U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Willamette Valley Conservation Study Strategic Habitat Conservation in Oregon’s Willamette Valley Willamette Valley Conservation Study Strategic Habitat Conservation in Oregon’s Willamette Valley March 2017 Prepared by the: U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service 911 NE 11th Avenue Portland, Oregon 97232 Recommended citation: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2017. Willamette Valley Conservation Study. Pacific Region, Portland, Oregon. 148 pp. Willamette Valley Conservation Study Executive Summary Oregon’s Willamette Valley, renowned for the high quality of life it affords its residents, is losing part of its natural heritage. Habitat loss and fragmentation coupled with the loss of disturbance regimes that rejuvenated and maintained native habitats has resulted in population declines of many of the valley’s sensitive wildlife and plants. Several Willamette Valley species are currently listed under the State or Federal endangered species acts. There is a long history of partners working together to address these issues, through land-based and educational conservation actions across the valley. To determine where and how the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service could complement these actions, we worked with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and other governmental and non-governmental organizations engaged in conservation efforts in the Willamette Valley to complete a study of land-based conservation needs and opportunities in the valley. For the purposes of this study, land-based conservation includes actions to identify, preserve, restore, and manage terrestrial areas primarily for their wildlife habitat values while promoting nature-based recreational and educational activities where appropriate. The study concludes that the amount and distribution of lands currently managed for sensitive, native wildlife species is inadequate for depressed populations to recover to a healthy and viable condition across their range in the valley. The study recommends that networks of grasslands, oak woodlands, and riparian habitats in specific areas of the valley—subsets of Conservation Opportunity Areas identified by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, be provided as safe and secure habitat to allow populations of sensitive native wildlife and plants space and time to recover. Establishing these habitat networks provides an opportunity to reclaim a portion of the valley’s natural heritage for current and future generations of Oregonians to experience and enjoy. Strategic Habitat Conservation In Oregon’s Willamette Valley i Willamette Valley Conservation Study Acronyms Acronym Full Phrase BLM Bureau of Land Management CCAA Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances CLI Climate Leadership Institute COA Conservation Opportunity Area COLT Coalition of Land Trusts GIS Geographic Information System GLT Greenbelt Land Trust NEAT National Ecological Assessment Team NWR National Wildlife Refuge NWRS National Wildlife Refuge System OCCRI Oregon Climate Change Research Institute OCS Oregon Conservation Strategy ODAS Oregon Department of Administrative Services ODFW Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife ODOT Oregon Department of Transportation OPB Oregon Progress Board PAD-US Protected Area Database – United States PCA Priority Conservation Area SHA Safe Harbor Agreement SHC Strategic Habitat Conservation TNC The Nature Conservancy USDC United States Department of Commerce USDI United States Department of the Interior USFWS United States Fish and Wildlife Service UW University of Washington WGWC Western Governors’ Wildlife Council WVCS Willamette Valley Conservation Study T ii Strategic Habitat Conservation In Oregon's Willamette Valley Willamette Valley Conservation Study Table of Contents Executive Summary .....................................................................................................................ES-1 Acronyms/Abbreviations .............................................................................................................. A-1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 1 The Study ........................................................................................................................................... 4 The Willamette Valley Today ............................................................................................................ 5 Native Species and Habitats ........................................................................................................ 5 A Changing Climate .................................................................................................................... 6 Connecting People with Nature ................................................................................................... 7 The Crucial Role of Private Landowners .................................................................................... 8 Strategic Habitat Conservation .......................................................................................................... 9 Biological Planning ..................................................................................................................... 9 Selecting Conservation Targets ............................................................................................. 9 Other Species of Conservation Concern ...................................................................................... 12 Establishing Biological Objectives ........................................................................................ 12 Establishing Habitat Objectives ............................................................................................ 13 Habitat Objectives ................................................................................................................. 15 Other Species of Conservation Concern ................................................................................ 17 Conservation Design .................................................................................................................... 17 Identifying Priority Areas for Conservation .......................................................................... 17 GAP Analysis .............................................................................................................................. 18 Threats Analysis .......................................................................................................................... 20 Discussion .................................................................................................................................... 21 Recommendations .............................................................................................................................. 23 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................... 27 Appendices Appendix A. Willamette Valley Conservation Plans ......................................................................... A-1 Appendix B. Climate Change ............................................................................................................ B-1 Appendix C. Priority Habitats ............................................................................................................ C-1 Appendix D. Selection Criteria .......................................................................................................... D-1 Appendix E. Population and Habitat Objectives ............................................................................... E-1 Appendix F. Marxan .......................................................................................................................... F-1 Strategic Habitat Conservation In Oregon’s Willamette Valley iii Willamette Valley Conservation Study Appendix G. Priority Conservation Areas ......................................................................................... G-1 Appendix H. GAP Analysis ............................................................................................................... H-1 Appendix I. Threats Analysis............................................................................................................. I-1 Appendix J. Literature Cited .............................................................................................................. J-1 Appendix K. Planning Team .............................................................................................................. K-1 iv Strategic Habitat Conservation in Oregon’s Willamette Valley Willamette Valley Conservation Study Introduction Oregonians have long recognized the value of the Willamette Valley for people—its abundant clean water, mild climate, and rich soils make the valley an important agricultural center. Its cities and towns, with their high livability standards and close proximity to outstanding recreational opportunities continue to draw new residents. From 1970 to 2010, the population of the counties in the valley grew by about 86 percent—from just under 1.5 million to about 2.7 million. The State of Oregon projects an additional 1.3 million new residents by 2050, an increase of about 178 percent since 1980. The 1.3 million new residents represents a population that is larger than today’s combined populations of Portland, Eugene, Salem, Gresham, Hillsboro, Beaverton,