What are the three rivers?
The Willamette, the Clackamas, and the Tualatin. These are the three main river basins in the greater Portland area.

What does Three Rivers do?
We preserve natural areas in greater Portland, and we connect natural areas by trails.

How do you preserve natural areas?
We work with landowners who voluntarily agree to preserve their land. Some properties are donated to us. On other properties, we create conservation easements that ensure the property stays in a natural state. In rare cases, we purchase property. These properties are permanently protected.

Why is it necessary to preserve land?
Air quality, water quality and wildlife habitat are maintained by preserving land. Natural areas soften the urban/suburban environment and gives people scenic beauty and recreational opportunities.

How are you funded?
About 25% of our budget comes from grants, 25% from government contracts for service, and the other 50% comes from private donations and our membership.

How big is the organization?
Our total budget is about $340,000. We have 2 full time employees and 6 part-time employees.

How successful have you been in your land conservation efforts?
Since 1991, we have protected over 360 acres. That is 26 properties valued at approximately $8 million dollars!

What is your goal?
Three Rivers has set an aggressive goal to preserve 1,000 acres over the next 5 years.

How is Three Rivers different from other land conservation organizations?

Nature Conservancy focuses on land for endangered species and therefore urban and suburban environments such as in the greater Portland area are not a high priority. They also work on much larger pieces of land than can be found in the Greater Portland area.

Wetland Conservancy focuses only on wetlands, some of which fall inside the greater Portland area.

Trust for Public Land is a national organization, with no specific focus on Portland. They may participate in a conservation project if the opportunity presents itself.

Metro regional government uses public money to purchase greenspace and maintain Metro operated parks. Metro also plans for land use and transportation, and manages garbage disposal and recycling.

Columbia Land Trust focuses on larger tracts of land particularly in the Columbia Gorge. They have not targeted projects in the urban and suburban areas of Portland.