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Conversion of Natural Resource Lands To Urban Lands Findings

Oregon by 6 Digit Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) Area
1997 National Resources Inventory Results
(Revised December 2000)
 

See Conversion of Lands Topic List for detailed results.
 

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Conversion of Natural Resource Lands to Urban Lands in Oregon 6 Digit HUC Watersheds

NRI results indicate that conversion of natural resource lands (cropland, pastureland, rangeland, and forestland)  to urban lands from 1982 to 1997 was concentrated in a few 6 Digit Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) watersheds in Oregon.   In fact, the estimated 123,600 acres converted in the Willamette watershed accounted for 49% of the converted lands in Oregon during this period.
 

Total Natural Resource Lands Converted to Urban Lands From 1982 to 1997 by 6 Digit HUC Watershed
Watershed Name Estimated Acres % of Total
Willamette 123,600 49%
Southern Oregon Coastal 42,000 17%
Deschutes River Basin 30,200 12%
Middle Columbia 19,000 8%
Northern Oregon Coastal 13,000 5%
Snake River Group 10,300 4%
Lower Columbia 5,700 2%
Rest of Oregon 6,000 3%
Total Acres 249,800 100%

Adobe Acrobat DocumentChart for Resource Lands Converted from 1982 to 1997 by 6-digit HUC (13 KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentTable for Resource Lands Converted from 1982 to 1997 by 6-digit HUC (8 KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentMap for Resource Lands Converted from 1982 to 1997 by 6-digit HUC (397 KB)

Adobe Acrobat DocumentMap of Oregon's 6 Digit HUC Watersheds (666 KB)

  • Text Version of Resource Lands Converted from 1982 to 1997 by 6-digit HUC.
  • Details for Resource Lands Converted from 1982 to 1997 by 6-digit HUC.
    •

    The estimated average rate of conversion of natural resource lands increased in some watersheds, while decreasing in others, when the 1982 to 1992 period is compared to the 1992 to 1997 period.  The Willamette River, Southern Oregon Coastal, and Northern Oregon Coastal had increased rates, while the Deschutes River, Middle Columbia, and Snake River had decreased conversion rates.
     

    Estimated Annual Rate of Natural Resource Lands Converted to Urban Lands for '1982 to 1992' compared to '1992 to 1997' by Acres Per Year
    Watershed Name 1982 to 1992 1992 to 1997 % Change
    Willamette 7,180 10,360 44.3%
    Southern Oregon Coastal 2,410 3,580 48.5%
    Deschutes River Basin 2,220 1,600 - 27.9%
    Middle Columbia 1,570 660 - 58.0%
    Snake River Group 840 380 - 54.8%
    Northern Oregon Coastal 690 1,220 76.8%
    Lower Columbia 260 620 138.5%
    Rest of Oregon 380 440 15.8%
    Total Acres/Year 15,550 18,860 21.3%

    Adobe Acrobat DocumentChart for Annual Rate of Conversion to Urban Lands by 6-digit HUC (25 KB)
    Adobe Acrobat DocumentTable for Annual Rate of Conversion to Urban Lands by 6-digit HUC (8 KB)

  • Text Version of Annual Rate of Conversion to Urban Lands by 6-digit HUC.
  • Details for Annual Rate of Conversion to Urban Lands by 6-digit HUC.
    •

     

    Conversion of Prime Farmland Soils on Natural Resource Lands to Urban Lands in Oregon 6 Digit HUC Watersheds

    Prime farmland soils conversion from natural resource to urban uses within Oregon watersheds followed a similar pattern as the conversion of resource lands on all soils types.   From 1982 to 1997, the Willamette River watershed accounted for 66% of the total prime soils converted, followed by the Southern Oregon Coastal at 8%, the Deschutes River at 7%, with the rest of Oregon accounting for 19% of the state total.
     

    Prime Farmland Soils on Natural Resource Lands Converted to Urban Lands From 1982 to 1997
    Watershed Name Acres Converted % of Total
    Willamette 55,800 66%
    Southern Oregon Coastal 7,300 8%
    Deschutes River Basin 5,800 7%
    Rest of Oregon 16,100 19%
    Total Acres 85,000 100%

    Adobe Acrobat DocumentChart for Prime Soils on Resource Lands Converted to Urban Lands by 6-digit HUC (8 KB)
    Adobe Acrobat DocumentTable for Prime Soils on Resource Lands Converted to Urban Lands by 6-digit HUC (7 KB)
    Adobe Acrobat DocumentMap for Prime Soils on Resource Lands Converted to Urban Lands by 6-digit HUC (399 KB)

  • Text Version of Prime Soils on Resource Lands Converted to Urban Lands by 6-digit HUC.
  • Details for Prime Soils on Resource Lands Converted to Urban Lands by 6-digit HUC.
    •

    The rate of conversion of prime farmland soils on natural resource lands to urban lands in Oregon increased from an estimated 5,000 acres per year between 1982 and 1992 to 7,000 acres per year from 1992 to 1997. This is an increase of 40%. The largest percentage rate increase was in the Deschutes River Basin, followed by the Southern Oregon Coastal, and the Willamette.  The rest of Oregon's watersheds had a decreased annual rate of conversion of prime farmland soils from 1992 to 1997 when compared with the 1982 to 1992 period.
     

    Estimated Annual Rate of Conversion of Prime Farmland Soils on Natural Resource Lands to Urban Lands "1982 to 1992" compared to "1992 to 1997" Acres Per Year
    Watershed Name 1982 to 1992 1992 to 1997 % Change
    Willamette 3,260 4,640 + 42%
    Southern Oregon Coastal 360 740 + 106%
    Deschutes River Basin 220 720 + 227%
    Rest of Oregon 1,160 900 - 22%
    Total Acres/Year 5,000 7,000 + 40%

    Adobe Acrobat DocumentChart for Annual Rate of Conversion of Prime Soils on Resource Lands to Urban Lands (18 KB)
    Adobe Acrobat DocumentTable for Annual Rate of Conversion of Prime Soils on Resource Lands to Urban Lands (7 KB)

  • Text Version of Annual Rate of Conversion of Prime Soils on Resource Lands to Urban Lands.
  • Details for Annual Rate of Conversion of Prime Soils on Resource Lands to Urban Lands.
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    Last Modification: Monday, July 28, 2003

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