Director, Friends of the Columbia Gorge Land Trust
Last month, Friends of the Columbia Gorge Land Trust transferred our “Memaloose Meadows” property to the U.S. Forest Service, placing it in public hands. In this rural area of the Gorge that is popular for its scenic views and spring wildflowers, the transfer of these 14 acres concluded a decades-long effort that began with foresight by Friends founder Nancy Russell.
Decades of efforts began with a dream
The discussions about conserving the Wood family’s land at Memaloose went back decades. After purchasing a tract of land next door in the early 1990s, Friends founder Nancy Russell talked with the landowners, the Wood family, and encouraged the Trust for Public Land to purchase the property. She had a dream of enhancing the area for habitat, and perhaps someday adding public trails. But the time was not right for the family.
Eventually an agreement to sell the property to Oregon State Parks was imminent, but that fell through. Around that time, the Land Trust was formed and we continued the conversations with Mr. Wood.
A "contract" based on our word
In 2013, several years after Nancy Russell's death, the Land Trust was able to purchase this key parcel that lies along the Historic Columbia River Highway, sandwiched between Forest Service land and Memaloose State Park. It was the only time in the land trust’s history that a landowner did not sign a real estate contract, despite our request. For Mr. Wood, a contract was not necessary. After all those years and all of those ups and downs, our word was good enough.This story of eventual success is proof of trust earned only after working together for decades on the same vision.
The photo of Memaloose property with GIS overlay dates from the time of the Land Trust's purchase in 2013.