Globally the Willamette Valley is
classified as a Temperate Broadleaf
Forest. This forest type is ranked fourth
among major terrestrial habitat types in
greatest need of immediate
conservation action globally and
third in North America.
conservation in the
Willamette Valley
Status of
Temperate Broadleaf Forests:
Global
Habitat Loss: 43%
Percent in Effective Conservation: 2%
North America
Habitat Loss: 37%
Percent in Effective Conservation: 2%
Willamette Valley
Habitat Loss: 66%
Percent in Effective Conservation: 1%
Despite significant losses, the
Willamette Valley continues to support a
diversity of species including many
found nowhere else on Earth. Located
in the Pacific Flyway, its wetlands
provide essential habitat for migrating
and wintering ducks, geese, swans and
many shorebirds and wading birds. The
Willamette River system supports
chinook salmon, steelhead and bull
trout, all listed as threatened under the
Endangered Species Act, as well as the
Oregon chub, listed as endangered, and
native cutthroat trout, western pond
turtle, painted turtle, clouded
salamander, western toad, and foothill
yellow-legged frog.
Remnant riparian forests, grasslands,
savannas, and oak woodlands provide
important habitat for more than 100
breeding migratory landbird species, as
well as the endangered Fender’s blue
butterfly and dozens of threatened,
endangered or sensitive plant species.
To conserve the Willamette Valley’s
biological diversity, we will need to
improve biodiversity health, reduce
threats, and develop conservation
management on over 900,000 acres and
over 3,000 miles of creeks, streams, and
rivers.
Willamette Valley
At 5,300 square miles, the Willamette Valley is the largest inland river valley in
the Pacific Northwest, situated in the 11,460-square-mile Willamette Basin. The
Willamette River gathers water from over 11,000 miles of waterways on its way
north to the Columbia. Early settlers found a mosaic of open bottomland and
upland prairies, oak woodlands and savannas, extensive floodplain forests, and
prairie and shrub wetlands surrounded by the temperate conifer forests of the
Coast and Cascade Ranges.
Population growth and land use changes over the past 150 years have greatly
altered valley ecosystems. On the mainstem of the Willamette, modifications
have reduced overall channel lengths by 44 percent. Dams have blocked
upstream migration and altered downstream flows. Low-elevation riparian
forests have declined 80 percent, increasing stream temperatures, while land
conversion has introduced water-borne pollutants. Willamette Valley prairies
are among the most endangered ecosystems in North America – less than 8
percent of oak savanna and woodlands and less than 1 percent of historic wet
prairies are still intact.
The valley’s native species and ecosystems are at an ecological tipping point.
The Willamette is ranked among the top few Temperate Broadleaf Forest
ecoregions in terms of future risks to biological diversity. Already home to 70
percent of Oregonians, the valley’s population is projected to nearly double by
2050, threatening to forever compromise the region’s biological diversity and
quality of life.
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The Nature Conservancy, 821 SE 14th Avenue, Portland, OR 97214
Phone: 503 802-8100 Fax: 503 802-8199 E-mail: [email protected] Web: nature.org/oregon
investing for success
The Nature Conservancy works with others to help ensure effective conservation. Key strategies include:

Investing in sound science and planning: The Willamette Valley has been the focus of dozens of conservation studies
and assessments. To make the results easier to access and interpret, the Conservancy is synthesizing the identified
priorities to create a consensus blueprint for conservation investment. The synthesized map will be based on the best
available biological and conservation data and made available in a user-friendly format.

Increasing public and private funding for conservation: Current conservation funding for the Willamette Valley is
inadequate. The Nature Conservancy is working with others to increase private and public state and local funding for
conservation.

Improving land use policies: Oregon’s land use laws suffered a major blow in 2004 with passage of Measure 37.
Working with the Oregon Legislature and others, the Conservancy helped lead an effort to substantially reduce the
harmful impacts of Measure 37 by working to pass Measure 49 in the fall of 2007. Looking to the future, Oregonians
working together from all walks of life will need to be collaborative, innovative and resourceful as we continue to address Oregon's land use and conservation challenges.

Willamette River Sustainable Rivers Project: The Willamette River is the largest river in Oregon and 13th largest in the
United States. The Army Corps of Engineers operates 13 dams in the basin which alter the volume and timing of water flows – critical factors affecting the health of freshwater ecosystems. Through a cooperative project with the Corps
and numerous other agencies and organizations, the Conservancy is working to ensure that Willamette River flows
are managed to benefit fish and wildlife habitats as well as local communities.

Protecting and restoring native habitat: Protection of remaining native habitats and restoration in surrounding areas
are critical for maintaining the Willamette Valley’s biological diversity. The Conservancy is working with others to
identify the most cost-effective protection tools and form new partnerships with to increase protection for key habitats. We are also assessing restoration needs, defining restoration best practices, and developing plant materials to
advance restoration.
for more information
Dan Bell, Willamette Valley Conservation Director
phone: (503) 802-8100, e-mail: [email protected]
PHOTO CREDITS
Front: Willamette Valley oak and prairie © Jen Newlin Bell/TNC
At top from left: Fender’s blue butterfly © Matt Benotsch/TNC; Willow Creek Preserve © Alan D. St John; Willamette River © Stephen Anderson/TNC; western meadowlark © Jim Cruce;
Willamette Valley oak © Stephen Anderson/TNC
The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect
ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. In Oregon, the Conservancy has helped
protect over 505,000 acres, with support from 20,000 member households. Learn more at nature.org/oregon.
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