1,616 Acres of Forestland Conserved by Stewart Mountain Community Forest
Today, the Stewart Mountain Community Forest (SMCF)–a collaborative planning partnership between Evergreen Land Trust, Nooksack Indian Tribe, Whatcom County, and Whatcom Land Trust—protected an additional 1,616 acres of forestland above the South Fork Nooksack River near Acme, WA. Combined with the October 2022 purchase of 550 acres, the 2,166-acre forest will protect water resources and biodiversity, offsetting climate change impacts for future generations. It will expand opportunities for tribal cultural access, support sustainable local timber jobs, and public non-motorized recreation. The local community will continue to play a role in decision-making concerning how the forest is managed and used.
“Summer on the South Fork, a story passed down from our ancestors, reflects our values as the first stewards of this Valley. Establishing the Stewart Mountain Community Forest partnership revitalizes tribal stewardship on this land, along with restoration of the many needed habitats,” said Trevor Delgado, Nooksack Indian Tribe Tribal Historic Preservation Officer.
The community forest will be owned by a subsidiary non-profit organization, which Whatcom Land Trust will establish during 2026. All partners have indicated support for this approach and are working together to finalize the structure of the governance board. Stewart Mountain Community Forest was based on years of community input, and the board will ensure that community engagement continues into the future.
The January 2026 1,616-acre acquisition was made possible by a $5.5 million grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology’s Streamflow Restoration Program, and $3 million from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office Community Forest Program. The funding was combined with additional public funds and support from Whatcom Land Trust donors to reach the approximately $9 million purchase price.
The SMCF planning partnership was established to address growing concerns over watershed health in the South Fork Nooksack watershed. Over the past 30 years, Stewart Mountain has been owned and logged by six different companies, leading to large sections of clearcuts replaced by young trees planted too densely for healthy forest succession. This intensive logging, combined with climate change and decreasing snowpack levels, has contributed to the South Fork Nooksack River’s struggles with sediment buildup and low water levels in late summer—conditions that harm fish, increase flood risk, and reduce water reliability.
“Research shows that restoring upland forests and protecting riparian (riverside) areas can help reverse these trends. Now, because of this groundbreaking partnership, Stewart Mountain Community Forest will be owned and managed by representatives from our community, for our community. Together, we can rebuild a healthy, functional forest that supports salmon recovery and restores critical wildlife habitat,” said Rachel Vasak, Whatcom Land Trust Executive Director.
All forest management activities within SMCF will be guided by goals that balance a variety of ecological, economic, and community benefits. These goals were determined through the best available science and five years of community input, including feedback from experts, user groups, and public surveys and forums in the South Fork Valley.
“South Fork Valley residents have spent decades working to improve the health and safety of our watershed. Stewart Mountain Community Forest is a culmination of these efforts, finally placing management of our local forest back into the hands of the community. SMCF will use science-based, ecological forest management that restores natural processes to create healthier forests that also provide sustainable, living wage jobs in our local timber economy,” said Holly O’Neil, Evergreen Land Trust representative on the SMCF Core Planning Team.
The initiative builds upon decades of grassroots efforts by the Downslope Neighbors Association, which advocated for logging practices that would reduce the risk of landslides and protect wildlife. These efforts were complemented by the Nooksack Indian Tribe’s South Fork Nooksack River Watershed Conservation Planning effort, which built upon decades of science and included educational forums, community workshops, and a citizen Watershed Planning Group. The watershed planning efforts helped establish shared priorities around watershed health, flood resilient communities, salmon recovery, and long-term stewardship, and ultimately led to the formation of the Stewart Mountain Community Forest initiative.
In 2021 and 2022, engagement expanded through a collaborative planning process supported by the National Park Service’s Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) program. The SMCF Planning Team and Interim Community Advisory Team hosted public meetings, community forums, and distributed a valley-wide survey that directly shaped the Strategic Vision Framework that now guides the project’s vision, values, and future planning.
“We truly appreciate the collaborative nature of this initiative, as it is building trust between project partners while addressing long-term goals associated with tribal access to their historic lands, ecological health, and future trail connectivity across Stewart Mountain. We are excited about what this next phase of acquisition means for the potential to provide multi-use trail connectivity between Lake Whatcom and South Fork Park in the Acme Valley,” said Bennett Knox, Whatcom County Parks Director.
SMCF partners will spend the next year establishing guidelines for non-motorized recreation and exploring opportunities for tribal cultural access. Members of the public will have the opportunity to provide feedback throughout 2026. Visit stewartmountaincf.org or email info@stewartmountaincf.org to stay up to date on upcoming opportunities to get involved.
For more information on Stewart Mountain Community Forest, or to read the entire Strategic Vision Framework, visit stewartmountaincf.org.
