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. Clark County is partnering with Cowlitz Indian Tribe to improve recreational opportunities and restore fish habitat in Salmon Creek. The property was formerly part of the Cedars on Salmon Creek golf course. It was purchased with Legacy Lands funds in 2022.

Image not available

 

Gordy Jolma Family Natural Area Park Plan and Environmental Restoration design

Page Contents (Jump to Sections)

Open House - April 24

Join us for an information session to learn more about the changes coming to the Gordy Jolma Family Natural Area! 

Clark County and The Cowlitz Indian Tribe will present draft plans for habitat restoration and improved recreational elements at the property and will gather feedback on:

  • Two draft plans showing different options for trail alignments
  • Trailhead parking
  • Nature-based recreational opportunities

Coffee and cookies provided.

OPEN HOUSE
6-8 p.m. Thursday, April 24
Presentation 6:30 – 7:15 p.m., Q&A (question-and-answer) session immediately following

Attend in person:
The Cedars Public House, 15001 NE 181st St, Brush Prairie
View project information, meet with staff before and after the presentation
Coffee and cookies provided

Attend online: 
Presentation and Q&A session streamed live via Webex.
Online attendees can ask questions during the Q&A using the chat feature. 
Register to receive an email link to join the meeting. A meeting link will be posted to the webpage 10 minutes before the presentation. Registration and online meeting information can be found on the project webpage.

Presentation slides, visual aids and a recording of the presentation and Q&A session will be posted on the webpage within five business days. Materials are available in Spanish, Russian and Ukrainian. To request interpretation, translation or accommodations to participate in the open house, please contact the project manager. 

About The Project 
tag

The goal of this project is to return the property to a more natural state and improve nature-based recreational opportunities like walking, birdwatching, fishing, picnicking and cultural and environmental education.

In partnership with the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, fish habitat and environmental restoration improvements may include increasing floodplain resiliency and improving shoreline stability. This will focus on fish passage improvements along two miles of Salmon Creek. The Cowlitz Indian Tribe secured grant funding from the Salmon Recovery Funding Board to develop a preliminary restoration design. The design process began in 2024 with preliminary data collection and surveys assessing the site’s conditions, limiting factors, stream flow dynamics and surrounding infrastructure. 

tag

Salmon Creek provides critical spawning and rearing habitat for populations of fall chinook, coho and chum salmon, and winter steelhead.

This project supports the County’s goals of conservation under the Legacy Lands program. The Legacy Lands program (Clark County’s Conservation Futures Program) protects natural lands highly valued for habitat, scenic corridors, low-impact recreation and other qualities that enhance our local environment.

The Cowlitz Indian Tribe secured grant funding from the Salmon Recovery Funding Board to develop a preliminary restoration design.

Project timeline

Design: 2024-2026

Image not available

The County will work closely with the tribe to incorporate the restoration design into the recreational plan. Planning is anticipated to take one to two years and will involve public engagement and communication with community stakeholders. Read the news release announcing the partnership at https://clark.wa.gov/public-works/county-and-cowlitz-indian-tribe-kick-partnership-improve-recreational-opportunities.  

Property Background

 

Mailers

March 2025 Open House Flyer, English (PDF)
March 2025 Open House Flyer, Spanish (PDF)
March 2025 Open House Flyer, Ukrainian (PDF)
March 2025 Open House Flyer, Russian (PDF)
February 2024 Heads up (PDF)

Hours

7 am to dusk

Related information

Location

15051 NE 181st Street
Brush Prairie, WA 98606
United States