Eagle Creek Community Forest
A 317-acre forest managed by Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District
About the Community Forest
In 2019, the Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District (CSWCD) bought a 314-acre forest near Estacada, Oregon. Named the Eagle Creek Community Forest (ECCF), the property was partly paid for with help from the U.S. Forest Service’s Community Forest Program and the Trust for Public Land. It is being cared for to balance the needs of nature and the local economy while focusing on keeping the forest and ecosystem healthy for the future.
This purchase helps keep the land as a working forest and links it to over 1,000 acres of nearby public and protected lands. Suter Creek runs through the eastern side of the property and is a tributary to North Fork Eagle Creek. Both provide salmon spawning habitat.
The ECCF Provides Community Benefits
Improving and Protecting Fish and Wildlife Habitat
- We have lowered the risk of wildfires on our land and neighboring properties by forest thinning and invasive weed control.
- Streams on and near the property provide spawning areas for coho salmon and winter steelhead.
- The forest is also home to many animals, including large and small mammals, native birds, and other wildlife.
Working with Neighbors and Partners
Nearby forests are managed by Portland General Electric, Clackamas County, and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, which connect to the Eagle Creek Community Forest.
Community Forest Partners
- Friends of Eagle Creek
- Clackamas River Basin Council
- OSU Extension Forestry
- Clackamas County Parks & Forests/Eagle Fern Park
- Portland General Electric
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Metro
- Firwood Neighbors CPO
Careful Tree Harvesting
Managing the forest over time to grow a mixture of tree species creates healthier homes for plants and animals.
Some areas are ready for thinning, which helps trees grow stronger and improves the forest’s health.
Harvesting trees for timber will not happen for several more decades. Money from timber harvest will be used to keep the forest healthy, fund conservation projects, and support educational activities.
Teaching the Public
Managing the forest for different uses is a great way to teach people about forest management. We are developing a strategy to use the forest to help landowners learn about forest conservation.
Community Input
The Eagle Creek Community Forest Advisory Committee was created to help the Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District develop a Community Forest Plan and provide input in future management of the property. Private landowners and representatives of several agencies are included. Members of the advisory committee are appointed by the Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Directors. There are openings on the committee, contact the Land Management Program if you are interested. Contact the Land Management Program if you are interested.
Community Forest Advisory Committee Members
- Don Guttridge – Clackamas SWCD Director
- Roger Fantz – Clackamas SWCD Director
- Dave Bugni – Neighbor, Friends of Eagle Creek
- Glenn Ahrens – Oregon State University Extension
- Mary Logalbo – Clackamas River Basin Council
- Cory Quesada – Portland General Electric
- Dave Stewart – Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife
- Mark Shaw – Clackamas County Parks & Forests
Committee Meeting Schedule
Committee meetings are open to the public. Meetings are virtual and held on the first Thursdays of February, May, August, and November from 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm unless otherwise noticed.
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—Friedrich Nietzsche
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Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District
