prime birdwatching places. According to the Audubon book Birding the Southern Oregon Coast, the blackberry brambles shelter passerines and at least three kinds of sparrows, while marsh wrens, white tailed kites, bald eagles, redtailed hawks, Cooper’s hawks, merlins and American kestrel have also been spotted.
As for mammals, beavers occasionally move in, although there are barriers and “beaver deceiver” pipes. Alas, there are also destructive South American rodents called nutria in residence. They flee from humans and canines, so don’t be deterred. Speaking of dogs, they’re welcome on the trail, but keep them off the ballfield and track.
If you’ve never explored this Bay Area recreational gem, consider a visit. And even if you’ve been there before, stop by to see the improvements. The trails are open dawn to dusk year round with free access, but stay off the ballfield and track when school is in session
Getting There
From the “Y” intersection at the south end of Coos Bay, follow the sign to Allegany, Coos River. Cross Isthmus Slough Bridge. Once across, bear left (N) on 6th Ave. and follow it 0.9 mile to a “T” intersection with D St. Turn left (W) on D St. and in 2 blocks turn right (N) on 4th Ave. In one block, park in a cobblestone lot above the ballfield or go down the driveway and park by the field. Walk east across the ballfield toward the scoreboard and you’ll see interpretive signs for the trail.
You can take an out and back walk, or make loops. To begin, follow the trail east about 0.2 mile to a “Y intersection with a memorial bench. Keep going east for another 0.2 mile to a wooden shelter overlooking the saltmarsh.
To make the loop, go north from the memorial bench just mentioned and follow the trail north, then west for about a half-mile. Big views of the bay open up. At a “Y” intersection, go left (S) back to the ballfield.
Whether you take walks long or short, here’s hoping you have fun exploring!
(Shopper columnist Tom Baake is author of regional guidebooks.)
