Gordy Jolma Family Natural Area

The new 118-acre natural area is adjacent to the Salmon-Morgan Creeks Natural Area and supports open space, regional water quality and salmon recovery goals. The property will also increase recreational opportunities in the area.

Gordy Jolma Family Natural Area Master Plan and Environmental Restoration design

Clark County, Parks and Lands, and the Cowlitz Indian Tribe are starting a fish habitat and recreation master planning process for the Gordy Jolma Family Natural Area. The property was formerly part of the Cedars on Salmon Creek golf course. The planning effort will focus on restoring fish habitat in Salmon Creek, removing fish passage barriers, and improving natural-resource based opportunities like walking, birdwatching, fishing, picnicking and cultural and environmental education.

“As the Cowlitz Indian Tribe furthers its legacy of environmental stewardship, we are grateful to partner with Clark County on the Gordy Jolma Family Natural Area restoration plan,” said Cowlitz Indian Tribe General Council Chairwoman Patty Kinswa-Gaiser. “By prioritizing the restoration of critical spawning habitat for endangered salmon species and providing neighbors with more recreational, educational, and cultural learning opportunities, we are not just preserving the legacy of the land -- we are actively contributing to a healthier future for our community.”

Fish habitat and restoration improvements may include increasing floodplain resiliency and improving shoreline stability, focusing on fish passage improvements along two miles of Salmon Creek. Salmon Creek provides critical spawning and rearing habitat for populations of fall chinook, coho and chum salmon, and winter steelhead. The Cowlitz Indian Tribe secured grant funding from the Salmon Recovery Funding Board to develop a preliminary restoration design. The design process will begin this year with preliminary data collection and surveys assessing the site’s conditions, limiting factors, stream flow dynamics and surrounding infrastructure.

The county will work closely with the tribe to incorporate the restoration design into the natural area’s master plan. Master planning is anticipated to take one to two years and will involve public engagement and communication with community stakeholders. The natural area’s future recreation amenities and public access improvements will be identified in the master plan.

Project timeline
Design: 2024 - 2026