Project Proponent: Center for Natural Lands Management
Year Acquired: 2019
Conservation Values Protected: The purpose of this conservation easement is to conserve key conservation values that includes upland prairie, oak woodland, and riparian habitats, as well as conifer forest. Oregon conservation strategy species that are found on this property include: the western gray squirrel, western rattlesnake, Oregon vesper sparrow, acorn woodpecker, western bluebird, slender billed (white breasted) nuthatch, common nighthawk, chipping sparrow, grasshopper sparrow, and western meadowlark, willow flycatcher, and yellow-breasted chat. When further restored, there is potential habitat for a greater variety of wildlife species, including grassland butterflies and pollinators, and opportunities for re- introduction of endangered Willamette Valley plant and butterfly species associated with upland prairie habitat, such as Fender's blue, and Taylor's checkerspot.
This easement is strategically located, as it forms a core habitat in its section of the "West Eugene Conservation Opportunity Area” (ODFW, Oregon Conservation Strategy, 2016) and represents 7% of the Camas Swale-South Valley Conservation Opportunity Area (Willamette Synthesis V2.0, The Nature Conservancy of Oregon, 2014). The easement is also within the "Rivers to Ridges" landscape (Rivers to Ridges Vision and Strategies, Lane Council of Governments, 2003) and the City of Eugene's "Ridgeline Open Space" is two miles north at Spencer Butte. Protection of the property creates a community buffer, maintaining open space between the Eugene metro area and Creswell. This property forms core habitat for lands that extend from Spencer Butte to Camas Swale. Future linkage of the Creswell Oaks towards Spencer Butte, the wooded and forested habitats within and surrounding the Spencer Butte Park, is an additional goal.
Acres Protected: 1,610
Access: Not open to the public
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