Tribe takes possession of Ahsney conservation property

RICKREALL – The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde officially took over ownership of the 62-acre Ahsney conservation property within the Rickreall Creek watershed in Polk County on Thursday, Dec. 5.

As with other conservation properties acquired by through Bonneville Power Administration’s Willamette Wildlife Mitigation Program, the acquisition is funded by the BPA and includes funds for the Tribe to manage the properties ranging from Rattlesnake Butte in Lane County to Noble Oaks property outside of Willamina.

The Tribe’s ownership of externally funded conservation lands now encompasses 1,885.33 acres.

Tribal management of the property will protect savanna and oak woodland habitat, native birds and threatened native plants.

The Power Administration acquires conservation properties as partial mitigation for wildlife habitat losses caused by the construction and operation of hydroelectric facilities in the Willamette River Basin.

Tribal Council approved acquiring the conservation property during its Sept 11 meeting. “Ahsney” means coyote in the central Kalapuya language.

The Ahsney property is less than a mile from the Basket Slough Wildlife Refuge north of Highway 22 between Grand Ronde and Salem.

“There are many benefits to Mother Earth, our relations, communities and the Tribe from this effort which, under the leadership of Tribal Council, is administered through the Tribal Lands and Natural Resources departments with the support from the Tribal Historic Preservation Office, Facilities, Finance and Tribal Attorney’s Office,” said Tribal Lands Manager Jan Looking Wolf Reibach.