Conserving Fallen Leaf Lake
Columbia Land Trust transfers 43-acre site surrounding the lake to City of Camas
Columbia Land Trust completed the transfer of its 43-acre Fallen Leaf Lake site to the City of Camas in Clark County, Washington. The site is part of the 119-acre Fallen Leaf Lake Park system, near Lacamas Lake and Round Lake, in an area with beloved local trail systems and natural beauty.
“The robust trails here, many of which are narrower and less developed than the trails at nearby parks, offer opportunities for nature hikes that feel more remote, even though you’re just outside town,” said Land Trust Valley Region Stewardship Manager Jen Zarnoch. “I’ve heard Fallen Leaf Lake called the crown jewel in the local trail system.”
The 15-acre lake is surrounded by mature deciduous and evergreen forest with habitat for birds and wildlife. “It is a great example of the importance of conserving nature close to home,” said Zarnoch.
It was originally conserved in 1999 under a Memorandum of Understanding with the city, funded by the Clark County Conservation Futures program. The MOU agreement stated that Columbia Land Trust was to be interim holder of the property, eventually transferring it to the city for permanent ownership.
The Land Trust held the site until now as part of a long-term conservation strategy to maximize funding and leverage resources for additional conservation and restoration projects.
“The City of Camas has long benefitted from our partnership with Columbia Land Trust and the recent transfer of Fallen Leaf Lake is another example of that,” said Bryan Rachal, Interim Director of Camas Parks and Recreation. “We look forward to being good stewards of this quintessential PNW park for years to come, and we also look forward to the continuation of our important relationship with Columbia Land Trust.”
The conservation of this site at Fallen Leaf Lake was one of the Land Trust’s earliest projects, and part of our long-standing partnership with Clark County to pursue our shared conservation goals of providing natural spaces close to home and places for recreation in the community. Fallen Leaf Lake and its trails are beloved community resources. The region’s wildlife also benefits from the protected lakeside forest habitat in an area of that state that is being rapidly developed.
“There has been a long and synergistic partnership with the City of Camas and Clark County,” said Zarnoch. “Collaborating on projects has helped to advance critical conservation in the county.”
The transferred site spans the north, west, and south sides of Fallen Leaf Lake Park in Camas, and after the transfer the land will now formally be part of the popular city park, which the city will continue to care for.