DESCRIPTION
This project seeks to protect a strategic and historically important farm through acquisition of a conservation easement that would limit development of the property and restrict activity in the extensive riparian buffer along the Deschutes River. The restoration component would establish riparian vegetation in areas lacking buffers and replacing a bridge across the Deschutes River so farm equipment and livestock do not ford the river. Comprised of 550 acres of prime agricultural land bisected by the Deschutes River, the property encompasses 3.5 miles of shoreline and associated riparian buffers. The majority of the property lies in the Deschutes River floodplain, with the uplands hosting native oak-prairie, including over 56 acres of Mima Mounds, and coniferous forest habitat. The project site provides high-quality side-channel/wetland/ floodplain habitat for Puget Sound/Strait of Georgia Coho (ESA species of concern); Puget Sound Winter steelhead (ESA threatened); and cutthroat trout.
This project seeks to acquire a conservation easement on a 550-acre strategically important stretch of the Deschutes River and associated floodplain that would limit development of the property and restrict activity in the extensive riparian buffer along the Deschutes River. The property is a working cattle ranch with extensive and strategic salmonid habitat: 3.5 miles of Deschutes River shoreline and associated riparian buffers, and 320 acres of floodplain, which would be the focal point of the SRFB funds. The restoration component will plant areas in the 50-foot riparian buffers lacking vegetation and replace fencing where needed to keep cattle out of the newly planted buffers. The uplands host native oak-prairie and coniferous forest habitat. The project site provides high-quality side-channel/floodplain habitat for Puget Sound/Strait of Georgia Coho (ESA species of concern); Puget Sound Winter steelhead (ESA threatened); and cutthroat trout.
