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New Luckiamute State Natural Area Needs Your Support Thanks to input by local conservationists, the new state park lands at the confluence of the Luckiamute and Willamette Rivers have been designated a “State Natural Area” in the planning process. This is good news for Western Pond Turtles, for which the site holds one of the most significant breeding populations in the Willamette Valley. It’s also good news for other sensitive species, including Red-legged Frogs, “Oregon” Vesper Sparrows, White-breasted Nuthatch, Western Bluebird, and the critically imperiled “Streaked” Horned Lark. As described in the December 2005 Chat, the proposed Luckiamute State Natural Area includes over 1000 acres of unique Willamette bottomlands, including the areas which birdwatchers have long enjoyed as the Luckiamute Landing and Vanderpool Tract greenways. Luckiamute Landing holds one of the largest surviving remnants of the bottomland deciduous forest, including huge black cottonwoods which have hosted pairs of Red-eyed Vireos. The Vanderpool Tract has mature oaks as well as ash and maple swales, and secluded ponds. This month it raised excitement as the location of Benton County’s second confirmed Tennesee Warbler. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) modified its original plans after learning of the unique conservation value of this area. This includes the importance of existing open habitats for grassland birds, which have lost most of their habitat to intensive grass-seed agriculture. In their second draft plan, OPRD proposed conversion of the small agricultural fields in the Natural Area to native wet prairie and upland savannah grasses and forbs, and to route recreational trails more carefully around sensitive areas. Despite these very positive developments, we’re not out of the woods yet! The process has taken two steps backward, after a few residents raised objections and managed to get the ear of an influential state legislator. OPRD has now scheduled additional public meetings and another cycle of revision in the master plan for this area. Some of the neighbors’ concerns are less controversial, such as the locations of a new trailhead and a canoe paddlers’ access which could impact privacy and law enforcement in the area. Some attendees at the last public meeting also raised the need for an adequate game-law enforcement presence, if hunting and fishing are allowed in the area. Some are opposed to plans to take fields out of agricultural production, even though the state has had some trouble finding farmers who want to rent these fields. They also expressed fears that wetland and other habitat restorations could lead to increased flooding on their land (even though one adjoining landowner is very supportive of the plans and is working on his own wetland restoration project). Some voiced objections to the whole idea of the state acquiring land for public green space along the Willamette River -- even though the land has already been acquired and the only question is how to manage it. Your support is needed to ensure the conservation value of these public lands is not sacrificed to other interests. Two public meetings are coming up, one in Monmouth Oct. 4 and one in Salem Oct 5. There will also be a written comment period through November 5. For full information on the meeting times and locations, as well as a description of the stages of OPRD’s planning process, see: egov.oregon.gov |
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