Friday evening on a warm late summer day the Greenbelt Land Trust held "A Willamette River Celebration" formally commemorating the acquisition of the Horseshoe Lake property. More than 100 people gathered to be a part of the celebration and also to take a guided tour of the property.
Michael Pope from Greenbelt Land Trust presided. Speakers included, Stan Gregory Oregon State University, Pam Wiley, Meyer Memorial Trust and land owners Bill Stellmacher and Gary Horning. Seymour House, Poet Laureate of Greenbelt Land Trust, read some poems from Oregon grade school students.
The Horseshoe Lake conservation acquisition by Greenbelt land Trust extends the protected corridor along Willamette River in Oregon. This new conservation acquisition will permanently protect important habitat for species including Chinook salmon, cutthroat trout, Oregon chub, Pacific lamprey, western pond turtles and red-legged frogs.
The 175 acre Horseshoe Lake property has been protected by the Greenbelt Land Trust and consists of Willamette River frontage near Albany, Ore., in Linn County that will benefit fish and wildlife identified in the Oregon Conservation Strategy. The purchase was made possible through a strong partnership with the existing landowners, the land trust, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and funding from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, the Bonneville Power Administration and the Meyer Memorial Trust.
Horseshoe Lake extends the footprint of conservation in this region, which now totals over 1,600 acres of protected lands, including many Willamette Greenway properties such as Truax Island, Half Moon Bend Landing, Riverside Landing, Tripp Greenway, Bowers Rock State Park, and the land trust’s easement on a nearby 200 acre floodplain property.
The conservation of Horseshoe Lake was made possible through a partnership with landowners Art and Judy Waggle, Bill and Barbara Stellmacher, and the family of Maria Carnegie. Funding in the amount of $286,450 from Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board and $50,550 from Bonneville Power Administration. The zoning will be exclusive farm use with no development allowed. Agriculture will be phased out within 15 years.
Greenbelt Land Trust can give tours with permission from the landowner.
Comments
Fri Sep 21, 2012 12:08 pm Name: George Taubman Comment: How do I make an appointment to visit this property? Would like to take a small group of about 12 on a tour.
