In 1994, Oregon Legislature created the Wildlife Habitat Conservation and Management Program (WHCMP). This program provides a property tax incentive to private landowners who want to provide wildlife habitat on their properties. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) manages this program. In 2024, the program was reactivated and is now accepting applications.
Landowners in Washington County have the opportunity to apply for these tax incentives to support voluntary conservation actions.
Over 80% of the remaining oak habitat in the Pacific Northwest is on private lands. These offer some of the best opportunities for oak conservation. Enrolling in this tax incentive program can help protect and enhance existing Oregon white oak habitat.
Who is eligible for the tax incentive program?
Private landowners in Washington County with a property of at least 10 acres with some or most of it being existing, high quality Oregon white oak habitat. These acres can be zoned for exclusive farm use, mixed farm and forest use, or forest use.
Tip: Use Washington County Intermap’s Assessment & Taxation information to determine the zoning of your property.
Additional application criteria ensure, for example, landowner capacity to follow through with habitat management plan. Please review the enrollment criteria for our region, the North Willamette Watershed found on the ODFW WHCMP webpage.
What are the benefits of enrolling in this program?
Qualifying properties are preserving essential habitat in Oregon. The Wildlife Habitat Conservation and Management Program supports the State’s plan to conserve Oregon’s fish, wildlife, and their habitats, called the State Wide Action Plan. This visionary plan focuses on improving and expanding voluntary conservation efforts throughout Oregon, including for oak woodlands and savannas.
Through WHCMP, landowners receive an incentive to conserve and maintain wildlife habitat on their land. Property acres enrolled in the program receive a reduction in the property tax rate.
Interested in harvesting timber?
This reduction in property tax rates is comparable to the Oregon Forestland Tax Deferral Program. The program allows enrolled landowners to practice forest thinning for forest health or harvest timber. Landowners need to incorporate these practices into the management plan required for enrollment.
What are the responsibilities of the landowner once enrolled?
During the application process, Tualatin Soil and Water Conservation District will help landowners develop a draft wildlife habitat conservation and management plan for the acres they plan to enroll.
Once enrolled in the Wildlife Habitat Conservation and Management Program, landowners must maintain these acres according to this management plan. Also, landowners are required to self-report their management actions each year prior to April 1st.
How do I apply?
First, any landowner interested in enrolling in the Wildlife Habitat Conservation and Management Program should become more familiar with the eligibility requirements, application process, and tax incentive information on the official ODFW WHCMP webpage. The Tualatin River watershed is part of the North Willamette Watershed District for this program.
Once you have reviewed the information, then contact ODFW to confirm your eligibility and begin the application process.
Tualatin Soil and Water Conservation District (Tualatin SWCD) is the cooperating agency for Washington County for this program. Tualatin SWCD can support landowners in the application process by scheduling a site visit to your property, and co-developing materials necessary for the application, such as a habitat management plan.
Within 90 days of submitting an application, ODFW will make a decision on a completed management plan. Landowners should submit all required application materials to the County Assessor prior to April 1st for the tax year they want to be enrolled.
Find ODFW’s contact information and more details about eligibility, application, and program requirements on ODFW’s WHCMP webpage.
We’re here for you
ODFW’s Wildlife Habitat Conservation and Management Program aligns with Tualatin SWCD’s Oregon white oak habitat conservation work over the past decade. Staff at Tualatin SWCD are here to support landowners through the application process. Whether or not a landowner is eligible for this program, Tualatin SWCD staff look forward to supporting the conservation of Oregon white oak habitat on their lands.
Watch a short film about one partnership between Tualatin SWCD and a private landowner to conserve and enhance Oregon white oak habitat, here.
Questions?
Contact Aaron Shaw, Director of Natural Resources at aaron.shaw@tualatinswcd.org or (503) 334-2291.