Bald Hill Farm Management Plan November 25, 2014 Bald Hill Farm Management Plan Greenbelt Land Trust 101 SW Western Blvd. Corvallis, Oregon 97333 541-752-9609 www.greenbeltlandtrust.org Prepared by Jeff Krueger Environments LLC in conjunc on with Greenbelt Land Trust OWEB Grant Number: 212-101 BPA Tract ID: WILWF-WL-7 November 25, 2014 Table of Contents Section 1: Introduction and Background............................................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Management Plan Purpose and Timeframe ........................................................................................................ 1 1.3 Acquisition History and Ownership ..................................................................................................................... 2 1.4 Site Overview, Landscape Context, and Ecological Significance .......................................................................... 2 1.5 The Vision of Bald Hill Farm Conservation Area .................................................................................................. 5 1.6 Bald Hill Farm Conservation Easements .............................................................................................................. 6 1.6.1 BPA Conservation Easement ........................................................................................................................ 6 1.6.2 OWEB Conservation Easement .................................................................................................................... 8 1.6.3 Conservation Values .................................................................................................................................... 8 1.7 Fender’s Blue Butterfly and Kincaid’s Lupine Memorandum of Agreement ........................................................ 9 1.8 USFWS Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Grant Program ........................................................... 10 1.9 Summary of Reporting Requirements ............................................................................................................... 11 1.10 Related Studies, Reports, Inventories, and Plans ............................................................................................ 11 Section 2: Site History and Existing Condition ..................................................................................... 13 2.1 Historical Context .............................................................................................................................................. 13 2.1.1 Native American Influences and Cultural Significance ............................................................................... 13 2.1.2 Historical Vegetation Patterns ................................................................................................................... 13 2.1.3 Establishment and History of Bald Hill Farm .............................................................................................. 16 2.2 Landform ........................................................................................................................................................... 16 2.2.1 Topography ................................................................................................................................................ 16 2.2.2 Geomorphic Surfaces ................................................................................................................................. 18 2.2.3 Soils ............................................................................................................................................................ 18 2.3 Zoning and Adjacent Uses ................................................................................................................................. 18 2.4 Hydrology and Water Use ................................................................................................................................. 19 2.4.1 Creeks and Ponds ....................................................................................................................................... 19 2.4.2 Wetlands .................................................................................................................................................... 20 2.4.3 Water Rights, Wells, and Irrigation ............................................................................................................ 20 2.5 Current Land Cover and Use .............................................................................................................................. 21 2.6 Vegetation ......................................................................................................................................................... 21 2.6.1 Existing Vegetation Communities .............................................................................................................. 21 2.6.2 Rare and Uncommon Plant Populations .................................................................................................... 29 2.6.3 Invasive Exotic Vegetation ......................................................................................................................... 30 2.7 Wildlife .............................................................................................................................................................. 32 Bald Hill Farm Management Plan ‐ November 25, 2014 Page iii 2.7.1 Strategy and Priority Wildlife Species ........................................................................................................ 32 2.7.2 Other Noteworthy Native Wildlife ............................................................................................................. 33 2.7.3 Non‐Native Wildlife.................................................................................................................................... 33 2.8 Existing Facilities and Infrastructure ................................................................................................................. 34 2.8.1 Roads ......................................................................................................................................................... 34 2.8.2 Recreational Trails ..................................................................................................................................... 34 2.8.3 Public Parking ............................................................................................................................................. 35 2.8.4 Structures and Utilities .............................................................................................................................. 35 2.8.5 Fences ........................................................................................................................................................ 35 2.8.6 Signage ....................................................................................................................................................... 35 2.9 Agricultural Uses and Impacts ........................................................................................................................... 37 2.10 Forest Resources and Forest Stewardship Plan ............................................................................................... 37 2.10.1 Timber Cruise and Allowable Timber Harvest ......................................................................................... 38 2.10.2 Recommendations, Costs, and Revenues ................................................................................................ 39 2.11 Management Activities Completed Since GLT Acquisition .............................................................................. 39 2.12 Cultural Resources ........................................................................................................................................... 40 Section 3: Conservation Priorities, Constraints, and Opportunities ..................................................... 41 3.1 Conservation Priorities ...................................................................................................................................... 41 3.1.1 Target Vegetation Communities and Nested Targets Species ................................................................... 42 3.1.2 Nested Targets Plant and Animal Species .................................................................................................. 43 3.1.3 Other Significant Vegetation Communities ............................................................................................... 45 3.2 Threats to Conservation Targets ....................................................................................................................... 45 3.2.1 Non‐native invasive plant species .............................................................................................................. 46 3.2.2 Conifer Encroachment ............................................................................................................................... 46 3.2.3 Woody Vegetation Encroachment ............................................................................................................. 46 3.2.4 Improper Management of Livestock