William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge
William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge is situated along the foothills of the Coast Range at the western edge of the fertile Willamette Valley of northwestern Oregon . A second unit on the east side of the river, Snag Boat Bend, has been added to the Refuge. The Refuge encompasses a diverse assortment of habitats including riparian forest, upland forest, upland prairie, wet prairie, wetlands and farm fields. Elevations range from 185 to 414 feet msl.
As with the other refuges within the Willamette Valley National Wildlife Complex, the primary management goal of William L. Finley 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.
Other management goals are to preserve native species and enhance biodiversity. Populations of several endangered and threatened animal and plant species can be found on the refuge. A herd of Roosevelt elk can be found in the bottomland forests or farm fields on the Refuge. Wildlife/wildlands observation, photography, hiking, and environmental education and interpretation are the major public use activities allowed on the Refuge. Limited hunting and fishing opportunities are also provided.
Of special interest are several historic buildings located within the Refuge including the Fiechter House, completed in 1857 and thought to be the oldest house in Benton County.
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.
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