Lake Tahkenitch and High Pass Tree Farms

Harmony Bay near private cabins, Siltcoos Lake	View toward Rocky Point along Booth Arm, Siltcoos Lake

Block E is located along a small peninsula on Siltcoos Lake by Duck and Harmony Bay. It is adjacent to a number of private lakefront cabins which were built on small lots and subdivided prior to Douglas County's current planning and zoning regulations. There is access to the 11± acres from an existing road through Block A. The property contains residual older spruce, hemlock and fir and could have potential as a campsite. Development of a homesite or cabin would not be allowed due to zoning and size of the property. The Seller has provided an easement to the association of lot owners for access to their property (see Supplemental Information Package for details.)

Location: Township 20 South, Range 12 West, Section 2

CONSERVATION AND RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES
Potential opportunities for obtaining conservation and recreation values from the Tree Farm are located primarily on Blocks A, B, and E, which have an estimated 24 miles of lake frontage on Siltcoos and Tahkenitch Lakes, and proximity to trail systems as part of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area and adjoining Siuslaw National Forest lands.

Three Rivers Casino and Hotel; Above: Old Town Florence

Houseboats on Tahkenitch Lake

There are no existing conservation easements on Lake Tahkenitch Tree Farm and a new owner has opportunity to design a conservation program that could be targeted, for example, to expanding public access through a lakefront trail system that can connect to Carter Dunes, Oregon Dunes Overlook and Tahkenitch Creek Trails, within Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area and Siltcoos Lake Trail system, located north of Block A by Siuslaw National Forest. The trail system could be designed to be compatible with the long-term forest management of the Tree Farm, with overlook and day camping sites developed along lake frontage, for hiking and boating. Other conservation easements, or efforts targeted toward water quality and fisheries, could be part of the management of the Tree Farm and part of the development of a future Carbon Credit Program, similar to that which has been implemented in the state of California.

Recreation opportunities for Tahkenitch Tree Farm can be designed to take advantage of its lake frontage, accessibility to Florence and central coast resort markets, and proximity to Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. In addition, this area of the central coast has excellent hunting for deer, Roosevelt elk, black bear and water fowl. The fishery on both Tahkenitch and Siltcoos Lake is well-known to anglers. The Timber Resource Zone and Shoreline Conservation Overlay will allow, as part of a conditional use approval, a private park or campground, seasonal hunting or fishing operations, with limited accommodations, and a homesite under certain conditions (see Supplemental Information Package for details.)

All these uses could be easily accommodated on Blocks A and B without impacting long-term forest management of the Tree Farm. Lakefront access could be developed for boating, canoeing, kayaking and float planes, and the existing logging road system used for hiking, riding and OHV trails. There are numerous locations that could be developed for a private retreat, commercial campground, lodge for hunting and fishing, or ocean/lake-view homesite. Lookout towers could be built to take advantage of the ocean and lake views. The property has gated entries which will limit public access. A combination of both conservation and recreation uses could be incorporated into an overall land management plan by a new owner.