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Who are we?
Northwest Forest Conservancy (NFC) is a local, grassroots nonprofit corporation based in Clackamas County, Oregon. Our mission is to be an organization dedicated to then protection, restoration, education, and responsible management of the forest, all it contains, and all the lands and waters it influences.
From our Bylaws: “This is accomplished by ensuring strict compliance of governmental authorities in charge of management of the forests in the Pacific Northwest; preserving, restoring, and operating historic sites; promoting responsible stewardship of Northwest forestlands and waters; educating the public about the unique natural values of our forests and the importance of preserving those values; working with groups and individuals to accomplish mutual preservation goals; and coordinate and develop volunteer projects.”
Current programs include:
Each program has individual projects to accomplish the programs goals, as well as and educational component.
Historic Preservation Program
NFC's Historic Preservation Program is a multi-faceted effort to protect and restore historic sites in the forests, and educate the public about the history of these sites and the forest. This program is focused in the Mt Hood National Forest at this time. Projects include: The restoration of the 1913 Bagby Hot Springs Cabin and Shed, the stabilization and preservation of the 1935 Upper Sandy Cabin, and our 'Forest Legacy Project', our effort to assess, map, and protect other historic sites on public land in the Mt Hood National Forest area. These projects are on-going, in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service, under signed agreement.
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Wilderness Trails Program
NFC's Wilderness Trails Program is focused on the overlooked, hard to reach, Bull of the Woods (BotW)Wilderness area of Clackamas County, in Mt Hood National Forest. The USDA Forest Service has lost funding and personnel to be able to effectively maintain the trail network in the BotW area. NFC has a written agreement with the USDA Forest Service to maintain the 12.5 mile Bagby Trail, which is the most used entrance to the Bull of the Woods Wilderness.The Forest Service estimates at least 100,000 people a year use this trail. NFC's trail program is looking to expand to cover the rest of the BotW area as well as partner with local hiking groups including, Oregon Equestrian Trails, the Pacific Crest Trails Association, and the newly formed Trail Keepers of Oregon.
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Watershed Protection Program
NFC's longest running program, the Watershed Protection Program, focuses on protecting, enhancing, and cleaning the Upper Clackamas watershed and educating the public about responsible use. Since 2001, NFC has held bi-annual cleanups of the Clackamas River and Austin Hot Springs in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service and SOLV. Now twice a year volunteers pick up trash, plant trees, enhance fish habitat, and learn about the area from Austin Hot Springs to Bagby Hot Springs. This event helped NFC receive the Volunteer Group of the Year award from the Clackamas River Ranger District of Mt Hood Nation Forest in October of 2008. The largest single event had a peak of 51 volunteers participate and 4500 pounds of trash collected. The success of this event has lead to a steep decline in trash in the area. The events in 2008 collected only 1500 pounds from each event! The public education presented during NFC's monthly events in the area are a unique opportunity to provide long term change to forest users and their children. Also, NFC partnered with the USDA Forest Service to join the Respect the River Program that includes posting pubic educational and interpretive signs along the Clackamas River and dispersed recreation sites.
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Forest Management Program
NFC's Forest Management Program focuses on sustainable recreation and forest use and management. NFC has three projects, Bagby Hot Springs Management, Austin Hot Springs Management, and participation in the Nationally recognized, award winning, collaborative group, Clackamas Stewardship Partners. NFC is committed to the responsible use of the forest by the public and land managers that allows recreation and sustainable forest practices. Bagby Hot Springs is estimated to receive over 100,000 visitors a year. NFC's projects underway on-site have already improved the services on-site, provided education, preserved buildings and history, reduced impact, and reduced crime. Clackamas County Sheriffs Dept. had 35-45 crimes per year reported at Bagby Hot Springs before NFC started its projects. In 2008, only 2 crimes were reported through August. The good changes and increase in family use has lead to a series of good media stories about Bagby and NFC in The Oregonian (4/07) and an episode on OPB's Oregon Field Guide (10/08).
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