Balch Creek
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Where is Balch Creek?
Just minutes from the busy industrial lands in NW Portland lies a beautiful, old forest of trees and clean, cool water. Balch Creek is a watershed which is shaped like a finger pointing down into the heart of Northwest Portland.
The lower portion of the watershed is preserved by the Audubon Society of Portland and the City of Portland. The upper portions of the watershed are still in large plots of private land that contribute to the native cutthroat trout and are home to considerable wildlife habitat. Balch Creek is located in Macleay Park in Portland, which is at the very end of NW Upshur. You can hike several miles in this beautiful forest along Balch Creek on the Wildwood trail from Lower Macleay Park.
Why conserve this land?
The privately held land in the upper watershed is key to the health of Balch Creek Watershed. In order to keep the cutthroat trout at Lower Macleay Park or at the Audubon Society's Nature Center healthy, we must work with the private landowners in the upper watershed to conserve their land.
Forest Park, at 5,000 acres, is long and narrow. By preserving Balch Creek, Forest Park's wildlife habitat is greatly enhanced.
Our Accomplishments
Three Rivers has:
- Conducted informational workshops to private landowners about conservation options.
- Mailed information to each landowner holding key lands in the watershed.
- Met with 8 landowners to inform them of their options.
- Conserved 30 acres of land with two conservation agreements.
Next Steps
Three Rivers will continue to meet with interested landowners and periodically hold informational workshops.