Metro’s latest land acquisition is a first step in conserving land in its recently created Molalla Oaks, Prairies and Floodplains target area. And as first steps go, it’s a big one: The 109-acre purchase protects almost 2 miles of the Pudding River’s frontage.
Target areas help Metro expedite funding from the voter-approved 2019 parks and nature bond measure’s Protect and Restore Land program. Land in these specially designated categories – generally defined by both geographical location and habitat type – is pre-approved for acquisition by Metro Council, allowing for a faster acquisition process.
Some of the 24 target areas listed in the bond were identified in previous bonds. However, the Molalla Oaks, Prairies, and Floodplains target area is new to the 2019 bond. It was established through working with members of greater Portland’s Indigenous communities. Investments in this target area focus on sustaining the area’s vibrant and culturally important native plants and wildlife by protecting and connecting oak, prairie and floodplain habitats in the Middle Willamette Valley with Canemah Bluff, Willamette Narrows and the Willamette River Greenway to the north.
“This important acquisition will have long-reaching benefits for our region that will be felt by generations to come,” said Metro real estate manager Shannon Leary. “It is rare to have a chance to protect this long a stretch of riverbank, especially with an opportunity to reestablish native floodplain forest and wetlands, home to many culturally significant plants and animals.”
The Pudding River supports species including coastal cutthroat trout, western painted turtle, northwestern pond turtle, winter steelhead, spring Chinook, coho and Pacific lamprey. It feeds into the Molalla River, which feeds in turn into the Willamette. Because this new acquisition is located just a short distance upstream from Molalla River State Park, restoring it will build habitat connectivity for local wildlife.
The $1.5 million purchase closed at the end of January. Now the work of researching the area and beginning restoration can take place.
“We look forward to the next phase of stabilizing the property, which will help floodwaters to be retained longer on the property, filtering pollutants and protecting groundwater,” said Leary. The opportunity to improve water quality along the Pudding River is especially significant given that the river is 303(d) listed under the Clean Water Act for excessive pesticides, bacteria and temperature.
This is the 20th land acquisition purchased with funding from the 2019 parks and nature bond, which has protected a total of 692 acres in greater Portland so far.