East Moraine Community Forest

Set in a stunning location along Wallowa Lake, East Moraine Community Forest has been owned by Wallowa County since 2022. It was established to maintain scenic, cultural, rangeland, and forestland open space uses, public recreation, and educational uses.

Some of the community benefits that this property provides include:

  1. Non-motorized recreational access to an iconic landscape close to the town of Joseph, including a small trail system and excellent views of the Eagle Cap Wilderness.

  2. Ongoing management as working forest and rangeland, supporting Wallowa county’s local economy and rural ways of life.

  3. Public access for traditional cultural practices including hunting and gathering, and protection of known and unknown Nez Perce cultural sites.

  4. Habitat conservation, including for the endangered Spalding’s catchfly (Silene spaldingii) and wintering mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus).

A small herd of brown cows graze on dry grass in the foreground. A ridge of tall mountains is visible in the background.

Sustainable grazing is one of the ongoing management activities on East Moraine Community Forest

Photo provided by East Moraine Community Forest

Additional Property Facts:

  1. The East Moraine Community Forest Management Committee is appointed by the Wallowa County Board of Commissioners to support county management of the property. Members include the Nez Perce Tribe, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, Oregon Department of Forestry, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon State University Extension, Wallowa County Board of Commissioners, Wallowa Land Trust, and Wallowa Resources.

  2. The property includes 1,835 acres of range and forestland. Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine are the dominant tree species.

  3. Oregon State University Rangeland Research uses the property as a field laboratory. It is a test site for virtual fencing, an emerging technology in range management.

  4. A multi-use management plan for East Moraine Community Forest was published in 2022.

East Moraine Community Forest is an example of the rural lifestyle and landscape that make Wallowa County special. Through collaborative multi-use management, it will remain so in perpetuity.

Approximately 20 people walk on a trail through a mid-aged pine stand.

Right: One of the trails open to public use in the community forest, through a timber stand dominated by ponderosa pine.

A small group of people stands on a hillside with views of a lake and snowy mountains in the background. A man in an Oregon State University jacket stands in the center and is speaking to the group, while they listen and some take notes.

Left: Oregon State University extension agent Pete Schreder presents to the 2024 Northwest Community Forest Coalition Forum on rangeland research taking place at East Moraine Community Forest

Photos: Sustainable Northwest

This document is supported in part by financial assistance from the Forest Service. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.