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• 1. [Article] Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation - Invasive Plant Species Management Plan

  2016

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation - Invasive Plant Species Management Plan Author: Patterson, Mark Andre 2016 Title: Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation - Invasive Plant Species Management Plan Author: Patterson, Mark Andre 2016 Close

• 2. [Article] Bio-Economic Modelling of the Red King Crab Invasion in the Barents Sea

  Abstract only.

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Bio-Economic Modelling of the Red King Crab Invasion in the Barents Sea Author: Armstrong, Claire, Falk-Petersen, Jannike Abstract only. Title: Bio-Economic Modelling of the Red King Crab Invasion in the Barents Sea Author: Armstrong, Claire, Falk-Petersen, Jannike Abstract only. Close

• 3. [Article] Resilience to Stress and Disturbance, and Resistance to Bromus tectorum L. Invasion in Cold Desert Shrublands of Western North America

  To the best of our knowledge, one or more authors of this paper were federal employees when contributing to this work. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by Springer ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Resilience to Stress and Disturbance, and Resistance to Bromus tectorum L. Invasion in Cold Desert Shrublands of Western North America Author: Miller, Richard F., Germino, Matthew J., Grace, James B., D'Antonio, Carla, Brown, Cynthia S., Bradley, Bethany A., Hardegree, Stuart P., Pyke, David A., Chambers, Jeanne C. To the best of our knowledge, one or more authors of this paper were federal employees when contributing to this work. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by Springer and can be found at: http://link.springer.com/journal/10021. Title: Resilience to Stress and Disturbance, and Resistance to Bromus tectorum L. Invasion in Cold Desert Shrublands of Western North America Author: Miller, Richard F., Germino, Matthew J., Grace, James B., D'Antonio, Carla, Brown, Cynthia S., Bradley, Bethany A., Hardegree, Stuart P., Pyke, David A., Chambers, Jeanne C. To the best of our knowledge, one or more authors of this paper were federal employees when contributing to this work. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by Springer and can be found at: http://link.springer.com/journal/10021. Close

• 4. [Article] Recommendations for Control of Tall Oatgrass, Poison Oak, and Rose in Willamette Valley Upland Prairies

  Native upland prairies, which once dominated the landscape of the Willamette Valley, are considered among the rarest of Oregon's ecosystems. Even though only remnants remain today, they harbor many rare ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Recommendations for Control of Tall Oatgrass, Poison Oak, and Rose in Willamette Valley Upland Prairies Author: Wilson, Mark V., Clark, Deborah Louise, 1950- Native upland prairies, which once dominated the landscape of the Willamette Valley, are considered among the rarest of Oregon's ecosystems. Even though only remnants remain today, they harbor many rare and endangered species such as the Fender's blue butterfly and its host plant, Kincaid’s lupine. Invasion of remnant prairies by woody plants and weedy non-native herbaceous species is of great concern to agencies and managers responsible for conserving these native ecosystems. Available methods for the control of these pests include herbicides, biological control, prescribed burning, and mowing. This report first reviews the literature on the control of tall oatgrass and the shrubs poison oak and rose. Each of these species is an important threat to Willamette Valley upland prairies. We then presents recommendations. For control of tall oatgrass, we recommend for most situations mowing in late spring or early summer. Mowing height should be just above most of the foliage of native plants to be protected (typically 10 cm - 15 cm). In areas with Kincaid’s lupine and Fender’s blue butterfly, mowing should be delayed until July, after the flowering and flight seasons. For control of prairie shrubs, we recommend further studies to evaluate herbicide effectiveness against the target shrubs and safety for non-target native plants and animals. If herbicide use is unavailable, we recommend burning or mowing. All burning or mowing treatments should be repeated, perhaps indefinitely, to maintain pest plant control. Title: Recommendations for Control of Tall Oatgrass, Poison Oak, and Rose in Willamette Valley Upland Prairies Author: Wilson, Mark V., Clark, Deborah Louise, 1950- Native upland prairies, which once dominated the landscape of the Willamette Valley, are considered among the rarest of Oregon's ecosystems. Even though only remnants remain today, they harbor many rare and endangered species such as the Fender's blue butterfly and its host plant, Kincaid’s lupine. Invasion of remnant prairies by woody plants and weedy non-native herbaceous species is of great concern to agencies and managers responsible for conserving these native ecosystems. Available methods for the control of these pests include herbicides, biological control, prescribed burning, and mowing. This report first reviews the literature on the control of tall oatgrass and the shrubs poison oak and rose. Each of these species is an important threat to Willamette Valley upland prairies. We then presents recommendations. For control of tall oatgrass, we recommend for most situations mowing in late spring or early summer. Mowing height should be just above most of the foliage of native plants to be protected (typically 10 cm - 15 cm). In areas with Kincaid’s lupine and Fender’s blue butterfly, mowing should be delayed until July, after the flowering and flight seasons. For control of prairie shrubs, we recommend further studies to evaluate herbicide effectiveness against the target shrubs and safety for non-target native plants and animals. If herbicide use is unavailable, we recommend burning or mowing. All burning or mowing treatments should be repeated, perhaps indefinitely, to maintain pest plant control. Close

• 5. [Article] Willamette Valley prairie restoration : the Native Seed Network and Sidalcea

  My internship was conducted with the Native Seed Network program within the Institute for Applied Ecology, a non-profit organization located in Corvallis, whose focus is education, applied research and ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Willamette Valley prairie restoration : the Native Seed Network and Sidalcea Author: Lambert, Joshua K. My internship was conducted with the Native Seed Network program within the Institute for Applied Ecology, a non-profit organization located in Corvallis, whose focus is education, applied research and active restoration and of native ecosystems. My internship goals were to increase my experience in applied restoration ecology and conservation biology with the emphasis on native plant communities in particular the endangered prairie communities of the Willamette Valley. These goals were met through my tenure with the Native Seed Network’s native seed collection and increase program during the 2007 field season. This work provided me strong experience with a process necessary for genetically conservative restoration and provided the NSN with a willing intern to complete their goals for 2007. Additional work I accomplished included a morphometric analysis of the native Willamette Valley prairie forb Sidalcea campestris which served as one constituent towards resolving the general ambiguity of this focal species for prairie restoration. Included in this analysis is a presentation and my interpretation of an initial molecular phylogenetic analysis on a selection of S. campestris accessions by Liston and deFeniks (unpublished) that may aid in the future resolution of S. campestris and other congeners in the Willamette Valley. The purpose of the morphological research was not mastery of population genetics or statistics but an exercise in concentration and achievement towards a more integrated and advanced application of taxonomic work oriented towards preserving biological diversity. This entire report completes the written requirement for the Professional Science Masters degree in Applied Systematic through the Botany and Plant Pathology Department at Oregon State University. Title: Willamette Valley prairie restoration : the Native Seed Network and Sidalcea Author: Lambert, Joshua K. My internship was conducted with the Native Seed Network program within the Institute for Applied Ecology, a non-profit organization located in Corvallis, whose focus is education, applied research and active restoration and of native ecosystems. My internship goals were to increase my experience in applied restoration ecology and conservation biology with the emphasis on native plant communities in particular the endangered prairie communities of the Willamette Valley. These goals were met through my tenure with the Native Seed Network’s native seed collection and increase program during the 2007 field season. This work provided me strong experience with a process necessary for genetically conservative restoration and provided the NSN with a willing intern to complete their goals for 2007. Additional work I accomplished included a morphometric analysis of the native Willamette Valley prairie forb Sidalcea campestris which served as one constituent towards resolving the general ambiguity of this focal species for prairie restoration. Included in this analysis is a presentation and my interpretation of an initial molecular phylogenetic analysis on a selection of S. campestris accessions by Liston and deFeniks (unpublished) that may aid in the future resolution of S. campestris and other congeners in the Willamette Valley. The purpose of the morphological research was not mastery of population genetics or statistics but an exercise in concentration and achievement towards a more integrated and advanced application of taxonomic work oriented towards preserving biological diversity. This entire report completes the written requirement for the Professional Science Masters degree in Applied Systematic through the Botany and Plant Pathology Department at Oregon State University. Close

• 6. [Article] Food systems in the Marys River region and reinhabitation

  Reinhabitation is an approach to building local cultures and economies within industrial society. The food system is a vital starting point. What are the principles of reinhabitory food systems? What are ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Food systems in the Marys River region and reinhabitation Author: Burke, Erik P. Reinhabitation is an approach to building local cultures and economies within industrial society. The food system is a vital starting point. What are the principles of reinhabitory food systems? What are the possibilities for a locally adapted food system in the Marys River region of western Oregon? I describe past and present food systems in the region and give recommendations for building a reinhabitory food system. Native people established locally adapted food systems in the Marys River region and maintained them for thousands of years, culminating in the Kalapuyan food system that existed at Euroamerican contact. Euroamericans began to settle in the region in 1845, and immediately began to domesticate the landscape, replacing native ecosystems with cropland and pasture. By 1900, a diversified food system had emerged with several locally adapted characteristics. The industrial food system replaced the diversified food system during World War II, and has dominated since then. Locally adapted elements of food systems were rapidly abandoned. Industrialism emphasized mass production of export crops using fossil fuels, heavy machinery, and agrichemicals. A large variety of cultural, economic, and ecological problems emerged, and the health of natural and human communities was diminished. Reinhabitation is a positive response to the problems of industrial food systems. A locally adapted food system in the Marys River region is possible. There is enough agricultural land to feed the population. A small but growing segment of the local population has established alternative food systems, and initiated the process of building a regional food system. Reviewing the history of the Marys River region helps clarify how to apply principles of reinhabitation in the region. Title: Food systems in the Marys River region and reinhabitation Author: Burke, Erik P. Reinhabitation is an approach to building local cultures and economies within industrial society. The food system is a vital starting point. What are the principles of reinhabitory food systems? What are the possibilities for a locally adapted food system in the Marys River region of western Oregon? I describe past and present food systems in the region and give recommendations for building a reinhabitory food system. Native people established locally adapted food systems in the Marys River region and maintained them for thousands of years, culminating in the Kalapuyan food system that existed at Euroamerican contact. Euroamericans began to settle in the region in 1845, and immediately began to domesticate the landscape, replacing native ecosystems with cropland and pasture. By 1900, a diversified food system had emerged with several locally adapted characteristics. The industrial food system replaced the diversified food system during World War II, and has dominated since then. Locally adapted elements of food systems were rapidly abandoned. Industrialism emphasized mass production of export crops using fossil fuels, heavy machinery, and agrichemicals. A large variety of cultural, economic, and ecological problems emerged, and the health of natural and human communities was diminished. Reinhabitation is a positive response to the problems of industrial food systems. A locally adapted food system in the Marys River region is possible. There is enough agricultural land to feed the population. A small but growing segment of the local population has established alternative food systems, and initiated the process of building a regional food system. Reviewing the history of the Marys River region helps clarify how to apply principles of reinhabitation in the region. Close

• 7. [Article] Linking removal targets to the ecological effects of invaders: a predictive model and field test

  Species invasions have a range of negative effects on recipient ecosystems, and many occur at a scale and magnitude that preclude complete eradication. When complete extirpation is unlikely with available ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Linking removal targets to the ecological effects of invaders: a predictive model and field test Author: Brooks, Annabelle L. M., Côté, Isabelle M., Miller, Skylar, Green, Stephanie J., Dulvy, Nicholas K., Cooper, Andrew B., Akins, John L. Species invasions have a range of negative effects on recipient ecosystems, and many occur at a scale and magnitude that preclude complete eradication. When complete extirpation is unlikely with available management resources, an effective strategy may be to suppress invasive populations below levels predicted to cause undesirable ecological change. We illustrate this approach by developing and testing targets for the control of invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois volitans and P. miles) on Western Atlantic coral reefs. We first developed a size structured simulation model of predation by lionfish on native fish communities, which we used to predict threshold densities of lionfish beyond which native fish biomass should decline. We then tested our predictions by experimentally manipulating lionfish densities above or below reef-specific thresholds, and monitoring the consequences for native fish populations on 24 Bahamian patch reefs over 18 months. We found that reducing lionfish below predicted threshold densities effectively protected native fish community biomass from predation-induced declines. Reductions in density of 75- 95%, depending on the reef, were required to suppress lionfish below levels predicted to over-consume prey. On reefs where lionfish were kept threshold densities, native prey fish biomass increased by 50-70%. Gains in small (<6cm) size classes of native fishes translated into lagged increases in larger size classes over time. The biomass of larger individuals (>15cm total length), including ecologically important grazers and economically important fisheries species, had increased by 10-65% by the end of the experiment. Crucially, similar gains in prey fish biomass were realized on reefs subjected to partial and full removal of lionfish, but partial removals took 30% less time to implement. By contrast, the biomass of small native fishes declined by more than 50% on all reefs with lionfish densities exceeding reef-specific thresholds. Large inter-reef variation in the biomass of prey fishes at the outset of the study, which influences the threshold density of lionfish, means that we identify a single rule-of-thumb for guiding control efforts. However, our model provides a method for setting reef-specific targets for population control using local monitoring data. Our work is the first to demonstrate that for ongoing invasions, suppressing invaders below densitiesterms of protecting the native ecosystem on a local scale, to achieving complete eradication Title: Linking removal targets to the ecological effects of invaders: a predictive model and field test Author: Brooks, Annabelle L. M., Côté, Isabelle M., Miller, Skylar, Green, Stephanie J., Dulvy, Nicholas K., Cooper, Andrew B., Akins, John L. Species invasions have a range of negative effects on recipient ecosystems, and many occur at a scale and magnitude that preclude complete eradication. When complete extirpation is unlikely with available management resources, an effective strategy may be to suppress invasive populations below levels predicted to cause undesirable ecological change. We illustrate this approach by developing and testing targets for the control of invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois volitans and P. miles) on Western Atlantic coral reefs. We first developed a size structured simulation model of predation by lionfish on native fish communities, which we used to predict threshold densities of lionfish beyond which native fish biomass should decline. We then tested our predictions by experimentally manipulating lionfish densities above or below reef-specific thresholds, and monitoring the consequences for native fish populations on 24 Bahamian patch reefs over 18 months. We found that reducing lionfish below predicted threshold densities effectively protected native fish community biomass from predation-induced declines. Reductions in density of 75- 95%, depending on the reef, were required to suppress lionfish below levels predicted to over-consume prey. On reefs where lionfish were kept threshold densities, native prey fish biomass increased by 50-70%. Gains in small (<6cm) size classes of native fishes translated into lagged increases in larger size classes over time. The biomass of larger individuals (>15cm total length), including ecologically important grazers and economically important fisheries species, had increased by 10-65% by the end of the experiment. Crucially, similar gains in prey fish biomass were realized on reefs subjected to partial and full removal of lionfish, but partial removals took 30% less time to implement. By contrast, the biomass of small native fishes declined by more than 50% on all reefs with lionfish densities exceeding reef-specific thresholds. Large inter-reef variation in the biomass of prey fishes at the outset of the study, which influences the threshold density of lionfish, means that we identify a single rule-of-thumb for guiding control efforts. However, our model provides a method for setting reef-specific targets for population control using local monitoring data. Our work is the first to demonstrate that for ongoing invasions, suppressing invaders below densitiesterms of protecting the native ecosystem on a local scale, to achieving complete eradication Close

• 8. [Article] Foraging in disturbed areas : a study of sweat bees (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) in Oregon

  Bees provide vital ecosystem services for cropping systems as well as natural landscapes. Declines in both both native bee and managed honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) populations has brought attention to ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Foraging in disturbed areas : a study of sweat bees (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) in Oregon Author: Broussard, Melissa Bees provide vital ecosystem services for cropping systems as well as natural landscapes. Declines in both both native bee and managed honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) populations has brought attention to the significance of their role as pollinators in managed and native ecosystems. As a result, conservation efforts have been undertaken to preserve them. While considerable attention has been given to honey bees, relatively little is known about many native bee species. Of particular interest is the family Halictidae, which can comprise the majority of observed individuals in many habitats. These, often small, bees are difficult to identify, and, as a result, relatively little is known about their preferred floral hosts. Because bee species assemblages vary significantly from region to region, it is important to have an understanding of local populations and their floral hosts. It is also important to understand factors which affect the quantity and quality of floral resources, such as anthropogenic disturbance. The Pacific Northwest is a diverse landscape, with rich agricultural and wildland environments that require pollinators in order to continue to thrive. Two studies examine the interface between these two systems, the first explores how roadside disturbance, which is prevalent across the world, impacts native pollinators across habitat types, and the second explores the diet of common native species, and how that diet changes across habitat types. In these studies, it was found that roadside disturbance was associated with reduced native bee diversity and abundance in the seasonally wet Willamette Valley of Oregon, but not in the more xeric Central Oregon. Bee abundance was positively correlated with temperature. Bee diet was more diverse in areas of scarce floral resources. In both regions, exotic plants were important floral hosts, representing nearly half of observed floral visitations. This thesis presents results of species analysis, floral richness and density correlations, and comparisons of floral resources used by different bee species. Implications and recommendations for land management are discussed. Title: Foraging in disturbed areas : a study of sweat bees (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) in Oregon Author: Broussard, Melissa Bees provide vital ecosystem services for cropping systems as well as natural landscapes. Declines in both both native bee and managed honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) populations has brought attention to the significance of their role as pollinators in managed and native ecosystems. As a result, conservation efforts have been undertaken to preserve them. While considerable attention has been given to honey bees, relatively little is known about many native bee species. Of particular interest is the family Halictidae, which can comprise the majority of observed individuals in many habitats. These, often small, bees are difficult to identify, and, as a result, relatively little is known about their preferred floral hosts. Because bee species assemblages vary significantly from region to region, it is important to have an understanding of local populations and their floral hosts. It is also important to understand factors which affect the quantity and quality of floral resources, such as anthropogenic disturbance. The Pacific Northwest is a diverse landscape, with rich agricultural and wildland environments that require pollinators in order to continue to thrive. Two studies examine the interface between these two systems, the first explores how roadside disturbance, which is prevalent across the world, impacts native pollinators across habitat types, and the second explores the diet of common native species, and how that diet changes across habitat types. In these studies, it was found that roadside disturbance was associated with reduced native bee diversity and abundance in the seasonally wet Willamette Valley of Oregon, but not in the more xeric Central Oregon. Bee abundance was positively correlated with temperature. Bee diet was more diverse in areas of scarce floral resources. In both regions, exotic plants were important floral hosts, representing nearly half of observed floral visitations. This thesis presents results of species analysis, floral richness and density correlations, and comparisons of floral resources used by different bee species. Implications and recommendations for land management are discussed. Close

• 9. [Article] Conservation of Sidalcea nelsoniana through habitat management : effects of burning, mowing, and altered flooding regime on a rare Willamette Valley perennial

  Active habitat management plays a key role in the preservation of native ecosystems and rare species, especially in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, where natural succession to woodlands threatens the ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Conservation of Sidalcea nelsoniana through habitat management : effects of burning, mowing, and altered flooding regime on a rare Willamette Valley perennial Author: Bartels, Marilynn R. Active habitat management plays a key role in the preservation of native ecosystems and rare species, especially in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, where natural succession to woodlands threatens the few wetland prairies remaining after 150 years of agriculture and urbanization. Sidalcea nelsoniana, listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act, is native to these wetland prairies. The studies described here provide basic information about the habitat requirements and tolerances of S. nelsoniana while testing for the first time the impact of specific management techniques on its growth and reproduction. The effects of prescribed burning and mowing on S. nelsoniana and its habitat were investigated in a field population at W.L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge near Corvallis, Oregon. Measurements of S. nelsoniana and aspects of the surrounding vegetation were recorded during the summer of 1998 within 112 permanent S. nelsoniana-centered quadrats. Burning and mowing treatments were applied in the fall of 1998 and the same measurements of S. nelsoniana and the surrounding vegetation were recorded during the summer of 1999. Treatments had no direct effects on S. nelsoniana performance, but burning and mowing reduced canopy cover, a primary goal of prairie maintenance and restoration. Because perennials often respond slowly to changes in habitat, effects of these manipulations may be more evident in future years. Wetland species may also be sensitive to site hydrology, so maintaining the proper water regime is another important component of wetland prairie management and restoration. A second experimental study evaluated the flooding tolerance of S. nelsoniana. Rhizome fragments were transplanted into pots exposed to four flooding conditions: drained soil, saturated soil with no standing water, standing water from mid-November through mid-April and standing water from mid-November through mid-June. Plants with drained soil died as the spring rains declined, and plants flooded past April died by mid-June. Plants in saturated soils and those flooded until mid-April were most successful. These two treatments most closely match conditions found in Willamette Valley wetland prairies, including S. nelsoniana sites, and suggest that the current distribution of S. nelsoniana approximately matches its hydrologic requirements. Management plans to flood a S. nelsoniana site beyond mid-April might harm this protected species. Title: Conservation of Sidalcea nelsoniana through habitat management : effects of burning, mowing, and altered flooding regime on a rare Willamette Valley perennial Author: Bartels, Marilynn R. Active habitat management plays a key role in the preservation of native ecosystems and rare species, especially in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, where natural succession to woodlands threatens the few wetland prairies remaining after 150 years of agriculture and urbanization. Sidalcea nelsoniana, listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act, is native to these wetland prairies. The studies described here provide basic information about the habitat requirements and tolerances of S. nelsoniana while testing for the first time the impact of specific management techniques on its growth and reproduction. The effects of prescribed burning and mowing on S. nelsoniana and its habitat were investigated in a field population at W.L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge near Corvallis, Oregon. Measurements of S. nelsoniana and aspects of the surrounding vegetation were recorded during the summer of 1998 within 112 permanent S. nelsoniana-centered quadrats. Burning and mowing treatments were applied in the fall of 1998 and the same measurements of S. nelsoniana and the surrounding vegetation were recorded during the summer of 1999. Treatments had no direct effects on S. nelsoniana performance, but burning and mowing reduced canopy cover, a primary goal of prairie maintenance and restoration. Because perennials often respond slowly to changes in habitat, effects of these manipulations may be more evident in future years. Wetland species may also be sensitive to site hydrology, so maintaining the proper water regime is another important component of wetland prairie management and restoration. A second experimental study evaluated the flooding tolerance of S. nelsoniana. Rhizome fragments were transplanted into pots exposed to four flooding conditions: drained soil, saturated soil with no standing water, standing water from mid-November through mid-April and standing water from mid-November through mid-June. Plants with drained soil died as the spring rains declined, and plants flooded past April died by mid-June. Plants in saturated soils and those flooded until mid-April were most successful. These two treatments most closely match conditions found in Willamette Valley wetland prairies, including S. nelsoniana sites, and suggest that the current distribution of S. nelsoniana approximately matches its hydrologic requirements. Management plans to flood a S. nelsoniana site beyond mid-April might harm this protected species. Close

• 10. [Article] Landsat-based monitoring of annual wetland change in the main-stem Willamette River floodplain of Oregon, USA from 1972 to 2012

  Despite holding substantial ecological value, wetlands in the United States have experienced a significant decline in both area and function over the past century with the majority of freshwater wetland ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Landsat-based monitoring of annual wetland change in the main-stem Willamette River floodplain of Oregon, USA from 1972 to 2012 Author: Fickas, Kate, Colleen Despite holding substantial ecological value, wetlands in the United States have experienced a significant decline in both area and function over the past century with the majority of freshwater wetland loss attributed to agricultural conversion. Agriculture is the second largest industry in the State of Oregon and the State places substantial emphasis in its land use planning goals on the preservation of agricultural land. Oregon’s Willamette Valley accounts for the majority of agricultural output with 53% of the valley bottom classified as agricultural land. Additionally, the valley houses 70% of the state's population. The valley was once comprised of extensive wet prairies and abundant riparian forests along the Willamette River floodplain, but native ecosystems have been reduced to a fraction of their original distribution since Euro-American settlement in the mid 1800s. The few wetlands that remain are at high risk to loss and degradation from agricultural activity. Following national wetland conservation policies, Oregon has since attempted to monitor and regulate losses due to disturbance and modification of the State's remaining wetlands through a "no-net-loss" policy aiming to decrease wetland losses and replace disturbed wetlands through mitigation. The National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) was designed to produce detailed maps and status reports of the characteristics and extent of the nation's wetlands and help determine the efficacy of no-net-loss policy implementation on the nation’s wetlands. In some cases, the NWI has been found to have low categorical and spatial accuracy and coarse temporal resolution, with some maps over two decades old. Although Landsat satellite imagery was originally found to lack the needed spatial resolution for classification detail and wetness designation that aerial photography provided, Landsat has 40 years of freely available, high quality annual imagery and should be explored for use in annual wetland change detection. Our objectives were to: (1) Quantify and characterize spatial and ecological trends in annual wetland change through gain, loss, and conversion in the Willamette Valley; (2) Evaluate the effect of the no-net-loss federal wetland conservation policy change enacted in 1990 on trends in net wetland area; and (3) Describe a new methodology that reaches back through the over 40-year Landsat archive to map fine scale wetland and related land-use changes from 1972-2012. We used annual Landsat MSS and TM/ETM+ images from 1972 to 2012 to manually interpret loss, gain, and type conversion of wetland area in the two-year inundation floodplain of the Main-Stem Willamette River using TimeSync, Google Earth, and ArcMap. By creating Tasseled Cap Brightness, Greenness, and Wetness indices for MSS data that visually match TM/ETM+ Tasseled Cap images, we were able to construct a complete and consistent annual time series and utilize the entire Landsat archive. Additionally, with an extended time series, we were able to compare trends of annual net change in wetland area before and after the no-net-loss policy established under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act in 1990. We found that wetlands experienced annual loss, gain, and type conversion across the entire study period. Vegetated wetlands (emergent and riparian wetlands) experienced a 314 ha net loss of wetland area across the 40 year study period whereas non-vegetated wetlands (lacustrine and riverine wetlands) experienced a 393 ha net gain. All wetland types combined saw a 79 ha net increase in wetland area across the full study period. The majority of both gain and loss in the study area was attributed to and from agricultural conversion followed by urban land use. Time series analysis of the rate of change of net wetland area was calculated using the Theil-Sen (TS) Slope estimate analysis. For annual change of wetland area before and after 1990 no-net-loss policy implementations, the rate of annual wetland area lost slowed for riparian wetlands and reversed into trends of annual net gain in area of emergent wetlands. The rate of annual net area gained for lacustrine wetlands was slowed post-policy. Accuracy assessment of land use change polygons in the field was only able to capture 12% of our interpretations due to access restrictions associated with private land. In spite of a low sample size (n=45), overall accuracy of land use classification through wetland change polygons was at 80%. This accuracy increased to 91.1% when land use classes were aggregated to either wetland or upland categories, indicating that our methodology was more accurate at distinguishing between general upland and wetland than finer categorical classes. Title: Landsat-based monitoring of annual wetland change in the main-stem Willamette River floodplain of Oregon, USA from 1972 to 2012 Author: Fickas, Kate, Colleen Despite holding substantial ecological value, wetlands in the United States have experienced a significant decline in both area and function over the past century with the majority of freshwater wetland loss attributed to agricultural conversion. Agriculture is the second largest industry in the State of Oregon and the State places substantial emphasis in its land use planning goals on the preservation of agricultural land. Oregon’s Willamette Valley accounts for the majority of agricultural output with 53% of the valley bottom classified as agricultural land. Additionally, the valley houses 70% of the state's population. The valley was once comprised of extensive wet prairies and abundant riparian forests along the Willamette River floodplain, but native ecosystems have been reduced to a fraction of their original distribution since Euro-American settlement in the mid 1800s. The few wetlands that remain are at high risk to loss and degradation from agricultural activity. Following national wetland conservation policies, Oregon has since attempted to monitor and regulate losses due to disturbance and modification of the State's remaining wetlands through a "no-net-loss" policy aiming to decrease wetland losses and replace disturbed wetlands through mitigation. The National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) was designed to produce detailed maps and status reports of the characteristics and extent of the nation's wetlands and help determine the efficacy of no-net-loss policy implementation on the nation’s wetlands. In some cases, the NWI has been found to have low categorical and spatial accuracy and coarse temporal resolution, with some maps over two decades old. Although Landsat satellite imagery was originally found to lack the needed spatial resolution for classification detail and wetness designation that aerial photography provided, Landsat has 40 years of freely available, high quality annual imagery and should be explored for use in annual wetland change detection. Our objectives were to: (1) Quantify and characterize spatial and ecological trends in annual wetland change through gain, loss, and conversion in the Willamette Valley; (2) Evaluate the effect of the no-net-loss federal wetland conservation policy change enacted in 1990 on trends in net wetland area; and (3) Describe a new methodology that reaches back through the over 40-year Landsat archive to map fine scale wetland and related land-use changes from 1972-2012. We used annual Landsat MSS and TM/ETM+ images from 1972 to 2012 to manually interpret loss, gain, and type conversion of wetland area in the two-year inundation floodplain of the Main-Stem Willamette River using TimeSync, Google Earth, and ArcMap. By creating Tasseled Cap Brightness, Greenness, and Wetness indices for MSS data that visually match TM/ETM+ Tasseled Cap images, we were able to construct a complete and consistent annual time series and utilize the entire Landsat archive. Additionally, with an extended time series, we were able to compare trends of annual net change in wetland area before and after the no-net-loss policy established under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act in 1990. We found that wetlands experienced annual loss, gain, and type conversion across the entire study period. Vegetated wetlands (emergent and riparian wetlands) experienced a 314 ha net loss of wetland area across the 40 year study period whereas non-vegetated wetlands (lacustrine and riverine wetlands) experienced a 393 ha net gain. All wetland types combined saw a 79 ha net increase in wetland area across the full study period. The majority of both gain and loss in the study area was attributed to and from agricultural conversion followed by urban land use. Time series analysis of the rate of change of net wetland area was calculated using the Theil-Sen (TS) Slope estimate analysis. For annual change of wetland area before and after 1990 no-net-loss policy implementations, the rate of annual wetland area lost slowed for riparian wetlands and reversed into trends of annual net gain in area of emergent wetlands. The rate of annual net area gained for lacustrine wetlands was slowed post-policy. Accuracy assessment of land use change polygons in the field was only able to capture 12% of our interpretations due to access restrictions associated with private land. In spite of a low sample size (n=45), overall accuracy of land use classification through wetland change polygons was at 80%. This accuracy increased to 91.1% when land use classes were aggregated to either wetland or upland categories, indicating that our methodology was more accurate at distinguishing between general upland and wetland than finer categorical classes. Close