Access to Nature Projects
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Access to Nature and Land Protection
EMSWCD partners with public, non-profit, and private organizations to expand access to nature in urban neighborhoods and to protect important natural lands across the district.
While the Portland area is rich in parks and open spaces, not every resident has easy access to them. We work with local cities to expand park systems so more people can enjoy nature close to home. We also protect lands that may not offer public access but are critical for clean water, wildlife, climate resilience, and the long-term health of our communities.
- Access to Nature Projects
- Natural Area Protection Projects
Nadaka Nature Park
Children playing in Nature Play Area in Nadaka Nature Park. Photo credit: Billy Hustace Photography
This collaborative project with the community resulted in the creation of a high-quality public park space for an underserved area in East County.
EMSWCD and partners contributed funds for property acquisition and for the construction of a community visioned nature-based play area. With this investment, the number of residents who could enjoy access to a park within one mile of where they live doubled.
To learn more about the community that supported this effort, visit the Friends of Nadaka Nature Park website.
Shaull Property
A grove of Douglas fir trees and a future access way at the Former Shaull property.
This small but mighty 8-acre property builds upon EMSWCD’s previous investments in the surrounding Grant Butte area and further protects the water quality of the adjoining Fairview Creek headwaters and wetlands complex.
The acquisition of this property also sets the stage for improved access to the adjacent Southwest Community Park.
In the future, park visitors will be able to enjoy the tranquil beauty of a towering Douglas Fir grove. The health of that grove and visitor amenities will be developed by the City of Gresham over the coming years
EMSWCD partnered with the City of Gresham and Metro on this acquisition project.
Note: Due to the planned restoration activities and visitor improvement investments, the property is not currently open for public access.
Nestwood Forest
Mixed-forest habitat on the Nestwood property will help create a corridor of protected lands between the Columbia and Sandy Rivers.
Nestwood Forest will be managed to capture carbon and provide wildlife habitat.
At the western edge of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and only a half-hour drive from the City of Portland, stands Nestwood Forest.
At 818 acres, Nestwood is the largest privately owned forest in Multnomah County, now permanently protected by Columbia Land Trust through a decades-long philanthropic collaboration with landowners Cynthia and Dennis Wiancko and a keystone financial contribution from EMSWCD.
Large, intact natural areas like Nestwood Forest are increasingly rare and it is an excellent example of West Cascades forests essential for mitigating the impacts of climate change and providing benefits to nearby communities.
EMSWCD was a foundational supporter of the project, contributing $1.2 million to the purchase and helping permanently secure the site. It is the largest land protection effort ever supported by EMSWCD, and one that secures multiple outcomes.
Conserving Nestwood Forest sequesters carbon, protects and enhances soil and water resources. These benefits will only increase over time as the landscape is managed for forest health and carbon capture. Additionally, opportunities for individuals and organizations – from both rural and urban communities – to access this special landscape will be developed in the future with our partners.
Colwood Natural Area
This 85-acre property was at imminent risk of development.
The property includes thousands of feet of frontage along the Columbia and Whittaker Sloughs, key waterways in this highly developed urban landscape. EMSWCD contributed funds towards the acquisition of a 37-acre natural area adjoining the two sloughs, while the City of Portland provided the funding to acquire the remainder of the property.
Restoration efforts have occurred within the Colwood Natural Area, with additional enhancements and potential limited public access planned when City of Portland resources permit. EMSWCD’s investment helped close the gap in access to open space that has long existed within the Cully neighborhood.
Portland Parks and Recreation owns the property and is responsible for management.
Dianna Pope Natural Area
The Dianna Pope Natural Area is located within EMSWCD’s Headwaters Farm property.
EMSWCD has been working to improve water quality, reduce stream temperature and restore the upland habitat within this 14.5-acre natural area, which borders the north fork of Johnson Creek.
Once dominated by blackberries, in 2013 the streamside area was planted with 9,200 native trees and shrubs. Today, the plants have created a beautiful, full forest and the stream is protected from farm operations, roads, and nearby homes. Â In 2015 the natural area was dedicated to Diana Pope, who served the residents of our district as an EMSWCD board member for 32 years.
Additional information on EMSWCD’s efforts can found in the Site Conservation Plan and by contacting Jeremy Baker, Senior Rural Conservationist, at (503) 935-5361 or jeremy@emswcd.org.
Note: Please note that due to the sensitive nature of the habitat restoration plantings within this area, it is not currently open for public access.
Grant Butte
A meadow and a forested hillside are just some of the natural features at Grant Butte. Photo courtesy Metro.
Photo courtesy Metro.
Many Portland area residents are familiar with the east side’s string of cinder cone buttes such as Rocky Butte, Mt. Tabor and Powell Butte.
But few residents are as familiar with Grant Butte, as its private ownership made it inaccessible. In 2014 EMSWCD partnered with the City of Gresham and Metro to acquire 33-acres, resulting in the protection of much of the butte and adjacent wetlands.
These acquisitions have led to the protection and enhancement of an important urban natural area that attracts more than a hundred different wildlife species including river otter, Canada and cackling geese, red-winged blackbirds and American kestrels.
Metro is taking the lead in restoring the habitat and planning for future public access in collaboration with partners.
Learn more about Grant Butte and its wetlands on the Oregon Metro website.
NAYA Land Purchase
NAYA leaders, elders and partners (including EMSWCD Board Chair, Jasmine Zimmer-Stucky, third from right) gathered at NAYA’s Annual Neerchokikoo Powwow to celebrate their completed land purchase.
Photo courtesy NAYA.
In June 2023, the Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA) announced the completion of a $4.6 million capital campaign, Return to Neerchokikoo.
This achievement creates a safe and permanent home for Portland’s Native community, reclaims a space of great cultural significance, and positions NAYA to further nurture it into a thriving Native center.
An early supporter of this effort, EMSWCDs Board approved a $500,000 grant to NAYA in 2019 for this project.
Learn more about the Return to Neerchokikoo campaign on the NAYA website.
Support for Nature Access and Conservation Projects
Looking for more information?
Contact Matt Shipkey, Land Legacy Program Manager:
Learn how we can support projects that increase access and preserve nature in urban neighborhoods.
While we are unable to lead on such projects, if you know of a possible opportunity that would increase access to open space in an underserved neighborhood, we may be able to connect you with a partner who can assist.
Contact Matt Shipkey, Land Legacy Program Manager at 503-935-5374 or matt@emswcd.org.
While we are unable to lead on these projects, if you are the owner of a property that possesses significant natural resource values, or if you know of a possible opportunity, we may be able to connect you with a partner who can explore land protection strategies.
Contact Matt Shipkey, Land Legacy Program Manager at 503-935-5374 or matt@emswcd.org.
We also support community-driven projects through grant funding, technical assistance and other resources.
Please view our Grant Program section and contact Heather Nelson Kent, our Grants Program Manager at (503) 935-5370 or heather@emswcd.org to see if a potential project meets our guidelines.
