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Three Rivers: Held in Trust
At the edge of the urban/rural interface, the Three Rivers Land Conservancy (TRLC) is working with private landowners to help conserve natural spaces and waterways at the southern end of the Metro district. The trust takes its name from their region of geographical focus, where the Willamette River meets the Clackamas and Tualatin rivers.
The trust was created in 1991 in order to preserve special places in areas threatened with near-term development. It has been the trust's goal to create a system of greenspaces and trails that will allow the public access to natural areas in an otherwise urbanized landscape.
While some land trusts focus on conserving large expanses, the TRLC tends toward smaller properties. As of 2002, the trust had 20 properties, amounting to just 160 acres. About fourth-fifths of the land is in undeveloped urban spaces.
Stewardship of these properties is a paramount concern for the trust. Conservation easements need to be monitored to ensure that protections are being respected. Restoration projects are an essential part of rehabilitating and maintaining healthy habitats.
The trust involves community members in special projects, whenever possible, to help expand awareness of the need for conservation. A summer restoration program allowed area youth to learn about the environment while assisting with natural area restoration. Crews of volunteers help to remove non-native vegetation, which is replaced with native plant species.
Partnerships with cities and other conservation organizations have allowed the TRLC to provide protection for many valuable natural resource lands in the Portland metro area. But the pressure to expand the Urban Growth Boundary is increasing. Time is running out. And there are still many areas that need to be protected.
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UNDEVELOPED URBAN SPACES
In 2002, the TRLC is working hard to acquire an exceptional open space just south of Lake Oswego. Called the Wilson Creek property, the undeveloped land includes 50 acres, owned by just one family for the past 55 years.
The problem is a familiar one for land trusts. The family that owns the property wants to protect this special landscape for future generations. But the family can't afford to keep the land, and they can't afford to give it away.
During a visit to the property, one of the owners told the Oregon Story film crew, "All we have to do nowadays is look around and see how many people are living here in the area, and how many more will be living here in the not-too-distant future. It's a very good idea to have a place for them to go, that doesn't have concrete on it." And that's a fair summary of the whole reason that land trusts exist.
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