A Visit to Eagle Creek Community Forest
Earlier this month, the Northwest Community Forest Coalition had the opportunity to join the Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District and visit the Eagle Creek Community Forest.
Acquired through funding from the Community Forest and Open Space Program with the US Forest Service and with the support of the Trust for Public Land, the Eagle Creek Community Forest is a 317-acre property that has been under the Conservation District’s ownership since 2019. Just a 40-minute drive outside of Portland and nestled alongside a tributary connecting the Mt. Hood National Forest to the Clackamas River, Eagle Creek is a vital component for providing cool and clean water for wildlife and salmonid habitat in the Pacific Northwest.
Photo: Clackamas SWCD Staff with Eagle Creek Community Forest in the Background
During the tour we got the opportunity to learn about the current management of the Eagle Creek Community Forest, as well as the future goals for the property. This community forest is adjacent to 1,000 acres of forest that is publicly owned and managed or privately managed for habitat. Clackamas SWCD highlighted their goals, which include balancing public access between the community forest and neighboring landowners, demonstration of sustainable timber harvest-practices, pre-harvest site treatment for fuels reduction and forest health, and a transition to Late Successional Reserve habitat, to protect water quality into the main creek on the property, Suter Creek, which flows into Eagle Creek at the property line.
One of the unique features of the property includes a grove of black locus trees. These trees were likely planted over a 5-acre section of the site which was adjacent to an old homestead on the property. In an expanse of coniferous forest, the section of hardwood, deciduous trees are an abrupt change compared to the rest of the property.
Photo: NWCFC Tour Participants in the Black Locus Grove of the Eagle Creek Community Forest
The visit ended with a trip to a neighboring small forest landowner, Dave Bugni’s property, to see an up-close example of streamflow and riparian restoration, which Clackamas SWCD is implementing in riparian areas of the Eagle Creek Community Forest. This landowner property utilized extended buffer zones, and multiple large woody debris (LWD) structures to reduce stream temperatures, and improve salmon habitat. Additionally, there are several beaver dams that have been left in place to further improve water quality and increase summer stream flows. During this tour the group saw multiple migrating Chinook salmon. Dave helped Clackamas SWCD install similar LWD structures at the Eagle Creek Community Forest and is also the chair of the Eagle Creek Community Forest Advisory Committee. Without his drive and leadership, this project would not have been nearly as successful!
To the left is an example of the large woody debris structure in place along Suter Creek.
A special thanks goes out to Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District, Trust for Public Land, and Dave Bugni for making this tour, and the community forest possible.