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Chehalem Ridge Joins The Intertwine, Oregon's Green Network

Mount Hood seen from Chehalem Ridge.  Photo: Metro Natural Areas Program

At 1,000-plus acres, Chehalem Ridge Natural Area is one of the largest remaining swaths of undeveloped forest in the greater Portland metropolitan region. It's also a milestone for a regional funding program approved in 2006 and championed by The Trust for Public Land's Conservation Finance team , as it doubles the total acreage of land preserved as natural areas by Metro, the region's local government.

In early 2010, Metro bought the property from TPL, which negotiated a deal with the land's longtime owner, Portland-based Stimson Lumber Co.

Straddling the top of a ridge at the northern end of the Willamette Valley in the heart of Oregon's wine country, Chehalem Ridge provides panoramic views of surrounding farmland and five Cascade mountain peaks and protects regional water quality. (At least 10 streams begin on the property and flow to the Tualatin River, which provides drinking water for 200,000 people.)

Chehalem also has exceptional potential, not just as a great regional park, but as a connecting point for Oregon's rich network of local and regional trails for hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts. (Visit Metro's website for more on future plans for the area.)

The Chehalam Ridge acquisition is an important marker in progress of The Intertwine, a local movement that allies local government, businesses, nonprofits, and residents in a collaborative effort to fully integrate and enhance the region's world-class system of parks, trails, and natural areas for everyone to enjoy.

The Intertwine is part of a growing trend across the nation. TPL is working with several cities and regions to help develop critical linkages between parks, trails, greenways, and other and public spaces. Projects in Ohio, Tennessee, New Jersey, and North Carolina are making "nature nearby" a reality for a growing number of people.

Posted 1/2010