Support Yamhill SWCD

Yamhill Conservation Trust (YCT) is excited to partner with Yamhill Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) as they restructure their Protected Lands Program. ​This new partnership is designed to enhance conservation efforts and strengthen the long-term protection of Yamhill County's valuable natural habitats and agricultural lands.

Since its inception in the early 2000s, Yamhill SWCD's Protected Lands Program has played a pivotal role in safeguarding nearly 3,500 acres, including beloved properties like Miller Woods and Chegwyn Farms. While the program has been well-managed, Yamhill SWCD's structure as a government agency has limited access to certain funding and programs necessary for the full stewardship of these lands.

Yamhill Conservation Trust will provide flexibility to take advantage of new opportunities, such as tax-exempt retirement and estate donations, conservation easement insurance, strategic investment opportunities, and increased access to grants and other funding sources. YCT will focus on fundraising, investments, grant applications, and new property acquisitions, while Yamhill SWCD will continue its essential work in property stewardship, restoration, and the day-to-day management of the lands.

This partnership will allow both organizations to more strategically invest in the long-term sustainability of the Protected Lands Program. The co-ownership of properties through a tenants-in-common structure, with reciprocal rights of first refusal, will ensure that the properties remain safeguarded for future generations. Conservation easements will continue to be held by Yamhill SWCD and either co-held or backup held by YCT, ensuring robust oversight and protection.

This collaboration with Yamhill SWCD ensures that the lands entrusted to the Protected Lands Program will be better protected in the long run, while also providing more avenues for us to acquire and preserve new lands and easements in the future.

We are mutually excited about this new chapter for the Protected Lands Program and the additional benefits it will bring to landowners, our community, and the future of conservation in Yamhill County. We are deeply grateful for your support and look forward to continuing our work together to protect Yamhill County’s natural beauty and productivity for generations to come.