Long-term goals of Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge Additions Project (Project) consist of acquiring, restoring, and managing lands within an established refuge boundary for the protection, mitigation, and enhancement of habitats that were affected by development of the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS).  Project actions are intended to benefit wildlife, aquatic species, including resident and anadromous fish, and threatened and endangered species within the Tualatin River basin.

Established as a National Wildlife Refuge in 1992, proposed and existing tracts of land within the approved boundary of the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) consist of historical and extant seasonal emergent and forested wetlands, Oregon ash-dominated riparian forest, mixed coniferous/deciduous forest, and Garry oak (Oregon white oak) dominated savanna communities.  Remnant plant community types found within the Refuge are classified as imperiled habitats in the Willamette Valley and provide habitat diversity that support continental wintering populations of high priority waterfowl species, breeding neotropical migratory birds, resident and anadromous fish, as well as resident mammals, amphibians, and reptiles associated with FCRPS habitat losses.

As willing sellers within the approved acquisition boundary of the Refuge come forward, the opportunity exists to credit Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) for construction and inundation losses incurred through development of FCRPS and to expedite protection of lands that are threatened with development.  When acquisitions are complete (funding sources include other than BPA), the Refuge will total over 7,400 acres of biologically diverse habitats that will be managed in perpetuity for fish, wildlife, and habitat values, and further improve the flood storage capacity and water quality of the Tualatin River basin.  The completed acquisitions of Oleson tracts 1 & 2 (Additions 1 & 2) provide a unique opportunity to restore and enhance 230 acres of seasonal, scrub-shrub, and forested wetland, riparian forest, ash woodland, and oak savanna uplands.  In addition,  217 acres have been purchased in the newly established Wapato Lake Unit using BPA acquisition funds.  An additional 570 acres were purchased in the  Wapato Lake Unit with other funds.

Restoration activities have been largely completed at the Oleson tracts 1 & 2 over the past six years.  Refuge staff will spend the next several years maintaining and enhancing this area until vegetation communities can become self-sustaining.  Maintenance will continue on approximately 115 acres of oak savanna, 30 acres of riparian forest, 30 acres seasonal wetland, 11 acres scrub shrub wetland, 20 acres wet meadow prairie, and 8 acres hardwood forest.  Pretreatment activities are underway on 6 acres remaining on the Oleson tracts that consist of purging non-native plant species in anticipation of planting native species. The Refuge is engaged in a Comprehensive Conservation Plan process this year and will not be undertaking any further restoration efforts this FY.  In the near future after planning is completed it is anticipated that major restoration efforts will take place at Wapato Lake Unit near the town of Gaston, Oregon.  To prepare for this large-scale restoration effort a hydrogeomorphic study is being conducted in conjunction with US Geological Survey and other partners.  This survey will produce a complete topographic survey of the Wapato Lake bed and surrounding areas and a water budget model of inputs to the lake from the surrounding watershed as well as the main stem of the Tualaltin River.  This study will serve as the basis for restoration of scrub shrub and emergent wetlands, wet prairie and other habitat types as appropriate.