Lower Coyote Creek
Easement
The Lower Coyote Creek Conservation easement was purchased through a mixture of funds including the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, and private donations from community members.
“For our family, our hope is to protect the land and wildlife ethic we have practiced on our property for the next generation and those that follow.”
Meet Lower Coyote Creek
Preserving Land for the Future
This 133-acre property sits just north of Fern Ridge Reservoir and contains some of the rarest habitats in the Willamette Valley. The landowners have managed their property for almost 30 years primarily for wildlife habitat. Their children and grandchildren have grown up learning about the natural world with this property and its residents: elk, deer, beaver, otter, eagles, turtles, and numerous water birds.
The Importance of Wet Prairies
The land rests along Coyote Creek, a free flowing tributary to the Long Tom River that still meanders and provides important habitat. There is also an expanse of an ash-dominated riparian forest. However, the most impressive ecological feature of this property is the native wetland and wet prairie habitat.
Over 99% of the historic wet prairie habitat in the Willamette Valley has been lost. This ecosystem is dominated by tufted hair grass (or bunchgrass) and other native species. Two federally endangered plant species depend upon wet prairies for their survival: Bradshaw’s lomatium and the Willamette Valley daisy. In addition, a number of rare species also are found in wet prairies including Kincaid’s lupine and white-topped aster.