Conservation Projects

This area contains an old-growth Douglas fir community that is found in only a handful of locations in the Pacific Northwest. Old-growth forest communities on the Long Beach peninsula and the Lower Columbia River area are rare and provide significant benefits to the ecosystem.

The largest interdunal wetland on the Pacific Coast, Hines Marsh is 3.5 miles long and approximately 900 acres.

This site is home to a Sitka spruce forest and an open tidal salt marsh, providing vital habitat for Columbia salmon, bald eagles, Roosevelt elk, black bear, and a variety of shorebirds and waterfowl.

The flowers of Labrador tea and Douglas spirea dominate this wetland property. Bogs scattered throughout the property host native cranberries and the carnivorous round-leaved sundew plant, and black bears and elk are frequently spotted. Loomis Lake is important to migratory waterfowl such as trumpeter swans.

Just outside of Cathlamet, Washington, the Elochoman River is critical to endangered Columbia white-tailed deer and threatened salmon species. Columbia Land Trust has conserved 514 acres of Elochoman and Columbia River floodplain, building on the adjacent 5,600-acre Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for Columbia White-tailed Deer.

This four-acre easement obtained by Columbia Land Trust helped maintain a positive neighbor relationship and secured additional land adjacent to other Walluski River properties.

Located in the Columbia River estuary outside of Astoria, Oregon, this 76-acre property features pristine wetlands that are an important salmon habitat and home to bald eagles.

More than 1050 acres of land in the lower Grays River and Deep River watershed host salmon and other fish and wildlife species. These sites have been identified as some of the most important conservation efforts in the Columbia River estuary.

Willow Grove This 312-acre property is the largest intact intertidal wetland on this stretch of the Columbia River, located near Longview, Washington.

This stretch of forest provides a 12-acre link for the proposed Cape Horn Trail, part of the vision for a 45-mile Columbia Gorge trail from Washougal to Stevenson.

This site encompasses 140 acres of forestland and Wind River frontage, on both sides of the river, protecting wildlife habitat, watershed functions, threatened salmon habitat and open space.

Working with private landowners in Rowena, Oregon, Columbia Land Trust volunteers have constructed over 50 bird boxes at this site that will house bluebirds, nuthatches, Lewis’ woodpeckers and bats. Volunteers also installed a late-season watering source to provide water to deer and other wildlife through the driest summer months.

The wild and scenic Klickitat River is a top conservation priority for Columbia Land Trust. Swiftly descending from Mt. Adams wilderness through centuries old pine and oak forests, remnant native prairies, unique wetlands, and impressive basalt canyons, this river supports myriad fish and wildlife, including many endangered species, while inspiring a colorful history of fishing, hunting, grazing, and timber management. Poised to play an important role in preserving the unique character of this cherished place, the land trust has joined the community in protecting more than 3,000 acres of critical habitat and resource lands in the Klickitat River watershed.

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Where is Stafford Basin?

Stafford Basin is a triangular shaped area located south of Lake Oswego, west of West Linn and east of Tualatin.  The main watersheds are Wilson Creek, Pecan and Athey Creeks.  The three main tributaries all indicate good quality habitat and water quality.  All are tributaries of the Tualatin River. 

You can visit the Stafford Basin and walk the trail around Lusher Farm and up to Cooks Butte, however there is no designated parking area. It is best to park on Overlook Drive and walk to the trail head kiosk on Stafford Road.

 In 2001, Three Rivers Land Conservancy completed the "Stafford Basin Path and Trail Plan" in collaboration with Clackamas County, Lake Oswego, West Linn and the National Park Service.  The plan identified 15 miles of potential paths and trails in the area.  To date, about 1 mile has been constructed that connects Luscher Farm to Cooks Butte and to Fir Lane Farm.  Lake Oswego will build another half mile of trail in 2011 that will go from Fir Lane Farm to Rosemont Arena.

Click here for more information on Rosemont Trail.

Our Partners

City of Lake Oswego

City of West Linn

Oregon Tilth

47th Ave Farms CSA

What are the Clackamas River Bluffs?

The Clackamas River Bluffs are located on the north side of the Clackamas River between Carver and Barton Park, just south of the newly incorporated town of Damascus.

Three main streams feed the Clackamas River in this area: Richardson, Deep, and Noyer.

Interesting geologic formations occur in this area with a cliff and cave system that provides unique bat habitat.  On one property, old growth trees complement the unique natural features in this area providing good habitat for birds and wildlife.

Why conserve this land?

The Clackamas River supplies drinking water for numerous Clackamas County residents.  Wild salmon still spawn in the Clackamas watershed.  Fly fisherman and recreational boaters also enjoy the Wild and Scenic nature of the river.  The Clackamas River is truly a gem of the Portland region.

The Clackamas River Bluffs are an important natural feature of this river system.  The bluffs are threatened because a population increase to 67,000 people is planned for the Damascus area.  The interesting natural features and existing parks and green spaces are an opportunity to create a connected corridor of wildlife habitat that will help preserve air and water quality in the Clackamas River and help keep nature close to home for people in the Damascus area.

Our Accomplishments

Columbia Land Trust conserved 29 acres in the Clackamas River Bluffs area in September 2005.  This property was conserved in partnership with the landowners, Jeff and Lita Pratt, as well as financial assistance from Clackamas County's Title III grant program.

Where is Upper Rock Creek?

The headwaters of Rock Creek flow from the Skyline Ridge area through unincorporated Multnomah and Washington Counties.  The creek contains fish and some intact riparian areas.  It is also home to elk herds that travel into the north end of Forest Park.  This area is a mix of forest lands, small farms, and large lot homes.

Why conserve this land?

This land is important to preserve for water quality in the Tualatin River, as well as elk habitat in Forest Park.  Forest Park is long and narrow and in order to sustain the health of the park, it must remain connected to larger habitat areas adjacent to it and continue these connections all the way to the Coast Range.

Our Accomplishments

Three Rivers (now Columbia Land Trust)  held several workshops to help landowners understand their conservation options.

Our Partners

Clean Water Services

Columbia Land Trust will care for some 295 acres adjacent to the Hood River, located just minutes from downtown Hood River. Formerly owned by Portland-based utility company PacifiCorp, the property is home to threatened fish as well as a variety of bird and wildlife species. Our charge? Restore fish and wildlife habitat, maintain recreation access, enhance future recreation of this area and ensure tribal fishing rights are respected. We'll also be working with land owners to ensure private property rights are observed.

For more information, email Kate Conley or call Columbia Land Trust's new Hood River office (541-436-4210).

Powerdale Fact Sheet

Powerdale Ownership Map

Powerdale Stewardship Summary

When a Columbia County family contacted Columbia Land Trust about conserving this 109-acre parcel, we agreed to help. Located within the Westport Slough--a Columbia River side channel near the community of Westport--Kerry Island offers a unique chance to restore tidally influenced scrub-shrub and forested wetlands. Once restored, Kerry Island will provide ideal nesting habitat for local and migrating Neotropical birds, critical breeding and egg-laying habitat for a suite of amphibians, as well as cover and shade for rearing salmonids. Our first step? With input from the community, we'll develop a management plan for Kerry Island that will guide our restoration work in the coming years.

Kerry Island Map

Kerry Island Fact Sheet

The Mount St. Helens Forest Conservation Project is a multiphase conservation initiative spearheaded by Columbia Land Trust to protect from development more than 20,000 acres of forest lands and wildlife habitat. Located south of the volcano and surrounding the Swift Reservoir, the area includes much of the Pine Creek watershed. Pine Creek is a clear, cold-water mountain stream that is prime habitat for bull trout, a threatened species listed under the federal Endangered Species Act. In May 2013, Columbia Land Trust purchased 2,330 acres east of Pine Creek to be managed as wildlife habitat, a move that will permanently protect this watershed.  In 2010, with a grant procured by Columbia Land Trust, the first parcel of 6,886 acres was placed under a conservation easement, which is held by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. This easement permanently keeps development off forest lands south of the reservoir while allowing the land to remain in timber production.

ACCESS: Columbia Land Trust is maintaining the previous landowner's approach to access on the land east of Pine Creek. Hunters and other recreationalists are allowed non-motorized access with no camping or fires allowed. As always, we appreciate cooperation in caring for this resource. Please leave the land in as good or better condition than you found it. For more information regarding the stewardship of the property please contact the Land Trust: 360-696-0181.