CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY WITH OUR WATER SUPPLY
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The Arch Cape Forest is discussed during the Arch Cape Water District Board Meetings
These Meetings take place the 3rd Thursday of the month at 6:00 PM. Meeting information found here
Our official new release regarding the Arch Cape Forest is available here!
Our vision is to provide clean, safe, and affordable drinking water to Arch Cape residents and visitors, through the creation of a working community-owned forest to sustain the rich character and beauty of Oregon’s coastal
rainforest for generations.
ARCH CAPE WATERshed project
Thank you for helping uS permanently protect Arch Cape’s drinking water, from the headwaters to the tap, and sustain the rich character and beauty of Oregon’s coastal rainforest for generations to come.
All of the water consumed in Arch Cape arrives first as rain falling on fir, hemlock, and cedar trees in the upper reaches of the watershed, before flowing down Shark and Asbury creeks to be used as a community drinking water supply.
The headlands rise up nearly 3,000 feet in the 2 miles between the Pacific Ocean and Onion Peak. A healthy forest with diverse streamside vegetation is vital to holding soil in place, preventing erosion, and improving water quality downstream.
The Arch Cape Community Forest concept grew out of the North Coast Land Conservancy’s Rainforest Reserve campaign, which is conserving 3,500 acres of timberland owned by Onion Peak Holdings and managed by the forestland investment management company EFM, above Arch Cape and adjacent to Oswald West State Park.
LAND ACQUISITION MAP
ARCH CAPE, OR
The Arch Cape Domestic Water Supply District purchased additional timber land from EFM for the creation of a community forest and protected watershed. Partnering with the North Coast Land Conservancy and Sustainable Northwest, the District purchased 1,500 acres outright and protected 600 acres at the headwaters.
Adjacent to both Oswald West State Park and Cape Falcon Marine Reserve, the forest also has great cultural and scenic value. Securing local ownership of this unique property and establishing a community forest offers numerous benefits, including clean water, stabilized water rates, and conservation and recreation opportunities. Please Contact us to learn more about how you can get involved!
COMMUNITY FORESTRY
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Public access and use of the forest
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Local and community-driven decision-making authority
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Revenues associated with land management directly support local community priorities
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Permanent protection of conservation values
PROJECT PARTNERS
ARCH CAPE DOMESTIC WATER SUPPLY DISTRICT
The Arch Cape Domestic Water Supply District supplies clean, safe, and affordable water to Arch Cape residents and visitors. The District is the future owner of the community forest, which will be managed with community input on the management plan and through elected representation on the District Board.
ARCH CAPE SANITARY DISTRICT
The Arch Cape Sanitary District provides wastewater collection and treatment services to the community of Arch Cape. The District is a neighboring property owner to the proposed community forest, and shares a common commitment toward clean water with the water district.
NORTH COAST LAND CONSERVANCY
NCLC is the region’s land trust dedicated to preserving habitat, conserving land, and engaging people with nature. They play a key role as the District’s conservation partner and future neighbor with the NCLC’s Rainforest Reserve. Core strengths include land purchases, conservation easement acquisition and monitoring, and education/outreach. Will provide staff resources and consultation such as grant writing, transactional expertise, and outreach for the project.
SUSTAINABLE NORTHWEST
Sustainable Northwest is a conservation non-profit working at the intersection of economy, environment, and community. Since 1994, they have brought people together across the West to find natural resource solutions that work for people and nature. They are committed to increasing the number and scale of community forests in the Pacific Northwest. The organization is providing technical assistance to support the District’s interest in protecting the drinking water source area and creating a community forest. Core services include public meeting facilitation, grant writing and administration, funding and financing, and sustainability certification and wood supply chain.