Tualatin River – State Wildlife Action Plan

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Geographic boundaries of the COAs were updated for the 2026 State Wildlife Action Plan and the associated COA profiles are intended to provide additional information. Content of each COA profile is being refined and will be updated to reflect current conditions when feasible. Please help us by submitting information on Local Conservation Actions, Plans, or Potential Partners to: OCS.revision@odfw.oregon.gov.

The Tualatin River COA (95 mi²) extends along the lower Tualatin River from just below Hagg Lake down to the confluence with the Willamette River. The area includes the associated floodplains, numerous tributaries, and associated upland habitats. This COA is adjacent to the Scoggins Valley – Mount Richmond and Gales Creek COAs.

Recommended Conservation Actions

Maintain and restore existing habitat and ecological function, ensuring sufficient habitat complexity for wildlife.
Manage public use and recreation to minimize disturbance to sensitive species.
Work with collaborators to minimize habitat loss, especially in the context of the urban landscape.

Local Conservation Actions and Plans

Special Features

General

This COA includes two important National Wildlife Refuges – Tualatin River and Wapato Lake. These refuges protect critical habitat within the Tualatin River floodplain, which support important fish and wildlife species.
The Lower Tualatin River runs through a landscape that is both very urban and agricultural. As such, this area faces threats from municipal, road, and farming runoff and water treatment facility releases into the river. Despite this, the area still provides important habitat refugia for many fish and wildlife species in the area.

Protected Areas

Bailey Reservoir
Bald Peak State Park
Coffee Lake Wetlands Natural Area
Dairy Creek Park
Fernhill Wetlands
Forest Glan Park
Galena Woods Natural Area
Graham Oaks Nature Park
Halsey Memorial Park
Harmony Park
Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve
Lincoln Park
Montebello City Park
Morrison Woods Park
Murdock City Park
Oregon Trail City Park
Park at Merryfield
Pioneer City Park
Rainbow Farms (WWMP Property)
Rogers Park
Snyder Park
Talisman City Park
Tranquil City Park
Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge
Tualatin Additions 2010 (WWMP Property)
Wapato Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Previous COA Associations

Previously Associated with (2006 COA IDs)
- WV-05 (Tualatin River)
Size Change from 2016 boundaries: -11.6 mi²(11% decrease)

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.