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Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge is located in the fertile Willamette Valley of northwestern Oregon . The Refuge is situated in open farmland near the eastern foothills of the Coast Range , with the broad Willamette Valley and the Cascade Mountains to the east. Elevations range from 185 to 414 feet msl. The Willamette Valley , with its mild, rainy winter climate, is an ideal environment for wintering waterfowl. The Refuge consists of 1,173 acres of cropland, which provide forage for wintering geese, 300 acres of forests, 550 acres of grasslands, 500 acres of shallow water seasonal wetlands and 35 acres of permanent open water.

As with the other refuges within the Willamette Valley National Wildlife Complex, the primary management goal of Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge is to provide high quality wintering habitat for geese, especially the dusky Canada goose, to ensure healthy, viable goose populations while minimizing goose browse damage to crops on private agricultural lands.

The Baskett Slough NWR also provides habitat for a wide variety of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians. Populations of several endangered and threatened animal and plant species can be found on the refuge. Wildlife/wildlands observation, photography, hiking, and environmental education and interpretation are the major public use activities allowed on the Refuge.

Habitat improvement and restoration are essential for the continued survival of wildlife populations in the Willamette Valley . If you are interested in restoring your lands to native habitat, such as wetlands, prairies, grasslands or upland oak/savannas, please click on the following link " Partnership for Fish and Wildlife " for further information.

The Willamette Valley Refuges have initiated a planning process to review the wildlife, habitat, and public use activities on all three of the National Wildlife Refuges we manage, William L. Finley, Ankeny, and Baskett Slough. Please go to our Comprehensive Conservation Planning pages to learn more.

 

 

LOCAL NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES ANNOUNCE SPRING HOURS

Access onto the trails and major portions of the Willamette Valley National Wildlife Refuges is now available with the annual lifting of the Winter Sanctuary season. Visitors are encourage to enjoy the hiking trails, wildlife viewing, historic buildings and special programs that the Refuges have to offer during this open period.

The Refuges are open from sunrise to sunset each day. Visitors are reminded that Finley Refuge Road is a Refuge road and falls under the jurisdiction of the federal government.  It is closed to all public access from sunset to sunrise, including through traffic.

To view the full announcement, CLICK HERE.