Whitewater Ranch has been the study site for the Riparian Restoration Team for the past six years. It is located in Leaburg, OR and resides along the McKenzie River (44°07’22.0″N 122°37’39.9″W). More specifically, the ranch is within a temperate, mixed conifer forest in the McKenzie River watershed sub-basin. There are agricultural, riparian, upland and forest habitats on-site and mixed land management practices are employed.

The ranch maintains 100 acres of organic blueberries and also produces timber with approximately 1600 acres of Douglas Fir. The farm uses fertigation methods and pest management practices to effectively regulate blueberry production.

Previous riparian restoration work has focused on Goose Creek, a small channel that flows alongside the blueberry farm and out to the McKenzie River. The goal has been to restore Goose Creek to native ecological standing to help encourage pollinators and natural species diversity.

This year’s team has focused more broadly on the entire ranch property to incorporate an abundance of native pollinator habitats and increase the amount of native pollinator visitations at the ranch. 

Historical Land Use and Management

Whitewater Ranch is located in the Willamette River valley, which was originally occupied by two indigenous American tribes: the Kalapuya and Molala. After the Oregon and California Railroad (O&C) bought swaths of land in the valley to explore railroad construction options, the land, now recognized as Whitewater Ranch, was sold off by the O&C in the 1890s – the exact time is unknown. The land continued to be exchanged between different owners, but the details of how they managed the land are unclear.

In 1935, the land was bought and converted into a dairy farm; the owners, Harold & Ayso Mack, are responsible for the construction of many of the existing flat-roofed buildings located on the property today. In 1949, the land was sold and the name was changed to “Steelhead Timber Ranch” where owner Albert L. Vern managed over 100 Pollard Hereford cattle. The ranch exchanged hands a few more times, but no substantial changes were made until 1983 when Marth Haake purchased the land, changing the name to “Whitewater Ranch.” Haake managed Scottish Highland cattle.

Later, blueberries and Christmas trees were planted; they are still maintained to this day.

Following the expansion of the blueberry farm in 2009, Whitewater Ranch received certifications for Oregon Tilth Organic, USDA Good Agricultural Practices, and Salmon Safe that represent their environmentally conscious practices.