152 acres of forest conserved in the Grays River Watershed
Another step towards healthy rivers and connected forests
The remote and rugged Grays River watershed is a conservation priority for Columbia Land Trust, where we work to conserve tidal wetlands, Sitka spruce swamps, and other important coastal ecosystems. We celebrated a victory in the coast region this month with the conservation of 152 acres of forestland above the Grays River. This will permanently protect the upper reaches of Crazy Johnson Creek, which feeds into the West Fork Grays River and is one of the last few chum salmon strongholds on the lower Columbia. In addition to supporting endangered and threatened salmonid species, conserving this land will strengthen the Land Trust’s ongoing efforts in the area, enhancing water quality, riparian habitat, forest health, and flood protection for nearby communities.
“Our work here has outsized benefits for nature and people, said Land Trust Conservation Lead Jocelyn Tutak. “The Grays River watershed is particularly important to salmon. The healthy forests we conserve and restore reduce erosion and runoff, and shade streams — providing cold, clear water for fish while protecting downstream communities from flooding.”
This project was made possible by The Conservation Fund (TCF), who took ownership of this site in 2023 as part of a much larger acquisition promoting climate-smart forestry, habitat protection, and community revenue across 20,000 acres of forest in Pacific and Wahkiakum Counties, Washington. This parcel was sold to Columbia Land Trust for permanent conservation, and the remainder of the land from that larger acquisition will be transferred to Washington State Department of Natural Resources and other conservation partners.
“This milestone shows what’s possible when partners unite behind a shared vision,” said Kaola Swanson, Columbia Gorge Program Manager at The Conservation Fund. “By securing this forestland and transitioning it into permanent stewardship with Columbia Land Trust, we’re helping protect a critical salmon stronghold, strengthen climate-resilient forests, and support the communities that depend on healthy watersheds.”
The newly conserved parcel will expand the Land Trust’s existing 673-acre Crazy Johnson stewardship unit, located just to the south. It will be managed cohesively as a Natural Area, prioritizing habitat value. Our stewardship work will focus on the restoration and enhancement of both upland and riparian forest and shrubland. The Land Trust will look to promote and foster tree species diversity, native understory growth, and structurally complex forest habitat that can support upland endangered species including Marbled Murrelet. The conservation of this forest will also support river system function in waterways below the site.
Columbia Land Trust manages more than 3,000 acres in the Grays River watershed, and this success builds towards our larger vision which prioritizes habitat restoration and connectivity, carbon sequestration, public access, and community engagement. Projects like this one that conserve forestland above tributaries of the Grays River help reduce erosion and downstream sedimentation, which can contribute to flooding downstream and threaten salmon spawning grounds.
This acquisition is the first project to be funded through a pilot program to expand eligibility to the State of Washington’s Clean Water Revolving Fund managed by the Washington Department of Ecology. The land was purchased with a partially-forgivable loan from the revolving fund. The loan and pilot program are being coordinated by Craft3, a nonprofit community development organization based in the Pacific Northwest. Core support also came from the Washington Association of Land Trusts and Sustainable Northwest. The remainder of the loan will be paid off through a targeted investment grant awarded by the Washington Salmon Recovery Funding Board and facilitated by the Lower Columbia Fish Recovery Board.
“The impact of this acquisition goes far beyond the Grays River Watershed,” said Land Trust Conservation Director Nate Ulrich. “It helps open up future funding opportunities for conservation organizations, tribes and municipalities across the state by expanding much-needed access to low-interest, fast-acting lending. This success is due to an incredible group of visionary partners, and we can’t wait to see how this new program enables additional conservation in Washington.”
*This funding is administered by the Washington Recreation and Conservation Office. The Mid Grays River Conservation Area is supported with funding from Washington’s Climate Commitment Act. The CCA supports Washington’s climate action efforts by putting cap-and-invest dollars to work reducing climate pollution, creating jobs, and improving public health. Information about the CCA is available at www.climate.wa.gov.