Eola Hills – State Wildlife Action Plan

The Eola Hills COA (22 mi²) is located just west of Salem and north of Hwy 22, extending west to just past Richards Creek. This area includes tributaries of the South Yamhill River, Willamette River, and Rickreall Creek. This COA is adjacent to the Basket Butte COA.

Recommended Conservation Actions

Maintain and restore existing habitat and ecological function, ensuring sufficient habitat complexity for wildlife.
Maintain and enhance in-channel watershed functions, connection to riparian habitat, water flow and hydrology.

Local Conservation Actions and Plans

Potential Partners

Special Features

General

Several ESA-listed plant species are present with this area.
This COA is located on the outer edge of Salem, and faces threats from encroaching urban development. There is also increased conversion of small private properties into agriculture, specifically vineyards, into historic oak woodland habitat. There are also many impoundments on small private parcels.
There have multiple property acquisitions in recent years, converting critical habitat into preserved conservation easements.

Protected Areas

Ahsney Conservation Area (WWMP Property)

Mud Slough Conservation Easement
Mud Slough Wetland Mitigation Bank (16 acres)
Wetlands Reserve Program
Zena- Willamette (WWMP Property)

Previous COA Associations

Previously Associated with (2006 COA IDs)
- WV-11 (Baskett Butte)
Size Change from 2016 boundaries: -5.0 mi² (19% decrease)

Specialized Local Habitats

Forest openings
Unique grassland habitats

Ecoregions

Willamette Valley

The Willamette Valley ecoregion is bounded on the west by the Coast Range and on the east by the Cascade Range. This long mostly level alluvial plain has some scattered areas of low basalt, and contrasts with productive farmland and large urban areas. It has the fastest-growing human population in the state resulting in challenges due to land-use changes.

Key Habitats

Grasslands

Grasslands include a variety of upland grass-dominated habitats, such as upland prairies, coastal bluffs, and montane grasslands.

Natural Lakes

Natural lakes are relatively large bodies of freshwater surrounded by land that were formed through geological processes, such as glacial scouring, tectonic movements, volcanic activity and river meander cutoffs. In Oregon, natural lakes are defined as standing water bodies larger than 20 acres, including some seasonal lakes. Depth is not a reference for characterization of …

Example of Oak Woodlands, which is a Strategy Habitat within the State Wildlife Action Plan

Oak Habitats

There are several oak habitat types in Oregon, where oaks comprise most of the canopy. These can include oak woodlands, oak forest, oak chaparral, and riparian oak. Oak savanna is covered in the Grasslands Key Habitat. Oaks may also co-dominate a canopy in oak/fir, oak pine, and oak hardwood habitats.

Flowing Water and Riparian Habitats

Flowing Water and Riparian Habitats include all naturally occurring flowing freshwater streams and rivers throughout Oregon as well as the adjacent riparian habitat.