In 1973, the Oregon Legislature authorized the purchase of Mt. Pisgah, a 3,500-acre Willamette River Greenway park located at the confluence of the Willamette's Coast and Middle Forks. Unfortunately, funds available at that time were sufficient only to purchase 2,300 acres, now managed by Lane County as Howard Buford Recreation Area (HBRA). The remaining 1,200-acre parcel, which contains 10 miles of river frontage, numerous wetlands and important wildlife habitat, is still privately owned by the Wildish Land Co. A primary goal of Friends of Buford Park & Mt. Pisgah is to fulfill the park's original vision by bringing this critical 1,200-acre parcel into public ownership. Public acquisition of the Wildish lands would connect the 2,300-acre HBRA with approximately 1000 acres of public land at the confluence and on the north bank of the Middle Fork. This would create a 4,500-acres complex of public natural areas where two major rivers meet, and simultaneously expand and connect critical open space and wildlife corridors within the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan area.
FBP lobbied the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) to pursue enhancements in the area. In March 1995, in recognition of the area's unique habitats and enhancement opportunities, the BPA funded a pre-acquisition habitat study of the Mt. Pisgah/Confluence area through it's wildlife mitigation program. ODFW, with the BPA funding, is now evaluating the wildlife habitat in the 25-square mile study area, and should complete it's report by late 1997. The report is expected to recommend that BPA fund acquisitions and enhancement of riparian lands (to mitigate for losses caused by construction of the region's hydroelectric system). However sites throughout the region are competing for these funds. FBP must advocate vigorously to secure this acquisition.
In addition to the exciting opportunities on the Wildish lands, significant restoration options are available on public lands. Lane County and Oregon Parks and Recreation Dept (OPRD) own about 160 acres of land, including a 60-acre island at the confluence. Seven abandoned gravel pits provide open water habitat. Most of them have no direct connection to the river, being separated by artificial dikes. Analysis of historic aerial photos show that riparian gallery forest once covered these areas, a fact corroborated by the presence of river gravels. At our urging, BPA and ODFW are exploring habitat enhancements of these confluence parcels. Restoring these lands need not wait for additional public acquisitions and could serve as a pilot restoration area. However, reaching agreements with the public agencies that manage these will be necessary.
FBP is exploring several avenues for land acquisition and restoration. Recently the organization decided to take steps to establish a fund dedicated to land or conservation easement acquisition. For further information on these activities contact Executive Director Chris Orsinger through the FBP office at (541)344-8350.