Forest Management & Reports
Please see below for Corvallis Forest management plans & inventories, followed by reports & surveys.
Management & Inventories
These documents are provided as a guide for City staff to help plan long-term sustainability of the Corvallis Forest.
Inventory
Corvallis Forest Natural Resources Inventory 2010 |
Prepared by Trout Mountain Forestry. Goal: collect the baseline resource information that is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of the management program over time. |
Understory Vegetation Baseline Monitoring Report 2010 |
Purpose: to provide baseline data on understory vegetation in forested habitats within the Corvallis Forest so that effects of forest management actions on plant diversity, understory structure, and exotic species can be monitored in the future. |
Forest Inventory Updates 2017 |
A new inventory was done in 2017. This was the first update since the 2009 survey. |
Reports & Surveys
Harvest Summary
Harvest Summary 2013-2023
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Corvallis Forest Harvest Activities and Outcomes 2013-2023 presented by Trout Mountain Forestry at the September 27, 2023, Corvallis Forest Stewardship Plan Task Force Update meeting. It provides information on forest types, a summary of harvesting activities, the harvest planning process, maps, and outcomes of the harvests that have occurred.
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Post-Tour Survey Results
Post-tour survey results 2023 |
Survey questions that were asked after the 2023 tour, including the number of survey participants, results, and responses. |
Stream Temperature Monitoring
2011 |
The City of Corvallis and the Siuslaw National Forest have cooperatively monitored the stream temperatures in the Rock Creek Watershed during the summers of 2005, 2006, 2010 and 2011. Air temperatures at three sites were also monitored. Factors that can influence water temperature include stream shading, amount of substrate in the stream channel, the aspect of the stream channel, the width of the stream and air temperatures. |
2012 |
Objectives of the ongoing stream monitoring are: to characterize the stream temperatures throughout the watershed; to determine the effects of restoration efforts; to determine if it is possible to measure effects of the reservoir on downstream temperatures, if any. Air temperature was also monitored at one site. |
2013 |
Two additional monitoring sites were established. Precipitation, air temperatures, and stream flow for the last four years were compared. |
2014 |
In addition to air and water temperatures, stream flow data was collected for a second summer. It is unlikely that the effects of the spillway are having an impact on temperatures at the mouth of Rock Creek. |
2015 |
The stream temperatures reflected regional climate records. In 2015, for the first time, stream temperatures had a 7‐day average of the daily maximum temperature slightly above 64°F. |
2016 |
This report is an addendum of previous reports. The interesting new factor in 2016 was the increased flows from the dam valve channel, which is fed by the bottom of the reservoir. Temperatures in the mainstem are higher than would be expected. |
2017 |
The summer of 2017 is the eighth year of stream temperature monitoring. See previous years reports for maps of the monitoring site locations. |
Wildlife Surveys
Marbled Murrelet Surveys
2013-2014 |
Turnstone Environmental Consultants have completed several surveys for Marbled Murrelets within the Corvallis Watershed (not just Corvallis Forest, but the larger watershed). There were several detections. |
2018 |
There were several detections. |
2023 |
Some detections. Another year of surveys is necessary. |
Songbird Monitoring
2011 |
Monitoring Songbird Populations at the Pioneer Butte Meadow Restoration Project, Siuslaw National Forest, survey design and 2011 baseline results, prepared by the Oregon Wildlife Institute. |
2012 |
Monitoring Songbird Populations Survey Methods & 2011-2012 Pre-Treatment Results |
Owl Monitoring
2015 |
USGS (United States Geological Survey) study on Effects of Experimental Removal of Barred Owls on Population Demography of Northern Spotted Owls in Washington and Oregon—2015 Progress Report. Evidence indicates that competition with newly established barred owls (Strix varia) is causing rapid declines in populations of northern spotted owls (Strix occidentalis caurina). This study was to determine if removal of barred owls can improve population trends of spotted owls. |
2016 |
Owl Removal Study—2016 Progress Report. |
2023 |
Corvallis Municipal Watershed Spotted Owl Survey Report. No spotted owls were detected during the 2023 season. Barred owl presence was detected in the Watershed. |
Fish Monitoring
2009 |
This response of native Cutthroat in the Rock Creek subbasin of the Marys River following an intensive restoration project conducted in 2008 that provided unimpeded access for Cutthroat to approximately 8 miles of previously inaccessible habitats. Post project monitoring consisted of a snorkel inventory. The primary objective was to assess the efficacy of the fish passage improvements. |
2010 |
The second post project summary. Significant alterations in Cutthroat abundance and distribution were observed that suggest that improvements in fish passage infrastructure has been immediately effective. |
2011 |
The third post project summary. The improvements in fish passage infrastructure conducted by the consortium of partners has been mostly effective in providing access to high quality headwater habitats. An exception continues to exist at the Griffith Cr fish ladder. |
2013 |
Final Report on project. Temperatures are elevated on mainstem Rock Creek due to a variety of factors. All four culverts are functioning well. |
2014 |
Model Watershed Monitoring Summary: Rock Creek Marys River Watershed Council. Over the last 7 years cutthroat trout response to restoration was monitored. Responses fluctuate. Continued monitoring is necessary due to the scale of the study and the life history of the fish populations. |
2015 |
Responses continue to fluctuate. Continued monitoring is necessary. Factors outside of the watershed impact the fish populations. |
2016 |
The results of project monitoring to date have been mixed with broad variation observed between years. |
2017 |
Rock Creek on its best year exhibited a cutthroat population 50% higher than the first post-project year. Woods Creek has continued a steady decline in abundance and Duffy Creek a consistent increase in abundance. Continued monitoring is required. Meta population swings are likely driven by environmental factors. |
Forest Activity Reports
Please see supporting documents below for the annual reports of stewardship projects that occur on the Corvallis Forest. The reports highlight accomplishments and future planned activities on the Corvallis Forest. In 2011, the "State of the Forest Report" name was changed to "Forest Activities Report".