The winter of 2004/2005 was very bountiful for the Nestucca Bay NWR in terms of land acquisition, and the proposed tidal marsh restoration project can now proceed full speed ahead. The Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex received two substantial monetary donations, enabling the purchase of the last remaining tracts of land within the Little Nestucca River tidal marsh restoration area.

In late November 2004, the Portland Field Office of The Nature Conservancy contacted Project Leader Roy Lowe to inform the refuge complex of the potential availability of James H. Stanard Family Foundation grants. A grant proposal was submitted for the maximum amount of $20,000, requesting funds to assist the refuge in acquiring the Kiggins Tract within the Little Nestucca River Unit of Nestucca Bay NWR. On December 28, 2005, the refuge received confirmation of the grant and a check for $20,000!

Former commercial fisherman, entrepreneur and philanthropist R. Barry Fisher left a bequest of $25,000 to The Nature Conservancy. Following a meeting with Project Leader Roy Lowe where Barry's window Carol learned about the exciting acquisition and tidal marsh restoration program on the refuge complex, she asked TNC to direct the bequest to one of the refuge projects that TNC is a partner on. Under TNC guidelines, funds from a bequest that are not specified to a particular project in the will are shared, with 50% going to the TNC national office and 50% going to the local office. The Portland Field Office of TNC graciously agreed to direct their portion of the bequest ($12,500) to Nestucca Bay NWR to assist the refuge with the acquisition of the Kiggins Tract.

After more than 8 years of on again off again discussions and negotiations, the refuge complex was finally able to acquire the Vinjamuri Tract within the Little Nestucca River Unit of Nestucca Bay NWR on January 5, 2005. The refuge acquired 7.66 acres and the Vinjamuris retained their home and 2.4 acres. The Vinjamuri Tract is located in the middle of the Little Nestucca Tidal Marsh Restoration project site, and failure to acquire this parcel would have blocked our efforts in getting this area of the refuge restored.

Following many years of effort, and with a final push from the two donations, the Kiggins Tract was finally acquired on January 7, 2005. The Kiggins Tract was the final parcel needed to fully restore the Little Nestucca River Unit to intertidal marsh. Together the Kiggins and Vinjamuri acquisitions now clear the way for the 88-acre tidal marsh restoration project scheduled for the summer/fall of 2005.