Deb Haaland Secretary at U.S. Department of Interior | Official website
The Department of the Interior has announced the establishment of the Willamette Valley Conservation Area in Oregon, marking it as the 572nd unit of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-managed National Wildlife Refuge System. The new 600-acre parcel aims to provide essential protected habitat for threatened and endangered species. This initiative is the fifth new unit established under Secretary Deb Haaland’s leadership and the 15th conservation area in the Refuge System.
“The National Wildlife Refuge System plays an invaluable role in providing vital landscapes for wildlife species, offering outdoor recreation and bolstering climate resilience across the country,” said Secretary Deb Haaland. “In communities across the nation, the Biden-Harris administration is investing resources and bringing together local, state, Tribal and conservation partners to protect treasured outdoor spaces for current and future generations to enjoy.”
“Today’s announcement is the result of robust relationships that are coming together for the benefit of people and wildlife,” said Director Martha Williams. “It’s because of these partnerships that today we celebrate the new Willamette Valley Conservation Area, which will help support Oregon’s outdoor economy while protecting and restoring threatened and endangered species.”
Conservation areas primarily consist of conservation easements on private lands. These easements support private landowner efforts to protect important habitats for fish and wildlife while maintaining agricultural production.
Under the Biden-Harris administration, over 500,000 acres have been added through willing seller land acquisition with potential approval for acquiring more than 1.6 million acres in fee-title and easements across the Refuge System. These efforts are locally supported, reflecting a commitment to collaborative conservation approaches.
Located between Salem and Eugene, Oregon, the acquisition of Diamond Hill wetlands marks the first purchase within this new conservation area. The 600-acre parcel south of Brownsville aims to permanently protect oak and prairie habitats benefiting five species listed under the Endangered Species Act along with other plant and animal species of concern.
The Service collaborated closely with Tribal Nations including Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), Willamette Valley Oak and Prairie Cooperative, and private landowners to establish priorities for habitat management at this site.
The Willamette Valley Conservation Area will be part of the Willamette Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex which includes William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge, Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge, and Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge.
In 2014, a conservation study was initiated by local partners to analyze landscapes in need of protection within Willamette Valley. By 2017, findings indicated inadequacies in lands managed for sensitive native wildlife species necessitating additional networks of grasslands, oak woodlands, and riparian habitats. Draft plans were published in 2022 followed by public comments leading up to a final Land Protection Plan created in partnership with Willamette Valley Oak and Prairie Cooperative by 2023.
