Natural Areas Acquired

Two recent acquisitions using funds from Portland's local share of the 2006 Natural Areas Bond Measure have helped to protect natural areas in the Johnson Creek Watershed's East Buttes area, south of Powell Butte Nature Park. Public land managed as natural area in this vicinity now totals more than 800 acres.

In spring of 2008, Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) and the Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) joined forces to acquire 26.85 acres of undeveloped land, adjacent to the undeveloped Clatsop Butte Park. The partnership combined Park System Development Charge (SDC) acquisition funds, BES Sewer Operating funds, and Portland's share of Metro's 2006 Natural Areas bond measure funds, with assistance from the nonprofit Trust for Public Land (TPL). A 65-lot housing development had been approved for what was called the "Waterleaf" site. Instead, this property will be managed as a natural area by PP&R's City Nature division, as part of the enlarged Clatsop Butte Park.

An 11-acre purchase builds on the region's protection of Clatsop Buttes, one of the largest remaining intact habitats in Portland. Located along SE Clatsop Street, the property includes a portion of Clatsop Creek and another small tributary. The land was purchased with regional and local funding from Metro's Natural Areas bond measure and Park SDC funds. The property is directly adjacent to more than 100 acres acquired by Metro in the area since 2007. The large combined natural area will be managed by PP&R's City Nature division.

The East Buttes sites are dominated by conifers, mainly Douglas-fir and Western Red-cedar. The understory is largely native low shrubs and forbs. The area is likely to support large mammals like black-tailed deer and coyote. Smaller mammals such as white-footed deer-mouse and northern flying-squirrel are also likely as are forest birds such as piliated woodpecker. Streams on the newly acquired property flow into Johnson Creek. Maintaining them in good condition will benefit water quality in this important watershed.