Greenbelt Land Trust’s many land protection successes include:

• Conserving 199 acres of high quality upland prairie and oak woodlands using $ 2,414,000 of funds from the Bonneville Power Administration wildlife mitigation program.
• Raising $ 1,120,000 to purchase important wetlands, oak woodlands and open space at the 95-acre Owens Farm property, located astride the northern gateway into Corvallis.
• Acquiring conservation easements on 58 acres of high quality wetland and upland prairie habitat near Philomath and 145 acres of Thomas Paine Farms in Kings Valley. The latter easement protects riparian areas along the Luckiamute River and Price Creek.
• Donating 4 acres to Benton County to extend the Jackson Frazier Wetlands, a popular spot for bird watching and walking.

Greenbelt Land Trust is diligent in protecting properties over the long term, as evidenced by:

• Completing and implementing a comprehensive Management Plan for the 95-acre Owens Farm property that includes restoring oak woodland and wet prairie habitat in partnership with the US Fish and Wildlife Service and creating recreational opportunities in conjunction with the City of Corvallis.
• Completing and implementing a comprehensive Management Plan on the 58 acre Lupine Meadows property. This site serves as an important educational site for local high school students and landowners to learn about management of rare species such as Kincaid’s lupine and Fender’s blue butterfly.
• Partnering to establish open space management plans for two large, critically important conservation easement properties, Bald Hill and Fitton Green Natural Area, with the city of Corvallis and Benton County.
• Securing a $34,000 USFWS Private Stewardship Grant to enhance and restore habitat for endangered species on four properties in Corvallis and Philomath. A second grant from USFWS’s Landowner Incentive Program provided $231,000 for countywide conservation easements, habitat restoration, and restoration planning.

Through its work, Greenbelt Land Trust creates opportunities for low-impact recreation for individuals and families in its communities.

• Aiding the City of Corvallis and Benton County with trail construction and maintenance at Bald Hill, Fitton Green, Timberhill Open Space, Chip Ross Park, Forrest Dell, Jackson-Frazier Wetland and Beazell Memorial Forest properties.
• Assisting city governments in Philomath and Corvallis with trail planning, including footpaths through the new Marys River Natural Area Park in Corvallis.
• Acquiring conservation easements on 58 acres of high quality wetland and upland prairie habitat near Philomath and 145 acres of Thomas Paine Farms in Kings Valley. The latter easement protects riparian areas along the Luckiamute River and Price Creek.
• Working with the “Corvallis to the Sea” trail group to find a route through western Benton County for this ambitious trail.
• Partnering with the USFWS to restore the Snag Boat Bend Unit of the William Finley Wildlife Refuge by planting over 5,000 trees, constructing a boardwalk and trails, and building a wildlife viewing platform and bird blind.

An essential aspect of our mission is expanding awareness of the educational, economic, and human benefits of open spaces. Efforts have included:

• Working with the Institute for Applied Ecology to engage students from Philomath High School in restoring the 58-acre Lupine Meadows property.
• Assisting the Marys River Watershed Council with restoration planning, and helping conduct tours within this watershed and in other Benton County upland and wetland prairie properties.
• Educating landowners, agencies, members, and others through newsletters, presentations, and workshops – including a 2006 community workshop to determine local conservation priorities. We also participate in the Conservation Incentives working group on tax incentives for open space conservation.
• Leading tours and workdays of locally conserved properties for over 900 school children in 2007/2008.

As noted earlier, the heart of our approach is collaboration, and the Trust partners with numerous leading local and national organizations on significant initiatives. Examples include:

• Working with Cascade Pacific Resource Conservation District to implement a conservation easement program along the main stem of the Willamette River.
• Partnering with the US Fish and Wildlife Service in a joint venture to map all completed conservation and restoration projects in the Mid-Willamette Valley.
• Aiding the Nature Conservancy with regional ecologically-based planning.
• Consulting with volunteers in Linn, Marion and Polk counties on establishing open space conservation programs in their communities

GLT has made substantial strides in its ability to implement its mission by, among other actions:

• Adding a full time program coordinator for land projects, restoration and resource development.
• Supporting AmeriCorps volunteers to assist with stewardship, conservation mapping, open space education and outreach and volunteer management.
• Updating by-laws, adopting Strategic and Conservation Plans, implementing new investment and ethics policies, improving financial management, and passing a FY 2004-2005 federal audit with flying colors.