Courtesy of David Jensen

One of the ridges overlooking Wallowa Lake, with the majestic Wallowa Mountains just beyond, might soon become public land, thanks to a push from a partnership of state and local agencies.



The Wallowa Lake Moraines Partnership aims to raise about $3 million by the end of the year, which it would then use to purchase nearly 1,800 acres of private land on the east moraine overlooking the lake. The current landowners have agreed to sell for $6 million, and the partnership has already raised the majority of it, members said.



There's no specific timeline for public access, but the partnership's goal is to "make it accessible as soon as reasonably possible."



"There's a hope someday that you could actually traverse the east moraine legally," said Kathleen Ackley, executive director of the Wallowa Land Trust, which is a member of the partnership that includes Wallowa Resources, Wallowa County and the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. "It's the iconic visual image of Wallowa County; it's important to the residents; it's sacred to the Nez Perce people."



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Courtesy of Wallowa Land Trust/Leon Werdinger Photography

The yellow lines indicate the parcel of private land that the partnership would be buying for public use.

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Courtesy of Wallowa Land Trust/Leon Werdinger Photography

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The land overlooking the east side of the lake has been in private hands for decades, but in 2011 owners of a sizable plot announced their intentions to sell, with plans to build a conference center and single-family homes.

That caused an uproar among some in Wallowa County who feared the development would sully both the view and the culture of the community. That led to the formation of the partnership to try to buy the land for public use instead.



The project received endorsements from local officials, as well as U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and U.S. Rep. Greg Walden. This year landowners agreed to sell to the partnership, if it can cobble together the money by the end of the year.



"The east moraine is iconic to eastern Oregon's outdoors," Walden said in a news release February 1. "Putting the east moraine into county ownership will help ensure the landscape continues to be managed for multiple use, supporting jobs and our local economy."



The moraines on each side of the lake were created as an ancient glacier moved down from the mountains, pushing up the earth all around it. When the glacier eventually melted, it became Wallowa Lake. The moraines are considered "textbook perfect" examples of the geologic phenomenon, Ackley said, and are a beautiful destination, blooming with wildflowers in spring.

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Courtesy of Leon Werdinger Photography

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Courtesy of Kathleen Ackley

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The lake itself is a popular attraction in an area that's known for its summer crowds. Boaters and photographers often flock to the county park on the northern shore, which has a stunning view of the Wallowa Mountains. The southern shore is part of Wallowa Lake State Park, home to one of the most popular campgrounds in Oregon.



But while the lake gets a lot of visitors, the moraines are relatively deserted – and for good reason. Since they're technically on private land, hiking along the ridges is trespassing. Landowners have largely turned a blind eye to the hikers, but local officials see a lot of opportunity in making the land a public park, for both aesthetic and economic purposes.



Hikers who have been going up on the moraine have been using an old logging road, Ackley said, and while that trail will be maintained, the plan is to pretty much leave it as is. The partnership is also talking to the landowners of the rest of the moraine to try to establish a public trail that runs all the way across.



"We don't want to change it much from what it already is," Ackley said. "I think our community is really cognizant to not overdevelop or exploit the landscape."



However, the use of natural resources is also an integral part of the project. The plan would also allow the harvesting of trees from what would become a public forest, and would allow grazing. Revenue from those projects would go to Wallowa County.



The partnership hasn't announced a firm timeline for public access or use, saying only that if the sale is completed, the land would be in public hands in 2020. For now, the partnership is focused on raising the remaining $3 million.



The group will solicit donations from individuals, families and businesses, and will apply for grant funding, it said in a press release. It's also currently accepting donations online at morainecampaign.org, calling it a "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to secure a natural wonder."



--Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB

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Courtesy of Wallowa Land Trust/Leon Werdinger Photography

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