Alder Creek Farm (Farm) is a 54.22 acre former dairy farm located just west of the City of Nehalem.

History

Prior to western settlement, this property would likely have included wet prairie grasslands, seasonal and permanent freshwater and estuarine wetlands, and forests of Sitka spruce, Western Red cedar, western hemlock, Red alder, and Big leaf and Vine maple .  The original land grant for the property was made in 1888.  In the 1930s and 40s, the lower end of Alder Creek was diked on the south end of the property to keep tidal water off the farmland.  In addition, deep drainage ditches were created and drainage tiles installed to facilitate water removal from the Farm and adjacent properties.  A 1939 Army Corps of Engineers aerial photograph shows that the land was cleared and the property appears to have plowed fields and row crops. Comparison of the 1939 and 1994 aerial photos show that the course of Alder Creek did not change during this period.

In 2003, five community members purchased the Farm and leased it to the Trust for management.  The Trust acquired the land in November 2005 using funds from The Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board a U.S. Fish and Wildlife NACA small grant, USDA Wetland Reserve funds and local donations.

Current Land Use

Fifty acres are being restored to their natural state for the benefit of all wildlife. The remaining five acres are maintained for human use.  The Farm currently hosts the Trust's Coastal Food Ecology Center and most of the Trust's Education Projects.

Alder Creek Farm Videos

Overview of Farm

Birds

Amphibians

Removal of old homestead house

Additional information on Alder Creek Farm can be found on the Pacific Joint Venture Conservation Registry.