Dorena Lake, Row River Valley
Dorena, Oregon
The Row River flows directly into Dorena Reservoir, the primary source of drinking water for thousands of Cottage Grove residents. Protecting the health of the Row River Valley, including its forests, soils, and waterways, is essential to preserving the integrity of this vital watershed. But it’s not just about water. Safeguarding the valley also supports clean ecosystems, healthy landscapes, and a resilient Row River Valley community. Row River Valley Community Partnership works to bring neighbors together to protect and strengthen this region through education, prevention, and preparedness. This helps ensure the well-being of both the community and the natural environment of the valley.
Welcome to the Row River Valley Community Partnership
We are a group of local residents who care deeply about the place we call home. The Row River Valley is a beautiful, rugged, and rural area with a strong spirit of community. At the Row River Valley Community Partnership, we work together to build a safer, stronger, and more connected future for everyone who lives here.
Our mission is rooted in education, prevention, and preparedness. We support emergency response efforts and develop programs that improve the well-being and quality of life in our valley. That includes promoting wildfire resilience, helping neighbors stay safe during emergencies, and creating opportunities for people to connect and support one another.
Over the past few years, we have helped bring attention to the urgent need for emergency services and wildfire mitigation in our area. Together, with tremendous community support, we were instrumental in establishing the Row River Rural Fire Protection District through a successful public vote. We have also secured two generous land donations for future fire stations, one, our main station, in central Dorena from a private local donor, and another from Weyerhaeuser to serve as an satellite unmanned station in Disston at the corner of Layng Creek Road and Brice Creek Road. Currently, we are actively working with local government and funders for the construction of these stations.
We continue to raise funds for emergency equipment, support neighborhood outreach, and connect with vulnerable residents. Our community faces real challenges. Many people live on fixed or limited incomes. Wildfire risk is high. Emergency services have been historically out of reach for many. We believe in facing these challenges together.
We invite you to be a part of this effort. Whether you have professional skills to share, ideas to contribute, time to volunteer, or simply want to stay informed, your involvement matters. We welcome new partnerships, open communication, and fresh perspectives. Our work is ongoing, and it is powered by the people who live here.
Every success reflects the deep love our community has for this valley and the people in it. Together, we are creating a community where both people and the environment can thrive.
We are deeply grateful to our partners.
The progress we’ve made would not have been possible without the support of generous organizations that believe in the strength and potential of rural Oregon communities. Their trust and commitment have helped us take meaningful steps toward a safer and more connected Row River Valley.
Community
Volunteer organization for and by the Row River Community in Disston, Culp Creek, and Dorena.
Safety
Safe community through prevention, preparedness, and effective emergency response.
Resiliency
United, our community grows stronger, facing challenges with strength and determination.
Thank you
Congratulations to the Row River Community for voting in the special rural fire protection district!
Before May 2024, the Row River Fire Response, a non-profit 501(c)(3), took on the mantle of the interim firefighting organization. Now that the Row River Rural Fire Protection District (RRRFPD) has been formed, we can more fully focus to the enhancement, well-being, and quality of life for the citizens of the Row River Valley.
Row River Valley Community Partnership
To visit the new Fire District Website, click on the button below:
Answers to recent questions:
The Row River Fire Response, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, was originally established to help the communities of Dorena, Culp Creek, and Disston secure a fire district. With the successful formation of the Row River Rural Fire Protection District, we recognized the need to adjust our name to prevent confusion with the newly established district. To better reflect our expanded, community-driven mission, we adopted a new DBA that encompasses our broader efforts to enhance well-being and quality of life in the Row River Valley. While we continue to play a vital role in supporting the fire district—through fundraising, event planning, and wildfire mitigation—we also remain dedicated to strengthening our community as a whole.
The Row River Valley, located in Lane County, Oregon, is an unincorporated and densely forested region classified as a high-risk wildland-urban interface (WUI). This geographic designation highlights the vulnerability of the area to wildfire threats. The valley’s single point of ingress and egress underscores the urgent need for well-equipped emergency services to ensure the safety of its residents and visitors. Furthermore, the Row River, a vital tributary of the Coast Fork Willamette Watershed, supports the drinking water supply for Cottage Grove and contributes to the broader Willamette Watershed, which serves major cities such as Portland, Salem, Corvallis, and Eugene.
Dorena, situated in the heart of this WUI, faces significant risk and responsibility in safeguarding its community and surrounding natural resources. The importance of robust emergency services becomes even more evident given the residents and number of visitors who enjoy our natural resources:
- The Row River area is home to approximately 1,200 residents and 500 homes.
- 2025 income survey provided by Portland State University showcases the need for assistance with residents at 57.99% LMI.
- The Row River Trail attracts over 250,000 annual visitors
- The Umpqua National Forest sees approximately 735,000 recreational visitors annually, many traveling through the Disston area.
- The Dorena Christian Camp hosts 7,000 children each year, highlighting the need for swift emergency and hazard response capabilities.
In May 2024, residents of Disston, Culp Creek, and Dorena decisively voted to establish the Row River Rural Fire Protection District through a dedicated property tax to fund Fire and EMS operations.
A Dorena resident has donated a central located property, situated between our two schools (Dorena School and Child’s Way School.), and near the largest populated area. This parcel is vacant agricultural land located next to the Row River Christian Fellowship Church.
Weyerhaeuser has donated an upriver parcel in Disston to serve as the location of our remote fire hall adjacent to the Umpqua National Forest. This parcel is located at the corner of Row River Road and Layng Creek Road.
A Rat Creek resident have leased a building as a fire hall to serve the area north of Dorena Lake.
Thank You, Row River Valley Community!
We want to sincerely thank everyone who took the time to complete the recent income survey. Your participation made a real difference.
Because of your help, we were able to determine that the Row River Valley meets the eligibility requirements for important federal and state funding. This includes the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, which could provide up to $1.5 million toward the construction of our fire station.
Your contribution to this process has opened doors for critical infrastructure, wildfire protection, and emergency response services that will benefit all of us. We are proud to be part of a community that steps up when it matters most.
Together with your support and trust we’re building a stronger, safer Row River Valley!
The Row River Community Partnership (Row River Fire Response) organization, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is spearheading vital fundraising for the construction project to establish critical emergency facilities for the Row River community. Located within Lane County, Oregon, this project addresses the urgent need for enhanced fire protection and emergency response services in a high-risk wildland-urban interface (WUI). With a single ingress and egress for its residents and visitors, the Row River area is uniquely vulnerable to emergencies, including wildfires, natural disasters, and other critical incidents.
Our primary objective is to promote initiatives that enhance long-term resilience within the community. To achieve this, we organize informational events and meetings for community members and engage in educational activities with students at Dorena School. We are collaborating with the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) on a Fuel Reduction Campaign through spring of 2026, which offers defensible space grants to high-risk residential properties in the Row River Valley. This defensible space fuel reduction initiative focuses on the clearance and removal of flammable materials within a 30-foot perimeter around residential structures, serving as a crucial wildfire mitigation strategy.
If you are a Row River Valley resident interested in a Defensible Space Assessment for your home, please contact Laura at: programs@rowrivervalley.org
To learn more or to get involved, please contact: info@rowrivervalley.org
You do not have to do anything at this point. We will contact you as soon as we can.
Great New!
The RRVCP experienced a tremendous response for wildfire assessments from homeowners. To meet this demand, OSFM has selected our valley for specific OSFM assessment training! This means there will be more assessors to assist us with the workload. We are working toward new and improved processes to make sure that everyone in the valley will have the opportunity to gain knowledge and competency in wildfire preparedness. If you have questions, please reach out to Laura through programs@rowrivervalley.org
The Row River Valley faces extreme risk due to many factors, including our remote location in a heavily forested area. “Neighborhood Teams” is simply a name for something natural — neighbors helping neighbors. Whether an emergency affects one person or the whole valley, being prepared together makes all the difference.
The Row River Valley Community Partnership is here to support and encourage the formation of these teams. Our role is to help you organize and provide the tools you need — the vision and direction come from you, the community.
To learn more, visit Introducing Neighborhood Teams.
