Adjoining the coastal Oregon town of Arch Cape and spanning 1,500 total acres, Arch Cape Community Forest is vital for ensuring a healthy water supply. The Arch Cape Community Forest is owned and managed by the Arch Cape Domestic Water Supply District, a local unit of government with an elected board of directors. The property is next to the North Coast Land Conservancy’s Rainforest Reserve, which encompasses 3,500 acres of protected headlands above Highway 101.  

Through continued collaboration with community members, regional partners, elected officials, local foresters and local residents, the community advisory committee drafted a Forest Management Plan that is guiding the development of this community forest. The property was acquired in June 2022, which means that the work of owning and stewarding the property is just beginning.

With the underlying goal of ensuring a steady, healthy, and sustainable water supply, the residents of Arch Cape and the Coastal Oregon Community have worked together since 2016 to ensure a successful development of Arch Cape Community Forest. The Arch Cape Forest, now referred to as the Arch Cape Watershed is now managed by the Arch Cape Domestic Water Supply District, and is a key agenda item during their monthly district meetings.