Findings from the Willamette River Vegetative Survey and Assessment
The Willamette Mainstem Cooperative (WMC) is a group of landowners, volunteers and organizations working collaboratively to promote and facilitate long-term stewardship of natural resources along the Willamette River. The initial focus of the WMC was to conduct a two-year invasive plant and habitat assessment of the riparian habitat on the Willamette River from Corvallis to Albany. These surveys were contracted to Carex Working Group (CWG), a group of three local botanists who specialize in identification, survey and monitoring of rare and invasive plants.
During the summers of 2012 and 2013 CWG and the WMC worked together to complete survey work on over 2,500 acres of land with permission from nearly 50 landowners. Permission was granted nearly unanimously to survey and map invasive species on individual Willamette River properties. High quality habitats were areas that had very low densities of invasive plants and significant native plant populations.
After the survey work was complete, Dick Brainerd of CWG summed up the findings in a report titled Willamette River Vegetative Survey and Assessment. This report is currently being used as a management tool for the WMC and other Willamette River stakeholders as a way to guide priorities and action oriented planning for the river.
The two tables that follow summarize the findings from the 2012-2013 surveys. For more information on the WMC and this project please visit the Willamette Mainstem webpage.
Invasive Plant Summary:
Terrestrial weeds that were most abundant:
| Weeds that were present in small, scattered populations: |
Aquatic weeds that were most abundant:
| Weeds that were abundant, but still controllable:
|
Habitat & Management Summary:
High Quality Habitat
| Management Recommendations
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