The Willamette River Preservation Trust (WRPT) has received a major boost to its conservation efforts with the donation of a 75-acre property near Barton, just outside Oregon City. The land, gifted by Wetland Systems LLC, will be preserved as a wet prairie ecosystem, one of the rarest and most threatened habitats in the Willamette Valley.
The new property expands WRPT’s mission of protecting ecologically vital lands across Oregon’s river systems. “Our land trust works to protect ecologically healthy lands along creeks and rivers, as well as oak woodlands, wet prairies like the new property, and upland forests,” said Travis Williams, a representative of the trust. “We work from roughly the mid-Willamette Valley northward to the Portland suburbs. This work results in healthy habitats that also help to keep water clean.”
Williams emphasized that the preservation efforts have dual benefits — safeguarding the environment while also supporting low-impact recreation for people. “Some properties also work well for activities like hiking, bird watching, and paddling,” he said.
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The Willamette River Preservation Trust, founded in 2024, focuses on conservation projects in the Willamette Basin, particularly north of the river where wet prairie and wetland habitats are increasingly scarce. This new Barton property represents one of the first major conservation efforts in the area under the trust’s stewardship.
Wetland Systems LLC, the donor, operates as a wetlands mitigation bank. Such banks create or restore wetlands to generate “credits” — measurable units of restored habitat — that can be sold to developers or entities that have impacted natural wetlands through construction or land use changes. These transactions are closely regulated by the Oregon Department of State Lands and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ensuring ecological accountability and long-term preservation.
According to Williams, the donated property is a classic wet prairie, a landscape that once dominated much of the Willamette Basin but has been largely diminished due to urbanization and agriculture. “This prairie supports an amazing array of wildflowers that have always thrived in this habitat, whether in Clackamas County or well to the south,” he said. “From April through summer, the place is full of amazing colors and the many pollinator species that come with them.”
WRPT plans to host monthly public tours of the property beginning in the spring, timed to coincide with the vibrant wildflower season. While these tours will offer visitors an up-close view of the unique ecosystem, the land itself will not be opened for general public access at this time. The trust’s goal is to balance education and conservation, ensuring that human presence doesn’t harm sensitive habitats.
In addition to this new acquisition, the trust also manages land at Oak Meadows, furthering its mission of protecting Oregon’s waterways, forests, and prairies. With its expanding portfolio of protected lands, WRPT is positioning itself as a leading voice in regional conservation — one dedicated to restoring balance between people and nature along the Willamette River corridor.
