Conservation District to Buy Springfield Rice Farm, Protect Cedar Creek

The Upper Willamette Soil and Water Conservation District announced on November 26 that it has a purchase agreement to acquire the 289 acre Rice Farm north of Springfield. The property has been in the Dietz family for more than a century and includes hazelnut orchards planted in the 1930s, diverse wildlife habitat, and a stretch of Cedar Creek, which contributes to flows in the McKenzie River. The sale is expected to finalize in early December.

Owner Arlene Dietz offered the property for sale at a significant discount, accepting roughly four million dollars for a parcel valued near five point eight million dollars, to ensure the land remains in agriculture and to protect the creek rather than see the parcel subdivided or developed. That decision preserves both a working landscape and the continuity of a multigenerational family farm, elements that local leaders and residents had cited as priorities.

The conservation district plans to manage the site for a mix of continued agricultural production, primarily hazelnut orchards, floodplain and riparian restoration, wildlife habitat enhancement, community education, and formal engagement with tribal partners. The district says this purchase is its first major land acquisition since voters approved a tax base for the district in 2020, a change that expanded its capacity to pursue long term conservation projects.

For residents of Lane County the acquisition carries practical implications. Protecting the Cedar Creek corridor supports water quality and streamflow stability for downstream communities that rely on the McKenzie watershed. Restoring riparian areas and floodplain function can improve salmonid habitat and reduce erosion and peak flows. Preserving agricultural acreage also sustains local farm employment and maintains the rural character of the area at a time when development pressures are increasing.

The transaction raises ongoing questions about long term stewardship, funding for restoration and maintenance, and the districts coordination with state, county, and tribal entities. With a closing slated for early December, the conservation district will now move from acquisition to planning and implementation, and residents will have opportunities to follow project proposals and public engagement processes as management actions are developed.