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• 31. [Article] Native wetland, riparian, and upland plant communities and their biota in the Willamette Valley, Oregon

  As part of the Willamette Basin Geographic Initiative Program, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funded The Nature Conservancy of Oregon to inventory, classify, and map native wetland and riparian ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Native wetland, riparian, and upland plant communities and their biota in the Willamette Valley, Oregon Author: Alverson, Edward R., VanderSchaaf, Dick, Kagan, James S., Christy, John A., Titus, John H. As part of the Willamette Basin Geographic Initiative Program, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funded The Nature Conservancy of Oregon to inventory, classify, and map native wetland and riparian plant communities and their threatened biota in the Willamette Valley. Between October 1994 and September 1996, we evaluated 172 wetland and riparian sites throughout the Willamette Valley. A site is a stream or river reach or wetland area that was inventoried at one to many locations. Of these sites, 21 are high-quality remnants important for future protection and restoration efforts. We identified 153 natural communities as occurring in native wetland and riparian habitats, of which 101 are new to the plant community classification of the Oregon Natural Heritage Program. Twenty-six species of rare animals and 23 species of rare plants occur in the Willamette Valley. Thirty-two species of rare plants and animals appear to be directly dependent on wetland and riparian communities in the Willamette Valley, and twenty-two species are dependent on upland communities in the Willamette Valley. Mapping of presettlement vegetation in the Willamette Valley indicates that 456,119 hectares (1,127,071 ac) of wetland and riparian habitat have been lost overall, with 12 communities impacted in particular. As for uplands, 732,432 hectares (1,809,841 ac) of habitat have been lost overall, with 7 natural communities impacted in particular. We recommend local citizen involvement, land purchases and restoration as means of protecting and restoring remnant ecosystems and their biota in the Willamette Valley. Title: Native wetland, riparian, and upland plant communities and their biota in the Willamette Valley, Oregon Author: Alverson, Edward R., VanderSchaaf, Dick, Kagan, James S., Christy, John A., Titus, John H. As part of the Willamette Basin Geographic Initiative Program, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funded The Nature Conservancy of Oregon to inventory, classify, and map native wetland and riparian plant communities and their threatened biota in the Willamette Valley. Between October 1994 and September 1996, we evaluated 172 wetland and riparian sites throughout the Willamette Valley. A site is a stream or river reach or wetland area that was inventoried at one to many locations. Of these sites, 21 are high-quality remnants important for future protection and restoration efforts. We identified 153 natural communities as occurring in native wetland and riparian habitats, of which 101 are new to the plant community classification of the Oregon Natural Heritage Program. Twenty-six species of rare animals and 23 species of rare plants occur in the Willamette Valley. Thirty-two species of rare plants and animals appear to be directly dependent on wetland and riparian communities in the Willamette Valley, and twenty-two species are dependent on upland communities in the Willamette Valley. Mapping of presettlement vegetation in the Willamette Valley indicates that 456,119 hectares (1,127,071 ac) of wetland and riparian habitat have been lost overall, with 12 communities impacted in particular. As for uplands, 732,432 hectares (1,809,841 ac) of habitat have been lost overall, with 7 natural communities impacted in particular. We recommend local citizen involvement, land purchases and restoration as means of protecting and restoring remnant ecosystems and their biota in the Willamette Valley. Close

• 32. [Article] The application of geographic information systems for delineation and classification of tidal wetlands for resource management of Oregon’s coastal watersheds

  Resource managers of Oregon’s tidal wetlands require an improved GIS layer for management of existing tidal wetland habitat and areas considered for tidal wetland restoration. A reconnaissance project ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The application of geographic information systems for delineation and classification of tidal wetlands for resource management of Oregon’s coastal watersheds Author: Scranton, Russell W. Resource managers of Oregon’s tidal wetlands require an improved GIS layer for management of existing tidal wetland habitat and areas considered for tidal wetland restoration. A reconnaissance project was initiated, such that interpretations of remote sensing data, the National Wetland Inventory, Oregon Estuary Plan Book and additional management tools were used to create a “tidal wetland” in an ArcGIS Geodatabase, for Oregon’s coastal estuaries, excluding the Columbia River. With an improved hydrologic delineation of tidal waters and channels this data set classifies existing tidal wetlands for future resource management use based on the Hydrogeomorphic (HGM) classification (adopted nationally and by the State of Oregon) and for habitat classification based on the Oregon Estuary Plan Book classification system. The classification “restoration consideration areas” was developed for lands where restoration of tidal circulation might be geotechnically feasible pending further investigations. Additional groundwork and validation of the data set classification’s is recommended before this interpretation is used as an official reference for resource management. In addition to wetland classification this project was partly developed to provide a GIS base layer, which when combined with supplementary data sets, would enhance the ability of resource mangers and citizens to prioritize tidal wetland restoration efforts and evaluate the ecological integrity of an individual tidal wetlands or an entire estuarine complex. A simple spatial analysis of this data set’s classification system by watershed and comparison to the Oregon State of the Environment Report 2000 (SER) shows improvements to total existing tidal marsh habitat. It also shows that the SER underestimated the total habitat lost due to anthropogenic alteration based on information and techniques available for their assessment. Additional development of the data set may enhance management of Goals 16 and 17 of Oregon’s Statewide Planning Goals Guidelines, aid in management of non-point source pollution and the designation Critical Habitat and restoration priorities for the endangered Coastal Coho. Resource managers and citizens will be able to view and interpret this data set and supporting documentation at the OSU Library or in part online at the Oregon Coastal Atlas (www.coastalatlas.net). Title: The application of geographic information systems for delineation and classification of tidal wetlands for resource management of Oregon’s coastal watersheds Author: Scranton, Russell W. Resource managers of Oregon’s tidal wetlands require an improved GIS layer for management of existing tidal wetland habitat and areas considered for tidal wetland restoration. A reconnaissance project was initiated, such that interpretations of remote sensing data, the National Wetland Inventory, Oregon Estuary Plan Book and additional management tools were used to create a “tidal wetland” in an ArcGIS Geodatabase, for Oregon’s coastal estuaries, excluding the Columbia River. With an improved hydrologic delineation of tidal waters and channels this data set classifies existing tidal wetlands for future resource management use based on the Hydrogeomorphic (HGM) classification (adopted nationally and by the State of Oregon) and for habitat classification based on the Oregon Estuary Plan Book classification system. The classification “restoration consideration areas” was developed for lands where restoration of tidal circulation might be geotechnically feasible pending further investigations. Additional groundwork and validation of the data set classification’s is recommended before this interpretation is used as an official reference for resource management. In addition to wetland classification this project was partly developed to provide a GIS base layer, which when combined with supplementary data sets, would enhance the ability of resource mangers and citizens to prioritize tidal wetland restoration efforts and evaluate the ecological integrity of an individual tidal wetlands or an entire estuarine complex. A simple spatial analysis of this data set’s classification system by watershed and comparison to the Oregon State of the Environment Report 2000 (SER) shows improvements to total existing tidal marsh habitat. It also shows that the SER underestimated the total habitat lost due to anthropogenic alteration based on information and techniques available for their assessment. Additional development of the data set may enhance management of Goals 16 and 17 of Oregon’s Statewide Planning Goals Guidelines, aid in management of non-point source pollution and the designation Critical Habitat and restoration priorities for the endangered Coastal Coho. Resource managers and citizens will be able to view and interpret this data set and supporting documentation at the OSU Library or in part online at the Oregon Coastal Atlas (www.coastalatlas.net). Close

• 33. [Article] Coastal cutthroat trout : life in the watershed

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Coastal cutthroat trout : life in the watershed Author: Fitzpatrick, Martin S., Oregon State University. Sea Grant College Program Title: Coastal cutthroat trout : life in the watershed Author: Fitzpatrick, Martin S., Oregon State University. Sea Grant College Program Close

• 34. [Article] Coastal steelhead trout : life in the watershed

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Coastal steelhead trout : life in the watershed Author: Fitzpatrick, Martin S., Oregon State University. Sea Grant College Program Title: Coastal steelhead trout : life in the watershed Author: Fitzpatrick, Martin S., Oregon State University. Sea Grant College Program Close

• 35. [Article] Water quality effects of hyporheic processing

  "PB2000-107420."

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Water quality effects of hyporheic processing Author: Wigington, P.J., Landers, Dixon, Fernald, Alexander "PB2000-107420." Title: Water quality effects of hyporheic processing Author: Wigington, P.J., Landers, Dixon, Fernald, Alexander "PB2000-107420." Close

• 36. [Article] Coho salmon : life in the watershed

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Coho salmon : life in the watershed Author: Oregon State University. Sea Grant College Program, Oregon Coastal Watershed Enhancement Project Title: Coho salmon : life in the watershed Author: Oregon State University. Sea Grant College Program, Oregon Coastal Watershed Enhancement Project Close

• 37. [Article] South Fork Alsea watershed analysis

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: South Fork Alsea watershed analysis Title: South Fork Alsea watershed analysis Close

• 38. [Article] Ecology of female northern pintails during winter in the San Joaquin Valley, California

  I radio-tagged 191 Hatch-Year (HY) and After-Hatch-Year (AHY) female northern pintails (Anas acuta) in the San Joaquin Valley (SJV), California and studied their movements, habitat use and survival during ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Ecology of female northern pintails during winter in the San Joaquin Valley, California Author: Fleskes, Joseph P. I radio-tagged 191 Hatch-Year (HY) and After-Hatch-Year (AHY) female northern pintails (Anas acuta) in the San Joaquin Valley (SJV), California and studied their movements, habitat use and survival during August March, 1991-94. Overall, 94.3% wintered in central California; the highest percentage left during the 1991 drought. Tulare Basin and Mendota Wildlife Area (WA) pintails moved to the Grassland Ecological Area (EA) vicinity when hunting began. Of those wintering in central California, 83% went to the Sacramento Valley, most during December. AHY pintails tended to leave earliest but the effect of age varied with body condition. Loss of Tulare Basin habitat has contributed to the late-winter decline of pintails throughout the SJV. Local distribution and movements differed most among seasons, day and night periods and shoot and nonshoot days. Overall, 64% of the day and 85% of the night locations in the Grassland EA vicinity were on private wetlands. Habitat availability and use varied greatly among SJV areas and during the winter. Pintails selected shallow and avoided deepwater habitats. Swamp timothy wetlands were the most abundant and most highly selected habitat in Grassland EA and Mendota WA. In Tulare Basin, preirrigated fields were the most abundant and selected habitat during PREHUNT, but managed wetlands were most abundant and selected thereafter. Selection of watergrass wetlands during night was low in the Grassland EA vicinity but high in Mendota WA. In Tulare Basin, pintails selected preirrigated fallow and safflower fields; selection of barley-wheat fields varied greatly. The exodus of most pintails from the SJV during December implies that preferred late-winter habitats were lacking. Winter survival was lower for HY (0.67) than AHY (0.76) pintails. Survival was similar to Louisiana and Suisun Marsh but lower than in the Sacramento Valley. Hunting caused 83%, avian predators 7.6%, collisions 1%, and disease or other non-hunting factors 8.7% of the mortalities. Hunting mortality was related to fall body condition for HY but not AHY pintails. The retrieval rate for shot radio-tagged pintails was 80.3%. This study indicates that inter-related factors influenced female pintail ecology during winter in California but availability of productive habitat was especially important. Title: Ecology of female northern pintails during winter in the San Joaquin Valley, California Author: Fleskes, Joseph P. I radio-tagged 191 Hatch-Year (HY) and After-Hatch-Year (AHY) female northern pintails (Anas acuta) in the San Joaquin Valley (SJV), California and studied their movements, habitat use and survival during August March, 1991-94. Overall, 94.3% wintered in central California; the highest percentage left during the 1991 drought. Tulare Basin and Mendota Wildlife Area (WA) pintails moved to the Grassland Ecological Area (EA) vicinity when hunting began. Of those wintering in central California, 83% went to the Sacramento Valley, most during December. AHY pintails tended to leave earliest but the effect of age varied with body condition. Loss of Tulare Basin habitat has contributed to the late-winter decline of pintails throughout the SJV. Local distribution and movements differed most among seasons, day and night periods and shoot and nonshoot days. Overall, 64% of the day and 85% of the night locations in the Grassland EA vicinity were on private wetlands. Habitat availability and use varied greatly among SJV areas and during the winter. Pintails selected shallow and avoided deepwater habitats. Swamp timothy wetlands were the most abundant and most highly selected habitat in Grassland EA and Mendota WA. In Tulare Basin, preirrigated fields were the most abundant and selected habitat during PREHUNT, but managed wetlands were most abundant and selected thereafter. Selection of watergrass wetlands during night was low in the Grassland EA vicinity but high in Mendota WA. In Tulare Basin, pintails selected preirrigated fallow and safflower fields; selection of barley-wheat fields varied greatly. The exodus of most pintails from the SJV during December implies that preferred late-winter habitats were lacking. Winter survival was lower for HY (0.67) than AHY (0.76) pintails. Survival was similar to Louisiana and Suisun Marsh but lower than in the Sacramento Valley. Hunting caused 83%, avian predators 7.6%, collisions 1%, and disease or other non-hunting factors 8.7% of the mortalities. Hunting mortality was related to fall body condition for HY but not AHY pintails. The retrieval rate for shot radio-tagged pintails was 80.3%. This study indicates that inter-related factors influenced female pintail ecology during winter in California but availability of productive habitat was especially important. Close

• 39. [Article] Vegetation characterization of three contrasting riparian areas : Williamette Valley, Oregon

  Much of the native riparian vegetation of the Willamette Valley, Oregon, has been replaced with agricultural crops or invasive non-native plant species. Detailed information about current Willamette Valley ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Vegetation characterization of three contrasting riparian areas : Williamette Valley, Oregon Author: McAllister, Lynne S., Dwire, Kathleen A., Griffith, Stephen M. Much of the native riparian vegetation of the Willamette Valley, Oregon, has been replaced with agricultural crops or invasive non-native plant species. Detailed information about current Willamette Valley riparian vegetation is generally lacking. Plant specie composition data are useful in a variety of applications, including condition assessment, environmental monitoring and restoration planning. The objective of this study was to characterize the vegetation of three contrasting riparian sites occurring in the Willamette Valley. W determined plant species composition and abundance at a non-cultivated herbaceous site and a cultivated site, both located along Lake Creek, an intermittent stream, and at a forested site located along the Calapooia River, a perennial stream. All sites were adjacent to intensively-managed perennial ryegrass seed production fields. Crop agriculture strongly encroached on the Lake Creek sites, whereas the Calapooia site had received little encroachment from agricultural coversion. At Lake Creek, we inventoried 32 species at the non-cultivated herbaceous site and 18 species at the cultivated site, most of which were non-native. The cultivated site was dominated by wetland-adapted species in the area closest to the creek where perennial ryegrass was absent. Approximately half of the species at the non-cultivated herbaceous site were facultative upland species, and the site was dominated by introduced pasture grasses. In contrast, the 53 species inventoried at the forested site were mostly native and wetland-adapted. The forested site was dominated by Poplus balsamifera ssp, trichocarap T. & G., Pseudotsuga menziessii (Mirbel) Franco, and Acer macrophyllum Pursh, with extensive shrub and herbaceous strata. Results show a range of vegetative conditions found in riparian areas of the Willamette Valley and reflect the influence of differing hydrologic regimes and agricultural impacts. Title: Vegetation characterization of three contrasting riparian areas : Williamette Valley, Oregon Author: McAllister, Lynne S., Dwire, Kathleen A., Griffith, Stephen M. Much of the native riparian vegetation of the Willamette Valley, Oregon, has been replaced with agricultural crops or invasive non-native plant species. Detailed information about current Willamette Valley riparian vegetation is generally lacking. Plant specie composition data are useful in a variety of applications, including condition assessment, environmental monitoring and restoration planning. The objective of this study was to characterize the vegetation of three contrasting riparian sites occurring in the Willamette Valley. W determined plant species composition and abundance at a non-cultivated herbaceous site and a cultivated site, both located along Lake Creek, an intermittent stream, and at a forested site located along the Calapooia River, a perennial stream. All sites were adjacent to intensively-managed perennial ryegrass seed production fields. Crop agriculture strongly encroached on the Lake Creek sites, whereas the Calapooia site had received little encroachment from agricultural coversion. At Lake Creek, we inventoried 32 species at the non-cultivated herbaceous site and 18 species at the cultivated site, most of which were non-native. The cultivated site was dominated by wetland-adapted species in the area closest to the creek where perennial ryegrass was absent. Approximately half of the species at the non-cultivated herbaceous site were facultative upland species, and the site was dominated by introduced pasture grasses. In contrast, the 53 species inventoried at the forested site were mostly native and wetland-adapted. The forested site was dominated by Poplus balsamifera ssp, trichocarap T. & G., Pseudotsuga menziessii (Mirbel) Franco, and Acer macrophyllum Pursh, with extensive shrub and herbaceous strata. Results show a range of vegetative conditions found in riparian areas of the Willamette Valley and reflect the influence of differing hydrologic regimes and agricultural impacts. Close

• 40. [Article] Spatial and temporal movement patterns of wintering Dunlin (Calidris alpina) and Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) in the Willamette Valley, Oregon

  Avian movement behavior provides insight on patterns of regional and local fidelity, habitat and resource requirements, the scale at which individuals perceive the landscape, and the relative influence ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Spatial and temporal movement patterns of wintering Dunlin (Calidris alpina) and Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) in the Willamette Valley, Oregon Author: Sanzenbacher, Peter M. Avian movement behavior provides insight on patterns of regional and local fidelity, habitat and resource requirements, the scale at which individuals perceive the landscape, and the relative influence of the spatial array of resources. Shorebirds (suborder: Charadrii) are a diverse and mobile group of wetland associated species. Large numbers of shorebirds utilize seasonally flooded wetland habitats in the Willamette Valley of northwest Oregon; however, there is little information on fidelity and movements of birds in the region or at other inland sites. Thus, we quantified winter fidelity and movement patterns of radio-tagged Dunlin (Calidris alpina) and Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) in the Willamette Valley in 1998-1999 and 1999-2000. Prior to field telemetry, we evaluated use of a leg-loop harness design for attachment of radio-transmitters. Comparisons between captive Western Sandpipers (Calidris mauri) fitted with a harness package and a control group indicated no significant differences in behavior. In addition, observations of wild Killdeer and Dunlin indicated prolonged harness retention and no adverse effects on behavior. Therefore, we determined that the modified harness design was a suitable method for attachment of transmitters to shorebirds. Monitoring of radio-tagged Dunlin and Killdeer indicated interspecific differences in regional fidelity and residency patterns. Dunlin exhibited a high degree of regional fidelity and in most cases remained within the Valley for the duration of the winter. In contrast, Killdeer departed the study area throughout the winter and the population segment monitored was composed of winter residents (63%), winter transients (26%) and year-round resident breeders (11%). Dunlin were highly mobile with frequent movements up to 30 km from roost sites. Among seasons, Dunlin differed significantly in distance traveled, mean distance from capture site, and home range size. All were greatest during late winter. In comparison, the scale of Killdeer movements was much smaller, with no seasonal differences in movements. Results also suggested that resident Killdeer were more sedentary than migrants during the winter months. At a local scale, individuals of both species occurred predominantly in agricultural habitats and exhibited low degrees of fidelity to specific fields, with the exception that Dunlin frequently returned to certain roost sites. On a daily basis, movements of both Dunlin and Killdeer were most pronounced during crepuscular periods. Findings provide insight on the fidelity and winter movements of shorebirds, as well provide insight as to the functional connectivity of shorebird habitats in the Willamette Valley. Title: Spatial and temporal movement patterns of wintering Dunlin (Calidris alpina) and Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) in the Willamette Valley, Oregon Author: Sanzenbacher, Peter M. Avian movement behavior provides insight on patterns of regional and local fidelity, habitat and resource requirements, the scale at which individuals perceive the landscape, and the relative influence of the spatial array of resources. Shorebirds (suborder: Charadrii) are a diverse and mobile group of wetland associated species. Large numbers of shorebirds utilize seasonally flooded wetland habitats in the Willamette Valley of northwest Oregon; however, there is little information on fidelity and movements of birds in the region or at other inland sites. Thus, we quantified winter fidelity and movement patterns of radio-tagged Dunlin (Calidris alpina) and Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) in the Willamette Valley in 1998-1999 and 1999-2000. Prior to field telemetry, we evaluated use of a leg-loop harness design for attachment of radio-transmitters. Comparisons between captive Western Sandpipers (Calidris mauri) fitted with a harness package and a control group indicated no significant differences in behavior. In addition, observations of wild Killdeer and Dunlin indicated prolonged harness retention and no adverse effects on behavior. Therefore, we determined that the modified harness design was a suitable method for attachment of transmitters to shorebirds. Monitoring of radio-tagged Dunlin and Killdeer indicated interspecific differences in regional fidelity and residency patterns. Dunlin exhibited a high degree of regional fidelity and in most cases remained within the Valley for the duration of the winter. In contrast, Killdeer departed the study area throughout the winter and the population segment monitored was composed of winter residents (63%), winter transients (26%) and year-round resident breeders (11%). Dunlin were highly mobile with frequent movements up to 30 km from roost sites. Among seasons, Dunlin differed significantly in distance traveled, mean distance from capture site, and home range size. All were greatest during late winter. In comparison, the scale of Killdeer movements was much smaller, with no seasonal differences in movements. Results also suggested that resident Killdeer were more sedentary than migrants during the winter months. At a local scale, individuals of both species occurred predominantly in agricultural habitats and exhibited low degrees of fidelity to specific fields, with the exception that Dunlin frequently returned to certain roost sites. On a daily basis, movements of both Dunlin and Killdeer were most pronounced during crepuscular periods. Findings provide insight on the fidelity and winter movements of shorebirds, as well provide insight as to the functional connectivity of shorebird habitats in the Willamette Valley. Close