6A | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019 | COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL Creswell conservation easement protects WV habitat A 1,610-acre working lands conservation ease- ment in the South Willa- mette Valley now protects the highly imperiled Ore- gon vesper sparrow along with large swaths of grass- lands and oak woodlands. A grassland-dependent bird, the Oregon vesper sparrow is petitioned to be federally listed as endan- gered. In October, property owners Darrick and Shan- non Salyers and their fam- ily granted the easement through ODFW’s Willa- mette Wildlife Mitigation Program (WWMP). The easement is held by the Center for Natural Lands Management, a non-profit that protects sensitive bio- logical resources in Oregon, Washington, and Califor- nia. Laura Tesler, Willamette Wildlife Mitigation Pro- gram coordinator, praises the Salyers family for join- ing the program to perma- nently protect the property for its wildlife values, many of which are vanishing in the valley. The owner retains rights to conduct certain land management activities with the signing of this ease- ment, Tesler said. “This is the largest long- term conservation commit- ment we have for the South Willamette Valley, giving us a very rare opportunity to help the largest known population of Oregon ves- per sparrow in the valley,” Tesler said. “The sheer size of this property and the amount of oak woodlands and grasslands it contains will help many of our wild- life species that depend on these two diminishing hab- itat types.” The property, Creswell Oaks, also includes Doug- las-fir forest and riparian habitats and is home to many Oregon Conservation Strategy Species including western gray squirrel, acorn woodpecker, and common nighthawk which are be- coming uncommon. In to- tal, the area protects habitat for 10 Strategy bird species along with western rattle- snakes and western gray squirrels which are also Strategy Species. As a working cattle and timber operation, Creswell Oaks is a special type of working lands conserva- tion easement. The proper- ty is managed to maintain healthy grasslands by graz- ing cattle through rotating paddocks to prevent over- grazing. This practice created hab- itat for the Oregon vesper sparrow and for threatened plants including Bradshaw’s lomatium. “Creswell Oaks is a great example of how a work- ing landscape can blend activities, such as grazing, to benefit wildlife habitat,” Tesler said. “The WWMP is an excellent program for valley landowners interest- ed in permanent protection for wildlife habitat on their lands through acquisition of fee title or conservation easement. Landowners whose property has Ore- gon Conservation Strategy species and habitats and who would like to protect those values from develop- ment might consider the WWMP.” Cooperators in the Cre- swell Oaks conservation easement include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program. The program contributes technical assistance as well as in-kind and contract- ed work for oak woodland thinning. Oak thinning and conifer removal re- duces competition, allow- ing oaks to grow larger, produce more acorns, and provide more cavities for Oregon Conservation Strat- egy focal species such as the white-breasted nuthatch, acorn woodpecker, and western bluebird. Another partner, the Coast Fork Willamette Wa- tershed Council is currently conducting riparian refor- estation, stabilization, and fencing on a tributary of Camas Swale Creek. The council also conducts the Waters Program (Wa- tershed Action Teams in Education, Restoration, and Stewardship) with Creswell Middle School. Students admitted to the program meet monthly at Creswell Oaks to learn about natural resources and participate in a stewardship activity such as clearing invasive species and planting native trees. Creswell Oaks represents nearly 10 percent of the WWMP’s protected acre- age goal of acquiring 16,880 acres of wildlife mitigation property and adds substan- tially to the total protected acreage of both grassland and oak woodland habitat. The Willamette Wild- life Mitigation Program is funded by the Bonneville Power Administration to mitigate fish, wildlife, and habitat impacts from con- struction and operation of Willamette River Basin Flood Control Projects. Landowners interested in conserving their property though a conservation ease- ment or purchase can con- tact Tesler at 503-947-6086 or email laura.tesler@state. or.us Public invited to free screening of ‘Ice on Fire’ This Friday, Dec. 13, beginning at 7 p.m., the public is invited to a free screening of the documen- tary film “Ice on Fire” at the Rural Organizing Proj- ect Building, 632 E Main St., in Cottage Grove. The screening is the third installment in a series of climate-relat- ed events and is hosted by Climate Action Cot- tage Grove, Forest Web and Sustainable Cottage Grove. The film features vision- aries and scientists work- ing to mitigate climate change and minimize climate-related events de- spite a rapidly warming planet. With sweeping, “Ice on Fire” was filmed across the globe, from Norway to Alaska, Iceland to Colora- do, Switzerland to Costa Rica to Connecticut. The film highlights first- hand accounts of people at the forefront of the climate crisis, with insights from scientists, farmers, inno- vators and others. “Ice on Fire” emphasiz- es the importance of an immediate, two-pronged approach to reversing the crisis: reducing carbon emissions through tradi- tional renewable energy sources and new ones, like tidal energy, and im- plementing “drawdown” measures, focusing on methods for drawing down and sequestering carbon, including direct air capture, sea farms, ur- ban farms, biochar, ma- rine snow, bionic leaves and others. A discussion about the film will be held after the screening. WE DELIVER ! Y ! DR CK ts ED STO lle Z e I ET D IN o d P L L O o PA WO W Stock up n RE Bur I before F n they’re a e gone! Cl LANDSCAPE AND BUILDING MATERIALS Open 7 days a week! 79149 N. River Road Anytime. Anywhere. Any day... Matt Bjornn, Agent %XV www.bjornninsurance.com 541-942-4664 That’s when you can count on State Farm ® . 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