The Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board has awarded the City of Salem $546,530 for the West Forest Restoration Project within the Minto Island Conservation Area. "This OWEB grant award will allow the City and partners to continue improving the ecological functioning and resilience of the conservation area by restoring native riparian forest, improving habitat, and reducing invasive species" said Jeffery Johnson, Natural Resources Planner for the City of Salem.
At Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board's October gathering, a grant was announced as part of a larger funding pool of over $14 million for 71 restoration projects across Oregon. The funds will support efforts to improve fish and wildlife habitats and water quality. One of the projects, the Minto Island Conservation Area’s West Forest Restoration, aims to restore native riparian forests, provide fish shelter during high water, and support local plant and animal species, according to the City of Salem.
Restoration work in Salem will start in January 2025 and finish by the end of 2030. The project will remove invasive plants, plant 36,500 native plants, and sow 300 pounds of seed to protect the land. Funding comes from Oregon Lottery proceeds and federal salmon recovery funds from National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration, with additional help from the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. Since 1999, the Oregon Lottery has provided over $525 million for environmental projects in the state, supporting Oregon’s natural landscape, as reported by the City of Salem.
