CHARLESTON - The South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, one of the area's biggest eco-tourism draws, is poised to get just a little bit bigger.

The reserve is seeking the go-ahead from its governing body to initiate negotiations for a parcel of land near its existing entryway on Seven Devils Road.

Surrounded by the slough on three sides, the 28-acre tract of undeveloped forest land contains a tributary stream important to the slough and is considered a logical acquisition because of its proximity to the reserve, said Manager Mike Graybill. The property is owned by Sean Perkins, of Texas, who inherited it from his parents.

Because South Slough is held and governed by the Oregon Department of State Lands, and does not own property itself, it must seek permission from the Land Board to enter into talks with Perkins. That decision will be made at the board's June 12 meeting in Salem. The Department of State Lands will become the titleholder if the deal goes through.

Graybill said the property would make only a small addition to the reserve's 4,700 acres, but it is important forestland much like what the reserve already manages.

“It's a significant purchase, but it's not like it's going to change the shape of the reserve or the scope of the reserve,” Graybill said, adding he and other reserve officials have considered the plot for some years, as it includes the headwaters of Hidden Creek, which is adjacent to the reserve's most popular trail. It also is part of the visual corridor that makes up the entrance to the reserve's Interpretive Center, at 61907 Seven Devils Road. “(It) would make sense to consider it part of the reserve. And we have a willing seller who is interested in working with us.

“It looks like the opportunity is now.”

As a public agency, Graybill said the department will have to purchase the property at its fair market appraised value, which he estimated at around $200,000, for the land and the trees. A private donation from Chalmer W. Gustafson of nearly $2 million that was bequeathed to the reserve in 1996 for acquiring land, likely will fund the purchase, he said.

State Lands Director Louise Solliday said buying the parcel is one of the slough's highest priorities, since it was identified in its South Slough Cooperative Plan for Watershed Conservation.

“I expect the Land Board will approve initiating the process, and we'll begin negotiating with the property owners to see if we can agree on the price,” Solliday said.

If the land is acquired, it will mean the second expansion to the slough's management boundary since its inception more than 33 years ago.

Coos County Commissioner John Griffith has opposed other efforts by the slough to acquire land, including Sen. Joanne Verger's Senate Bill 857, which would have allowed it to expand its northern boundaries. He also is against the purchase of Perkins' property. He already has sent a letter to the Land Board stating he does not approve.

“The SSNERR does not need more land to fulfill its mission in both Oregon law and the Coastal Zone Management Act,” Griffith wrote. “The will by Mr. Chalmer Gustafson clearly stated that if his first request - leaving more than $1 million of his estate to add land to the SSNERR - could not be fulfilled, the money was to pass to the Department of Fish and Wildlife to add real estate to the state's wildlife refuge system. ... I believe it's time for Mr. Gustafson's will to be acted on forthrightly by Oregon.”

Griffith said Gustafson was a devoted hunter and fisherman, and believes his money would be better spent by ODFW. The slough's plans for Perkins' parcel would only waste those funds, he added.

“It takes it off the tax roles. It squanders Mr. Gustafson's money. They don't need it to perform their statutory mission and I can see no sense for it not remaining in private ownership,” Griffith said, adding the slough's mission does not include expanding its boundaries. “Why would you spend $200,000 plus of his money when, if you see his will, read it and think about it, it'd be better off at ODFW for a wildlife refuge.”

He said he expects the board to approve the slough's request regardless of his feelings.

Graybill said he isn't surprised by Griffith's response to the proposal, and believes the land should be included in the reserve.

“Mr. Griffith is entitled to his perspective. I work for a management authority and we're a public body, and we've gone through a thoughtful process to identify lands that are of interest to this program,” Graybill said. “Mr. Gustafson chose to make his request to the reserve and we have an obligation to carry out the intent of Mr. Gustafson's request.”