Western Rivers Conservancy purchased a forty-two-acre stretch of floodplain along the Coast Fork Willamette River near Eugene in 1998. The property had been converted to farmland, but still contained habitat for Willamette River salmon and the endangered western pond turtle. The previous owner of the property had become disillusioned with farming in the floodplain following the catastrophic flood of 1996.

Western Rivers Conservancy offered a conservation solution to the farmer's needs while protecting important fish and wildlife habitat. Funding was provided by the Bonneville Power Administrations mitigation program. The property is now owned by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and managed as part of the Howard Buford County Recreation Area. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is restoring habitat for fish and wildlife on the property.

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