Mission Statement

Enhance ecosystem health and economic viability of local communities within the Clackamas River Basin. The Clackamas Stewardship Partners are committed to a collaborative process that employs stewardship contracting and other innovative tools to meet restoration goals.

History

The Clackamas Stewardship Partners (CSP) is a group of diverse stakeholders dedicated to restoring ecological function of the Clackamas River Basin while benefiting local economies. Discussions of forming a collaborative group began in the summer of 2004, when members of the Clackamas Ranger District of the Mt. Hood National Forest, the Clackamas River Basin Council, and members of the Clackamas County Economic Development Commission began to explore the possibilities of using the new Forest Service stewardship authorities to drive restoration and create jobs in Clackamas County. After several months of independently gathering support from a wide range of stakeholders, Clackamas County arranged a meeting for these stakeholders to come together for a collaborative planning effort. The CSP collaborative group has formalized their mission and goals and has made significant on-the-ground progress towards them.

Highlights and Accomplishments

Over the last couple years, the CSP has been steadily working to bring our mission to life on the ground. The group has resolved conflicts over forest thinning projects that would have otherwise been litigated and has began implemented on the ground restoration projects like road decommissioning and aquatic restoration. The group continues to build trust and understanding between the diversity of members at the table as well as between CSP members and the Forest Service.

Major quantitative accomplishments of the CSP as of fall 2007, include seven awarded stewardship contracts totaling 1,350 acres of commercial thinning. This thinning has paid for over $1,200,000 of restorative services. An additional $650,000 of receipts has been retained to fund additional restoration projects that have been recommended by the CSP. Based upon recommendations of the CSP, USFS approved additional restoration projects that will be advertised and awarded in FY08 and FY09. These restoration projects are 4,000 acres of commercial thinning, road closure/decommissioning and maintenance, road repair, snag and down wood creation, culvert replacement, repairing damage down by off-road vehicles, and pre-commercial thinning. The commercial thinning is expected to pay for all of the restoration projects and generate an estimated $2,000.000 in retained receipts for additional restoration projects.

Partners

Bark, Clackamas County Board of County Commissioners, Clackamas County Soil and Water Conservation District, Clackamas River Basin Council, Clackamas River Ranger District of the Mt. Hood National Forest, Clackamas River Water Providers, Gifford Pinchot Task Force, Interfor Lumber Mill, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Portland Chapter of the Society of American Foresters, Portland State University, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Wild (formerly ONRC), Northwest Forest Conservancy, Northwest Oregon Resource Conservation and Development Council, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

Meeting Information

Meetings are open to the public and people are welcome to join if one can commit to the mission and scope of work. Meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 1:00-4:00pm. Please contact Lisa Moscinski at 503.221.2102 ext.104 for more information.