Property Description
The Ecola Creek Forest Reserve (ECFR) consists of 220 acres of forestland owned by the City of Cannon Beach located approximately one-mile east of Cannon Beach.  The ECFR consists of three “tracts”.  The first tract is a 60-acre parcel that is the site of springs that are the City’s primary water source, the summer water intake and the City’s water treatment facility.  The second tract is a 40-acre parcel of commercial timberland that was acquired by the City from the Weyerhaeuser Company in 2003.  The third tract is a 120-acre tract of commercial timberland acquired by the City from the Weyerhaeuser Company in 2004.
 
The ECFR contains a mixed age forest, including a remnant of coastal old growth rain forest adjacent to the West Fork of Ecola Creek, and aquatic and riparian habitat associated with the West Fork and North Fork of Ecola Creek.  The parcel contains approximately one mile of frontage on the West Fork of Ecola Creek and 3/10 of a mile of frontage on the North Fork of Ecola Creek.  The area provides passage, spawning and rearing for steelhead, sea-run cutthroat trout, and Chinook and Coho salmon.  Ecola Creek has been listed as critical habitat for coho salmon and is managed for native fish. 

Goals for the Ecola Creek Forest Reserve
The City Council has adopted planning goals and objectives that will guide the development of the management plan.   The City’s overall goal is to have the ECFR managed to maintain municipal water quality and preserve and enhance the ecological integrity of the forest ecosystem and its constituent aquatic and riparian habitats.

The Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) has provided funding support for the 120-acre tract that constitutes a portion of the ECFR.  As a condition of funding approval, OWEB placed a conservation easement on this tract of land.  The conservation easement provides restrictions on the use of the property. The management plan that is developed must be consistent with these restrictions.  

Management Plan
The management plan will include:

1.  An inventory and assessment of existing natural resources including vegetation and botanical, timber, wildlife and fisheries, as well as an inventory of existing “man-made” features such as access, recreation and site improvements.
2.  An identification of management issues.
3.  A set of management recommendations that establish a program that address identified issues and achieves the goals and objectives for the ECFR established by the City Council.

Examples of potential issues to be addressed by the management plan are:

1. The need for active forest management of the 40-acre tract in order to establish overall forest health; and
2. Potential conflicts between passive recreational use (trails/walking) and protection of City’s water supply and water treatment facility.

Management Plan Development Process
The City Council has appointed an ad-hoc advisory committee to work with the consultant and City staff in the preparation of the management plan.  The committee consists of ten members who represent the City’s Public Works Committee, Planning Commission, Parks and Community Services Committee, the Ecola Creek Watershed Council and the Friends of Ecola Creek Forest Reserve (the organization that raised the funds to purchase the 120-acre tract.)

The management plan must be adopted by the City Council no later than June 2006.

Your input is needed
Take the Ecola Creek Forest Reserve Survey to help us better meet your needs.