Oregon Public Broadcasting

The Bonneville Power Administration and Nature Conservancy announced a major land purchase Tuesday in the southern Willamette Valley.

It’s a site where the Wildish family ran a gravel mine.  The family sought $15 million from Lane County under the 2004 property compensation initiative, Measure 37. 

Under the deal announced Tuesday, the Wildish family will get $23 million, mostly from BPA.

Chris Orsinger directs an environmental group active in the area, called Friends of Buford Park and Mount Pisgah. He says the new acquisition extends the amount of protected salmon habitat at a sensitive part of the Willamette.

Chris Orsinger: “It just allows a legacy of a large area where children and our grandchildren can see in the future – as they do now – bald eagles soaring, and you can put in your line and catch a salmon – I mean it’s just extraordinary.”

The purchase is contingent on the state of Oregon and BPA reaching a broader agreement on habitat throughout the Willamette River.

A draft agreement currently out for public comment would have BPA protect nearly 17,000 additional acres, by 2025.