From the July 26, 2006 North American Wetlands Conservation Act Grant Program
project proposal from Ducks Unlimited:
PURPOSE AND SCOPE
What are the proposal objectives, affected habitats, and affected wildlife (especially
wetland-associated migratory birds) and wetland functions?
The Willamette River Delta, phase I project contains the following elements:
1)
JWC Springhill Road- This project element is 369 acres of Tualatin River floodplain,
near Forest Grove, Oregon, that has been drained, deforested and extensively farmed. This
project involves fee-title acquisition by the Joint Water Commission (JWC), and the restoration of
69 acres of palustrine emergent wetlands, 200 acres of palustrine forested wetlands, and 100 acres
of uplands. JWC purchased the property in 2005, for $750,000 (based on appraisal). The
restoration of this tract involves funds from two federal partners, Clean Water Services and DU.
Restoration will entail 200 acres of tree and shrub planting. The emergent wetlands will be
naturally restored by the cessation of farming. The project will primarily benefit mallards,
pintails, swans, dusky Canada geese, sandhill cranes, and juvenile salmon.
2)
Shenk- This project element includes 188 acres of privately owned Yamhill River
floodplain, near Valley Junction, Oregon, which had been extensively drained for agriculture.
This project involves restoring 35 acres of palustrine forested wetlands and 93 acres of uplands,
and enhancing 60 acres of palustrine emergent wetlands. The NRCS, OWEB and DU are
providing the restoration and enhancement funding. This project will primarily benefit mallards,
pintails, wigeon, Canada geese, neotropical migratory birds, and juvenile salmon.
3)
Howe Lake- This project element involves an 80 acre drained lake bed and 20 acres of
adjacent uplands, near Carlton, Oregon. Prior to drainage, Howe Lake was a Wapato wetland
that historically supported large numbers of canvasbacks and swans. The site is privately owned,
and will be restored with funding from the grant and DU. The restoration of 50 acres of
palustrine emergent and 30 acres of forested wetlands will primarily benefit dabbling ducks,
canvasbacks, ringnecks, and swans.
4)
Rentenaar- This project element involves 80 acres of drained wetlands adjacent to
Rentenaar Rd, on Sauvie Island, Oregon. This tract is part of the Sauvie Island Wildlife Area,
which is the most important public wildlife area in Oregon for migratory birds. The project
element will enhance 80 acres of palustrine emergent wetlands, and will be funded by the grant
and DU. The project will primarily benefit dabbling ducks, as many as seven subspecies of
Canada geese, snow geese, white fronted geese, swans, and sandhill cranes.
5)
Upper Linder- This project element involves a 60 acre drained lakebed and 20 acres of
adjacent uplands on private land, on Sauvie Island, Oregon. This tract was drained and
segmented into 4 independent ‘units’ and was managed for foodplots in the past. Restoration
activities, funded by the grant and DU, will entail filling and grading the drainage canal, and
removing unnecessary levees from the lakebed, and installing 2 water control structures. This
restoration of 60 acres of palustrine emergent wetlands and 20 acres of uplands will benefit
primarily dabbling ducks, but also shorebirds, neotropical migratory birds, and dusky Canada
geese.
6)
Lower Linder- This project element involves a 40 acre drained lakebed and 10 acres of
adjacent uplands on private land, on Sauvie Island, Oregon. This project element will enhance 40
acres of palustrine emergent wetlands and 10 acres of palustrine forested wetlands. Restoration
activities will be funded by the grant and DU. This restoration will benefit mallards, wigeon,
green-winged teal, ringnecks, lesser scaup, but also shorebirds, neotropical migratory birds, and
dusky Canada geese.
7)
Sunken Blind- This project element involves a 40 acre drained wetland complex on
Sauvie Island, Oregon. This complex of three wetlands was ditched together to improve drainage
for agricultural development. Enhancement of this tract, funded by the grant and DU, will entail
filling and regrading part the drainage ditch, installing 2 water control structures, and constructing
a levee. 35 acres of palustrine emergent wetlands and 5 acres of palustrine forested wetlands will
be enhanced. This project will benefit mallards, pintails, green-winged teal, wood ducks,
ringnecks, canvasbacks, cackling and dusky Canada geese, sandhill cranes, and swans.
8)
Pacific Farms- This project element involves the enhancement of 150 acres of privately
owned wetlands on Sauvie Island, Oregon, that have been extensively drained. Wally Remmers,
the private landowner, bought and enhanced this property in 2005, with technical assistance and
design provided by DU. This is a match project, and provides benefits to a diversity of migratory
birds. Last fall, only months after enhancement work, this 150 acre complex of palustrine
emergent wetlands provided migration habitat for 6 species of dabbling ducks, 7 species of diving
ducks, all 7 subspecies of Canada geese, Wrangel Island snow geese, tule and greater white
fronts, tundra and trumpeter swans, sandhill cranes, and an array of shorebirds and wading birds.
9)
Flight’s End- This 100 acre tract of private property is located along the northwest
portion of Sauvie Island, Oregon. This tract contains a drained Wapato wetland that is currently
farmed. Enhancement of 40 acres of palustrine emergent wetlands, 20 acres of palustrine forested
wetlands, and 40 acres of uplands will be funded by the grant and DU. Enhancement will entail
removing road crossings and a tidegate, shallow excavation and the installation of 3 culverts and
a water control structure. This tract will benefit mallards, pintails, wigeon, green-winged teal,
wood ducks, ring necks, tule and greater white fronted geese, and swans.
10)
Tualatin NWR- This project element involves 40 acres of Tualatin River floodplain,
owned and managed by the USFWS as part of Tualatin National Wildlife Refuge, near Sherwood,
Oregon. The Tualatin River floodplain has been severely degraded by drainage, channelization
and deforestation for agriculture. The Tualatin NWR was created to protect and restore a
significant portion of this floodplain, and this project element will restore 25 acres of palustrine
forested wetlands, and 15 acres of forested uplands. These sites are dominated by non-native
weeds and trees (arbor- vitae), so restoration will involve considerable site preparation work, but
once restored will benefit mallards, wood ducks, ringnecks, and juvenile salmon.
11)
Salt Creek- This project element involves 40 acres of Salt Creek floodplain, near Amity,
Oregon. The Salt Creek floodplain has been severely degraded by drainage, channelization and
deforestation for agriculture. This project element will enhance 20 acres of palustrine emergent
and 20 acres of palustrine forested wetlands on this privately owned property. Enhancement,
funded by the grant and DU, will involve shallow excavation, berm construction and the
installation of one water control structure. This tract will benefit mallards, pintails, wood ducks,
and juvenile salmon.