Our Work
Restoring, Protecting, and Supporting Tribal Connection to Native Oak Habitat
Ecological burn in a restored oak savanna at ODFW’s Coyote Creek South site. Credit: Abby Andrus
Funding source: USDA NRCS’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program
Lead Partner: Oregon Agricultural Trust with Long Tom Watershed Council, Coast Fork Willamette Watershed Council, and Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
Time period: 2024 – 2029
Because over 90% of lands within the Willamette Valley are privately owned, partnerships with private landowners including agricultural producers are essential for oak and prairie habitat preservation and uplift. Through this federal cost-share program, project partners will:
- Permanently protect 6 agricultural properties with associated oak habitat using easements
- Enroll 12 private properties with oak habitats within priority areas in cost-share agreements to fund habitat restoration and maintenance activities including prescribed burning, forest management plans, woodland thinning, brush reduction, weed treatments, native species reseeding, prescribed grazing, and related activities.
- Develop pathways for landowners to learn about and pursue pathways that allow access to the property to Tribal members for cultural ceremonial, harvest, and stewardship purposes.