Conservation group buys historic Eatonville-area swath of property

A local conservation group has bought a swath of Eatonville-area land that it says is critical to the effort to restore and protect the shoreline of the Mashel River.

The 68-acre piece of the original Van Eaton homestead includes shoreline, forest, floodplain and wetlands.

The Nisqually Land Trust conservation group used $1.1 million from the Pierce County Conservation Futures program and $200,000 from the state Salmon Recovery Funding Board to make the purchase.

Combined with other property bought by the group – as well as land owned by the Town of Eatonville – more than 60 percent of the shoreline of the roughly three-mile stretch of the river from Boxcar Canyon downstream to the Van Eaton property now is protected from development.

The latest piece of land is “the crown jewel” in the restoration and protection initiative, said Joe Kane, executive director of the Lacey-based Land Trust.

“It’s physically a beautiful piece of property, and it has historic value,” he said. “It’s a landmark and centerpiece.”

It belonged to the family of T.C. Van Eaton, a pioneer from Minnesota who became Eatonville’s founder. His family also sold 25 acres of the homestead to the Land Trust in 2009.

“My father and grandfather were both conservation-minded, and were interested in keeping (the homestead) in its natural state,” said Terry Van Eaton, T.C.’s grandson, who worked with the Land Trust on the deal.

The 68 acres aren’t open to the public now, but someday part of it might be used as a park or other open space, Kane said.

Some of the land the town owns along the river also is slated to become part of a walking and biking trail – a new asset that some Eatonville leaders said could help attract more recreation lovers.

The trail is intended to eventually connect to a regional network of trails.

When that happens, “it will be wonderful for us,” said Dawn Newkirk, who owns Dawn’s Floral and Gifts and is president of the Greater Eatonville Chamber of Commerce.

The town of 2,800 people in the foothills of Mount Rainier has struggled during the recession, with layoffs at Town Hall and some businesses, including a well-known restaurant, shutting their doors.

While many people pass through town on their way to and from Rainier, Eatonville leaders say they’ve been looking for ways to entice them to stop and explore.

“So many people who come through here are focused on getting to Mount Rainier,” said Len Throop, who owns the Eatonville Outdoor sporting goods store. “The trails could (make them say), ‘We don’t have to go to the mountain today. We can go on the trails here.’”

The town is expected to begin building its trail in 2013.

A new visitors center also is poised to open in the spring. It will be staffed by volunteers and will have information on businesses and activities and a diorama of the Nisqually Watershed done by the Nisqually Tribe.

The Mashel is the Nisqually River’s largest tributary.

The Land Trust is working on the shoreline-restoration and -protection initiative with the town and other partners, including the tribe. The work has included doing replantings with native trees and shrubs and installing engineered logjams in the river to improve conditions for fish.

The river has started to see an increase in fish populations, especially chum salmon, Kane said.

Eatonville Mayor Ray Harper said he has noticed a difference. As a boy, he was fascinated watching salmon runs, and he said he can envision them one day inspiring another event that could draw visitors to his town.

“Eventually, I’d like to promote the salmon runs themselves,” Harper said. “It’s another thing we could do – Eatonville Salmon Days.”

Sara Schilling: 253-552-7058

sara.schilling@thenewstribune.com

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