Gate Creek
Owned Property
Weyerhauser Company sold the property to McKenzie River Trust in 2025 following years of collaborative conversations. The $1 million acquisition was funded by the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board utilizing wildfire recovery funds allocated through the Oregon State Legislature. The Eugene Water & Electric Board supported the Trust in accessing funding.
“This project reflects the power of partnerships to achieve long-term conservation outcomes. We're proud to work with McKenzie River Trust in contributing to a model of cooperative conservation that balances ecological stewardship with the realities of working forest landscapes.”
Will Stroud, Land Asset Manager, Weyerhaeuser
How the Property Was Protected
In May, 2025, McKenzie River Trust acquired the Gate Creek conservation area, a 175-acre property along Gate Creek, a vital tributary of the McKenzie River. The area was previously managed by Weyerhaeuser for sustainable timber. In 2020, the Trust identified the area as a high priority for conservation in the McKenzie River watershed.
Following years of conversations and relationship building between the Trust and Weyerhauser, property ownership was transferred through sale to the trust in spring 2025. This acquisition reflects the strength of thoughtful collaboration between conservation organizations and industry partners. As Sam Hillmann, Land Protection Manager at the Trust, noted, “This outcome shows what’s possible when partners remain committed to common goals, even when the path is complex.”
Why the Area Is Important
As upland timber stands march steeply into riparian forest, the crust of scorched soil meets the tender green of renewal. During the 2020 Holiday Farm Fire, this area experienced a mosaic burn pattern, with low intensity fire moving through some of the property, and higher temperatures severely impacting others. Down in the riparian zone, natural recovery is well underway. A rich diversity of native plants and wildflowers blankets the forest floor and streamside vegetation plays host to a range of aquatic insects. Further upslope, climate resilient ceanothus masks acres of hillside. Here, small open patches give way to young maples emerging in vibrant reds and greens between the native lilac’s waxy leaves and white blossoms. Further upslope, native bear-grass waves gently in small clusters, in juxtaposition with the black backdrop of burned timber.
An important tributary to the McKenzie River, Gate Creek also plays a crucial role in the overall health of the watershed. Gate creek is the first major tributary accessible to migratory fish—such as Chinook salmon, steelhead, and Pacific lamprey—after they pass Leaburg Dam. With wide, shallow waters pinching into deep pools and expanding again, the area offers important habitat for fish and other aquatic species. Along the creek’s edges, empty exuvia (exoskeletons from emerged insects) cling to rocks and logs among the dense streamside vegetation. Instream, caddisfly can be seen in various stages of building and McKenzie Green Caddis larvae flash in bright greens beneath the slow-moving riffles near pools of juvenile trout feeding on upstream sediments.
Beyond its ecological value, this land contributes to the quality of life for thousands of people downstream. The McKenzie River supplies drinking water to over 200,000 customers served by the Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB). Protecting and caring for this area as a drinking watershed helps safeguard that water source. Activities to care for the area and promote its natural processes will also aim to improve natural water filtration and strengthen the area’s resilience to flooding and wildfire.
Looking ahead, our staff will work with area partners to manage the forest for mature and old-growth conditions and exploring opportunities for in-stream restoration that supports habitat and clean water.
Protection Funding
This acquisition was made possible with support from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB). In the wake of the 2020 wildfires, the Oregon Legislature allocated $4 million to OWEB to help acquire and restore high-priority properties in the McKenzie River floodplain.
The Gate Creek property was identified as a strategic priority for both ecological restoration and watershed protection. This funding allowed McKenzie River Trust to secure the site and begin planning for its recovery and long-term care.