All of MRT's owned properties are located in the McKenzie River Watershed

Roberts Island

Acres:                                  18

Land-type:                            River islands

Waterbody:                           McKenzie River

Habitat:                                Riparian forest

Acquisition type:                   Donated fee title

Date:                                   1997

Current status:                    Owned by MRT

 
Robert’s Island is primarily a riparian ecosystem but it also contains wetland habitats. There are many species inhabiting the property, including many different species of waterfowl that make their breeding and nesting grounds along this stretch of the McKenzie. The Western Pond turtle has been sighted here, as well as a number of other reptiles and amphibians.

McKenzie River Trust knew they had received a "gem of a site" when Robert’s Island was generously donated in 1996.  Not only valuable for its scenic and open space qualities, this property is one of the McKenzie’s most beautiful and exemplary ecosystems for wildlife habitat. This tract of land has never been developed and provides important side-channel habitat for over-wintering salmon and steelhead.

Over the past two years, the McKenzie River Trust has been working with volunteers and Northwest Youth Corps to remove invasive species like Himalayan blackberry, Scot’s broom, and reed-canary grass from the site and replant native vegetation.

Big Island

Acres:                                  108

Land-type:                           Riparian floodplain

Waterbody:                          McKenzie River

Habitat:                               Riparian and wetlands

Acquisition type:                  Fee title Acquisition

Date:                                   2001

Current status:                    Owned by MRT

Identified in the Lower McKenzie Sub-basin Assessment as one of the most important pieces of habitat left in the McKenzie for juvenile salmon, Red-legged frogs and Western pond turtles, this 108-acre acquisition took nearly ten years to complete. Finalized in August 2001, the McKenzie River Trust is the owner of the property and sold a conservation easement to the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife. Collaborative partnerships between private landowners, Springfield Utility Board, ODF&W, Bonneville Power Administration, Eugene Water & Electric Board, and MRT brought on the success of this project. Big Island will be protected for Oregon chub, Western pond turtle, salmon, heron, cougar, beaver, and red-legged frog habitat.

Roberts Preserve

Acres:                                  12

Land-type:                            Upland maple/fir forest

Waterbody:                           None

Habitat:                                Viewshed, upland forest

Acquisition type:                   Donated fee title

Date:                                    July 2003

Current status:                    Owned by MRT

 In June of 2003, Jacqueline and Irving Roberts; who also donated the Robert's Island property, generously donated this stunning 12 acre upland forest to McKenzie River Trust. This parcel was at riskof being clear-cut and the Roberts felt it was important to protect this forest habitat for the flora and fauna of the area.  This property is also highly visible from local roads and therefore has important viewshed values for residents in the area as well as for those who venture upriver to hike, fish, recreate, and swim.

As Mrs. Roberts so aptly put it, “We bought this property 15 years ago specifically for a wildlife refuge since all of the adjacent property is surrounded by private timber ownership. I very much wanted it to be a place for the critters to find solace, and I feel good knowing that the property will be protected in this condition forever.”

Green Island

Acres:                      1,000

Land-type:                River Islands

Waterbody:               Willamette River, Old McKenzie Channel

Habitat:                     Riparian

Acquisition type:        Fee Title Acquisition

Date:                         2003

Current status:          Managed and owned by MRT

On June 30^th, 2003, the McKenzie River Trust took title to Green Island, and began one of the most significant conservation and restoration projects in the Willamette Valley. Green Island is created by the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette Rivers and is nearly 1,000 acres, larger than New York City’s Central Park. It contains 365 acres of riverside vegetation, 500 acres of farmland, eight different islands, and over 11 miles of river frontage including four miles of the Willamette River and four and a half miles of the old McKenzie channel. The Green family, who owned and farmed this land for over 70 years, wanted to see the family land protected and restored for the benefit of wildlife and the communities of the southern Willamette Valley.

The Trust acquired this property for $1.7 million. The Green Family donated $500,000 of value by reducing the sale price from the property’s appraised $2.2 million value. The Trust secured grants from diverse sources to cover the acquisition costs.

Green Island contains multiple federally and state listed species such as the spring Chinook salmon, Western pond turtle, red-legged frog, bald eagle, and bull trout. There is also a small population of Oregon chub, a minnow that is only found in the Willamette Basin. 130 bird species have been observed, with 75 nesting species and 42 species listed as “species of concern”. The McKenzie River Trust honors the Green Family's commitment to this land and sees its role to ensure the family’s vision becomes reality.

Drury Meadow

Acres:                    22                  

Land Type:             Forest and Riparian Floodplain

Waterbody:            Horse Creek and Taylor Creek

Habitat:                  Mature Forest and Wet Meadow

Acquisition Type:    Donated fee title

Date:                      December 2006

                                                     Current  Status:      Owned by MRT

In December of 2006, Jim and Mary Jane Drury donated a 22-acre parcel of forest and meadow wetlands to McKenzie River Trust. Named Drury Meadow by MRT, this property is located to the southwest of the Town of McKenzie Bridge in the McKenzie River Watershed. The property is bisected by Taylor Creek which flows to the West Fork of Horse Creek which then flows into the McKenzie River. Taylor Creek drops out of a thick, forested landscape to fill several wetlands in the middle of the meadow. These wetlands support a host of sensitive species including Western pond turtles and red-legged frogs.
The property was gifted to the Trust to ensure that this meadow would be protected and enjoyed in perpetuity the way the Drury Family has since they bought the property in the early 1940’s.