Ten Mile Creek

Located on the coast near Yachats, Oregon, the Bird Alliance of Oregon’s Ten Mile Creek Sanctuary is a 336-acre reserve of extraordinary ecological importance. It includes the largest intact stand of coastal temperate rainforest of Sitka Spruce and Western Hemlock in the lower 48 states and is home to the federally listed Marbled Murrelet and Northern Spotted Owl.

A wide variety of species inhabit our sanctuary including Roosevelt Elk, Black-tailed Deer, Cougar, Black Bear, Bald Eagle, and federally threatened Coho Salmon, Chinook Salmon, and Steelhead Trout.

In addition to its ecological value on site, Ten Mile also provides a critical link between the 9,300-acre Cummins Creek Wilderness to the north and the 7,400-acre Rock Creek Wilderness to its south. Together they provide a continuous, intact forest canopy that stretches across five watershed basins.

Conservation and Research

Bird Alliance of Oregon’s coastal conservation and research work includes planting native tree species, eradicating non-native plant species, collaborating with fish and wildlife agencies to conduct spawning surveys, and monitoring the health of Ten Mile Creek’s salmon populations. We also work with the Pacific Fisheries Management Council and Ocean Policy Advisory Council to protect Oregon’s natural heritage of marine wildlife and near-shore habitats.

Education

We offer hands-on environmental education programs for students ranging from elementary school children to graduate students. Class visits include hikes through the woods and presentations by biologists, plus interactive projects like counting salmon to assess river health. Education tours are also available for scientists, Forest Service officials and policy makers.

Rare image of a nesting Marbled Murrelet, photo by Thomas Hamer

Connecting Habitats

Bird Alliance of Oregon works in partnership with local businesses, community members, state and federal agencies, and other non-profit organizations to acquire ecologically important land parcels throughout the Oregon coastal bioregion. Past acquisitions include:

  • Forty acres adjacent to Ten Mile Creek Sanctuary facilitated by an individual supporter of the program upon learning that this land was scheduled for development (1999).
  • In partnership with the Trust for Public Land, Ten Mile Creek Sanctuary completed a 98 acre acquisition for the Pine Tree Conservation Society (2001).
  • Bird Alliance of Oregon helped the River Conservancy gather local support for the acquisition of the 1,400 acre Drift Creek / Lower Alsea River parcel (2002).