Graham Oaks Master Plan
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Wilsonville Tract Master Plan & Natural Resources Management Plan - March 2004 Wilsonville Tract Master Plan & Natural Resources Management Plan January 2004 Prepared for and funded by: City of Wilsonville - adopted March 15, 2004 Chris Neamtzu, AICP, Parks Planner Kerry Rappold, Natural Resources Program Manager Property owner: METRO Jane Hart, Environmental Planner Jim Morgan, Natural Resource & Property Mgmt. Supervisor Deb Scrivens, Environmental Education Program Coordinator Prepared by: Mayer/Reed Carol Mayer-Reed, FASLA, Partner Irene Bowers, ASLA, Associate, Project Manager Krishna Smith, Landscape Designer Alex E. Schwartz, Landscape Designer In association with: Fishman Environmental Services, LLC Coral Mirth Walker, B.A., PWS, Wetlands Program Manager Daniel Stark, AICP, Natural Resource Planner Christie Galen, Senior Ecologist inter-fluve, inc. Greg Koonce, P.E., Environmental Engineer and Fisheries Biologist Bill Norris, P.E., Hydraulic Engineer Acknowledgements The project team would like to thank the following individuals for Wilsonville Tract Stakeholder Advisory Committee their time and effort in developing a vision for the Wilsonville Tract. Mayor Charlotte Lehan Wilsonville Mayor/City Council Chris Neamtzu City of Wilsonville Metro Council Wilsonville City Council Kerry Rappold City of Wilsonville David Bragdon, Executive Officer Mayor Lehan Jim Morgan Metro Regional Parks & Greenspaces Rod Park, Councilor Council President Kirk Jane Hart Metro Regional Parks & Greenspaces Rex Burkholder, Councilor Councilor Holt Howard Busse Living Enrichment Center Carl Hosticka, Councilor Councilor Scott-Tabb Bob Carlson West Linn/Wilsonville Educator, Center for Susan McLain, Councilor Councilor Knapp Research on Environmental Science and Technologies (CREST) Rod Monroe, Councilor Patricia Farrell Pacific Habitat Services, representing Brian Newman, Councilor Villebois Mary Hinds Wilsonville Planning Commission Metro Regional Parks & Greenspaces Department Debra Iguchi Friends of Goal Five Jim Desmond, Director Josh Levin Wilsonville High School Student Heather Nelson Kent, Planning and Education Division Manager Rick Noonan Wilsonville Parks and Recreation Jim Morgan, Natural Resources & Property Manager Advisory Board Jane Hart, Environmental Planner Kevin Noreen Clackamas County Planning Deb Scrivens, Environmental Education Program Coordinator Jim O’Connell West Linn/Wilsonville Educator West Linn/Wilsonville School District Jon Skidmore Clackamas County Planning Susie Stevens Citizen Representative Roger Woehl, Superintendent Sue Sweigert Friends of Goal Five, Citizen Representative School Board Brian Turner CREST Volunteer Clackamas County John van Staveren Pacific Habitat Services, representing Villebois Board of County Commissioners Dan Willis Citizen Representative Planning Department Clackamas County Sherriff’s Office Mark Koberstein, Deputy Sheriff Kim Klussman, Sergeant Mayer/Reed 3 Table of Contents I. Executive Summary Conclusion. 64 Executive Summary . 9 V. Project Resources II. Introduction Project Resources . 69 Study Purpose . 15 VI. Appendices Location. 17 Appendix A - Natural Resources Management Plan Background of Acquisition . 17 Appendix B - Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) Mission Statement . 17 Meeting Summaries Master Plan Goals . 18 Master Plan Program Elements. 18 Appendix C - Public Open House and Meeting Summaries Public Involvement . 19 Appendix D - Permitting Appendix E - Trail Types & Construction Details III. Site Analysis Appendix F - Preliminary Estimate of Implementation Cost Wilsonville Tract Study Area . 25 History . 25 Maps Bioregional Significance . 27 Context Map . 15 Surrounding Land Use / Ownership. 27 Parks and Greenspaces in the Metro Area . 16 Transportation & Site Access Opportunities . 30 Willamette Valley Map . 25 Site Visits. 31 1852 Historic Survey . 26 Natural Resources Inventories & Analysis . 32 Site Linkages Map . 28 Site Characteristics . 32 Site Opportunities and Constraints Map. 33 Slope Analysis / Sensitive Areas Map . 37 IV. Master Plan Concept Master Plan . 43 Purpose . 41 CREST Gateway Schematic Plan . 46 Goals and Objectives . 41 Concept Master Plan Partial Central Loop . 48 Summary of Site Improvements . 42 Soils Analysis . A10 Ecological & Wildlife Habitat Restoration . 44 Vegetation Map . .. A19 Master Plan Components. 45 Scheme #1 - Successional Recovery . C18 Summary of Site Management Recommendations . 52 Scheme #2 - Educational Interpretive . C19 Recommended Next Steps . 56 Plan Implementation and Phasing . 58 Mayer/Reed 5 Executive Summary Executive Summary The Wilsonville Tract Master Plan and Natural Resources development to adjacent middle and elementary schools. Management Plan is a framework that will guide future site • Provide opportunities for interpretive information and development and management. The overall intent of the master educational programs in cooperation with the Center for plan is to protect existing natural resources and enhance or recover Research on Environmental Science and Technology (CREST). ecological systems, while carefully balancing the desire for enjoyment by the public. The master plan is intended as a reference Site Improvements for public agencies and the community when making both short Through the public process it was acknowledged that usage of the and long-term decisions for the implementation of improvements, Tract by the public is desirable, especially in conjunction with the enhancement and restoration of this 230-acre preserved open space. CREST. However, site improvements and access must be limited with respect to sensitive areas and balanced with the natural resources of The Wilsonville Tract was acquired by Metro as a part of the 1995 the site. It is intended that visitors will appreciate the purpose of the Open Spaces Bond Measure. The language of the bond measure preserved open space, and that it is, in many ways, very different states that such acquisitions are to be used to “... provide and from a traditional community park. Recommended site protect open space and for passive recreational activities, including improvements include the following: but not limited to, picnicking, hiking, bicycling, camping, bird • A heirarchy of trail types that access the diverse habitats on-site. watching and boating.” • Pedestrian and bike linkages to adjacent properties, regional open spaces and future linkage to the Willamette River. Master Plan • Limited vehicular access and parking. The overall master plan concept is to protect and restore the site to • Picnic shelters at trailheads. a more natural ecological system that provides diverse native plant • Restroom facility near trailhead with parking. communities and wildlife habitat. Master planning goals established • Interpretive signage. during the design process guided the project team in the • Creek bed and hydrological restoration in certain locations. preparation of the plan. These goals are as follow: • Native re-vegetation and habitat restoration using appropriate native plant communities. • Preserve the existing natural features of the Wilsonville Tract. • Restore and enhance existing natural resources for ecological The Wilsonville Tract Master Plan is a model for environmental diversity. stewardship and planning of open space in balance with human • Plan for trail connections to the Wilsonville Tract. activities and interests. Field investigations discovered that out-of- • Protect natural areas while providing appropriate passive basin stormwater flows (since the 1950s) from the former recreational opportunities, such as trails, on site. Dammasch State Hospital site have caused extensive erosion and • Provide a safe and convenient north-south pedestrian and bank failures throughout Legacy Creek. The restoration of this bicycle connection through the property from the Villebois stream channel has been recognized as the highest priority project. Mayer/Reed 9 CREST Future detailed planning, design and management of this regional resource will be required to carry out the full intent of this plan. The The efforts for preservation, restoration and improvement to the master plan is intended to be a concept or guide, rather than a Tract represent a unique model of cooperative partnerships among mandate. As time passes, community values may change and site Metro, the City of Wilsonville and the West Linn-Wilsonville School conditions will evolve, so modifications of this plan will be required. District. The school district funds and operates CREST, which is As such, a review of the plan’s implementation should be done, located southeast of the Tract. The adjacency to the Tract’s diverse followed by a review of the plan vision every three to five years. natural resources provides students at the CREST with a hands-on outdoor classroom. Volunteers and students of CREST will assist in the recommended restoration and monitoring activities of the Master Plan. The Tract will be a model for large-scale ecological recovery from creek restoration in steep forested ravines to the transformation of agricultural lands back to wetlands, prairie grasslands and oak savannah that were once present on the site. The CREST will act as the gateway to the Tract and will become a repository of research documentation and educational information of the Tract’s restoration. Conclusion Charlotte Lehan, Mayor of the City of Wilsonville stated, “With its blend of forest, uplands and wetlands, the property will be a valuable open space. I’m very pleased to see the habitat protected