Pacific Northwest Volcanic Keystone Forest

The Pacific Northwest Volcanic Keystone Forest is part of the larger Central and Southern Cascade forests. This keystone forest is straight out of a storybook: cascading waterfalls, crystal clear streams and rivers and ancient rainforests. Most of this keystone forest contains the dominant conifers of Douglas fir, Western hemlock, Western red cedar, incense cedar, Pacific yew and a myriad of true fir. At lower elevations, hardwoods such as big leaf maple, vine maple and dogwood are present. The Northern spotted owl is the most well-known endangered species in the area. However, other threatened species such as the bald eagle, bull trout and a host of salmon also reside in this area. Waldo Lake, considered one of the purest lakes in the world, is located near the Cascade Crest, 60 miles southeast of Eugene. The city of Eugene gets its municipal water supply from the magnificent McKenzie River, which has its headwaters in the Willamette National Forest. The town of Cottage Grove gets its municipal water supply from Brice Creek, in the northern portion of the Umpqua National Forest. Outdoor enthusiasts including hikers, rafters, kayakers, bikers, hunters, anglers, mushroom pickers and non-timber product gatherers heavily use this region.