Neighborhood Naturalist outing explores new Benton County natural area

On Sunday morning, Joel Geier led a small group of birders and outdoor enthusiasts for a nature hike at the Vanderpool Tract of the newly approved Luckiamute State Natural Area. The tour was organized through Neighborhood Naturalist, a collaboration of naturalists, writers, artists and scientists who work to teach the public about the Willamette Valley and to promote the idea of bioregionalism by teaching place-specific environmental knowledge.

The Luckiamute State Natural Area encompasses about 900 acres along the Willamette River between Albany and Buena Vista. The Santiam and Luckiamute rivers join the Willamette River inside the boundaries of the area. The northern part of the area includes some of the best remaining bottomland forest habitat in the valley. In the southern part, which includes the Vanderpool Tract, exists an even more special sight: Oak savannah.

It's a place to see an abundance of native riparian habitats and species that have been reduced to a fraction of their historic abundance in Oregon.

A pond at the Vanderpool Tract is home to one of the valley's largest remaining populations of western pond turtles. It's one of two ponds created by an abandoned gravel quarry site. A restoration project re-graded the banks of one of the ponds to create a more natural sloping bank for turtles. Signs are posted around the area warning the public to stay out of the sensitive habitat, but according to Geier, enforcement has been a problem. At times, skeet shooters, four-wheelers and off-leash dogs have all been near the breeding site.

Lack of enforcement was one of many issues that area landowners brought to public meetings that took place at the Monmouth Library throughout 2006 regarding the draft master plan for the project. Another concern was the public's access to the natural area would disturb the character of the neighborhood through increased traffic and possible trespassing onto adjacent lands. The planning process for the area was extended to include extra meetings to provide a forum for interested parties.

Plans for development in the natural area include establishing a park management facility using buildings from the former Willamette Botanicals property, development of a new south trailhead with parking, toilets and a trail system and new paddlers access to the Luckiamute River.

The planning process included an advisory committee with representatives from Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon State University Fisheries and Wildlife, Willamette River Keeper and Willamette Water Trail, Benton County Planning, Benton County Parks, Polk County Planning, Confederated Tribes of Grande Ronde, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Luckiamute Watershed Council, agricultural land lessees and neighbors.

As the tour group hiked in a loop around the property listening to bird songs, they saw song sparrows, swallows, flickers, warblers, tanagers, herons and hawks. At their feet they found a mix of native grasses, non-native mullen plants, vole runs, a tree frog, animal tracks and scat.

John Swanson came out for the tour on Sunday because he says, "I like being out in nature in general. I had never heard of this place and I thought I come see something new."

At a glance: The Luckiamute State Natural Area occupies about 900 acres of river flood plain in Benton and Polk counties. The master plan for the area is in the final stages of approval with the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. For more information see: http://egov.oregon.gov/OPRD/PLANS/planning_luckiamute.shtml

TO GET THERE

To visit the Vanderpool Tract go north on Highway 20 from Corvallis; turn left onto Independence Highway; turn right on Springhill Drive; and left onto Buena Vista Road. The parking area is the second driveway on the right.

Nancy Raskauskas can be reached at nancy.raskauskas@lee.net.