Our Work
Willamette Valley Resilient Landscape Initiative
Staff from Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde reintroducing fire in a bottomland oak woodland. Credit: Abby Andrus
Funding source: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s America the Beautiful Challenge
Lead partner: Willamette Valley Oak and Prairie Cooperative
Time period: 2025 - 2029
The 2024 National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) America the Beautiful Challenge Fund has awarded a partner-led, region-wide project focused on restoring oak and prairie habitats in the Willamette River Basin. Oregon Wildlife Foundation (OWF), Pacific Birds Habitat Joint Venture (Pacific Birds), and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) will jointly administer this funding to partners. The award represents a substantial investment of $4.5 million, leveraged with matching partner funds totaling half a million. This investment speaks to the commitment of the NFWF to creating a more sustainable and resilient future.
Led by the Willamette Valley Oak and Prairie Cooperative (WVOPC), a coalition of state and federal agencies, Tribes, conservation districts, land trusts, private landowners, NGOs, watershed councils, city governments, and Pacific Birds, the project will restore upwards of 2,000 acres of oak and prairie habitats across 20 sites in the Willamette River Basin on public, private and Tribal lands. Of the total acres, 798 will be restored by Tribes on Tribal land.
Watch this short video by Adam Baylor of ODWF to learn more.