As the Trust’s first property purchased in January of 2025 just a few miles southwest of Stayton, OR in Linn County, the Oak Meadows Natural Area was a great way to start our land trust. At 270 acres, the site hosts an amazing expanse of wet prairie, a habitat type in short supply in the vast Willamette Valley.

The site also contains Oak Woodland, wetlands, a creek that flows to the North Santiam River (which is just a mile to the North), and an array of native grasses and sedges.

Once farmed, with portions also used as a poplar plantation, the property exemplifies what can be done in regard to habitat restoration, with the aim of providing essential habitat for a range of native species.

The site has a Conservation Easement from the Natural Resource Conservation Service to protect its wet prairie, and wetland habitat. Over the past few years work has been conducted by the US Fish and Wildlife Service to augment natural processes, and to foster native wildflowers. That said, the property also contains a seed bank that exemplifies endless years of ecological resiliency. In this vein, native wild Camas flowers show up in the spring in earnest. Along this line, the native Bradshaw’s lomatium also blooms on a portion of the property.

Thanks to the Kraemer Family for working with us to make this purchase happen. We also thank our friends at Oregon Farm Brokers who helped with this effort.

The Trust will be offering opportunities to get out and explore this property in the Spring. You can learn about this essential habitat, as well as the range of plants and animals that thrive here, on our regularly scheduled outings.

Stay tuned for the dates in mid February, 2025. We hope to see you soon.