This does not mean we do not encourage tourism but it means we must urge everyone to look beyond entry-level retail jobs to higher wage producing jobs in all sectors to provide a better future. Our resident and incoming population is aging rapidly, and also growing more diverse in racial and cultural terms. These changes can present challenges to our community in coming years but are also something to celebrate for through diversity can come strength. Some sectors of our community have problems with access to health care and education. These were selected deliberately to illustrate elements of natural productivity.
Timber growing is the major industrial activity of the uplands.
While the best use for the uplands of the Willapa Basin is in growing trees, there is considerable debate over what sorts of ecosystem impacts from timber management should be tolerated long term. Salmon have a long cultural and economic history in the region, but are at a cross roads. They will either dwindle into a non-harvested species or recover as management changes allow them to rebound. Oysters are an important indicator of good health for Willapa Bay. They require excellent water quality, reflect changes in productivity very rapidly, and are a measure of estuarine diversity.