The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife wants public input on land acquisitions in the Fern Ridge area west of Eugene. The parcels would be accessible to the public and be part of the Willamette Wildlife Mitigation Program.
ODFW’S Kelly Reis said the program is funded by the Bonneville Power Administration. It’s meant to help fulfill the agency’s obligations to offset the impacts of hydro-electric projects on wildlife habitat.
“By acquiring these properties the idea is that it would permanently settle that mitigation requirement for the Bonneville Power Administration,” Reis said. “These properties are acquired for their habitat values and the habitat they provide to wildlife species in the Willamette System.”
The two proposed properties would add about 140 acres to the South Coyote unit of the Fern Ridge Wildlife area.
ODFW staff will host a virtual meeting on April 6 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., to discuss the acquisitions and the public can join by visiting, https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1616400284.
Comments can also be submitted at https://odfw.wufoo.com/forms/proposed-property-acquisition.
