A Key Opportunity and Need

A few years ago, we began to purchase land at Willamette Riverkeeper. Soon after it was clear that there was a vast array of lands that were available, and in need of protection throughout the Willamette River Basin. This work inspired the creation of the Willamette River Preservation Trust. There are few better ways to protect and restore land than by securing it with ownership that is about conservation and low impact access for people.

This relatively new organization will fill critical gaps throughout the Willamette River Valley, augmenting the good work of a couple of land trust that are present in Lane, and Benton Counties. In looking at the vast swath of rivers, creeks, forest and floodplain in the Yamhill, Molalla, Clackamas, Pudding and Santiam River systems - as well as the mainstem Willamette River from Independence to Portland, there is much to do in regard to protecting natural places for the long term health of the Watershed. This is why we hatched the Willamette River Preservation Trust.

While we are new, we believe we will make a difference for wildlife, and people, and can help form an additional push for climate resiliency.

I hope you will support our work, and join us in this journey. There are few better things than identifying natural places that may. be open to new ownership, and generating support for such acquisitions. Then augmenting and protecting the habitat so that people can see and experience the natural world up close. This connection helps us immediately, and helps build in resiliency in the face of climate change.

Please send me an email at travis@wrtrust.org if you have any thoughts, questions, and especially if you’d like to support this new non-profit organization. Thank you!