OUR PRIORITIES OUR PROGRAMS GET INVOLVED STAY INFORMED SUBSCRIBE OUR STORY Search Thriving Habitat On this page: THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY HABITAT CONNECTIVITY HOW WE CAN HELP You might also like: NATIVE PLANTS CREATING WILDLIFE HABITAT POLLINATORS & BENEFICIAL INSECTS IMPORTANT HABITATS Photo credit: USFWS. The Willamette Valley has long been a place of beauty and diverse landscapes. Bounded by the Coast Range Mountains to the west and the Cascade Range to the east, this basin contains a variety of habitats that provide vital homes for the valley’s unique fish and wildlife: Rivers and wetlands Lowland valleys Rolling hills Forested mountains Habitat connectivity is important for many species: Similar to the way people travel around their communities, wildlife must also move throughout a landscape to fulfill their needs. Example: Fish species need connections between aquatic habitats to avoid becoming isolated, which contributes to low genetic diversity and poor health. Habitat connectivity fun fact: The Willamette Valley is an important part of the Pacific Flyway – a chain of natural areas used by at least 1 billion migrating birds each year [1]. Growing human populations crowd out wildlife: As our communities continue to expand, natural landscapes are converted into buildings, roads, and farms, reducing the quality and connectivity of unique habitats. Not-so-fun fact: By 2050, the population of the Willamette Valley is projected to nearly double, approaching 4 million people [2]. With this increased population comes significant threats to the region’s natural habitats. Washington County is a part of the larger Willamette Valley ecoregion. Learn about some of the important habitats in our county, including oak woodlands and prairies, wetlands, riparian areas , and mixed conifer forests. How we can help: How can we nurture thriving habitats? Urbanization , habitat fragmentation , invasive plants, and pollution have played major roles in degrading Oregon’s habitats. By creating new habitat and expanding existing habitat, we can protect these essential resources and boost our region’s biodiversity. We can all support thriving habitats through practical conservation actions: Plant Pacific Northwest native plants Native plants are crucial to thriving habitats. Planting well-chosen native plants helps create wildlife habitat, conserve water, and reduce the need for chemicals that can pollute our watershed. Not only do native plants benefit local wildlife and ecosystems, they also bring the beauty of our region’s natural areas closer to home. NATIVE PLANTS Create wildlife habitat We can create wildlife habitat by expanding access to food and clean water in urban, rural, and forested landscapes. Wildlife also need places to nest or take shelter from bad weather or predators. CREATING WILDLIFE HABITAT Support pollinators and beneficial insects Pollinators and beneficial insects are not just fun to see but also help fight garden pests, pollinate food crops, and improve soil structure. Like larger wildlife, insects need access to food, water, and shelter to flourish. POLLINATORS AND BENEFICIAL INSECTS More About Habitats: What is Biodiversity and Why Does It Matter For You? April 23, 2021 What Can Frogs and Salamanders Tell Us About Water Quality? April 14, 2021 Thriving Habitat Projects: Hall Creek Habitat Restoration Project Community collaboration is essential in conservation. The greatest successes come when people work together to reach shared restoration goals. This... Source: 1. Audubon Society: https://www.audubon.org/pacific-flyway 2. Oregon Conservation Strategy: https://www.oregonconservationstrategy.org/ecoregion/willamette-valley/ Email me about caring for the soil and water! Email Address Find an Event CALENDAR OF EVENTS UPCOMING WORKSHOPS ABOUT US Our Story Our Watershed Our Staff Our Board Careers Reports & Publications RESOURCES Event Calendar Weed & Pest Directory Contractor Directory Library & Videos Tool Loan Program News CONTACT US Tualatin Soil and Water Conservation District 7175 NE Evergreen Pkwy #400 Hillsboro, OR. 97124 Phone: 503-334-2288 Office Hours: 8:00am - 4:30pm Email Us FOLLOW US العربية 简体中文 繁體中文 English Filipino Français Deutsch हिन्दी 한국어 Русский Español Tiếng Việt © 2021 Tualatin Soil and Water Conservation District. All Rights Reserved. | Sitemap | Non-Discrimination Policy | Privacy Policy | Website Design by Hoopla Creative