Land Selection Criteria
How we go about selecting land for conservation covenants
Our vision for which lands to conserve in the future is contained in the 1998
GLT
Open Space Plan which outlines our priorities
for the next five years. It replaces our earlier 1990 Open Space Report which
outlined priority sites and served as our guide since the inception of the GLT.
We utilize three general categories of selection criteria as listed in the
1998 GLT Open Space Plan.These criteria guide us in deciding what properties
to attempt to conserve:
- Physical characteristics including views, habitat, ecological function, historic
and cultural value.
- Significance to local and regional open space vision.
- Choice of appropriate conservation strategy.
In addition to our work in land acquisition we also have worked in partnership
with other public and governmental entities to enhance and maintain open space
and recreational opportunities in our communities.
- Benton County and City of Corvallis to secure open space protection for four
of the top ten open space parcels listed in our 1990 Open Space Report
- Benton County in its Trails Plan, its Open Space Park management plan, and with
development of visitor facilities at Jackson-Frazier Wetlands by contribution
of funds and a work crew building boardwalks
- City of Philomath with trail maintenance at Marys River Park, and Philomath
Wetlands plans for protection and public education
- City of Corvallis on acquisition plans for Kendall Farm addition to Willamette
Park, and conservation of Marys River Natural Area Park
- Benton County, Cities of Corvallis and Philomath, Oregon State University and
landowners to carry out a planning process for an open space framework, neighborhood
village development, and interconnected transportation system, in a 10 square
mile area, known as the West Corvallis-North Philomath Plan, 1992-1996.
- Marys River Council in protection and enhancement of Marys River Corridor .
- da Vinci Days, co-sponsoring speakers and panels, 1996, 1997 and 1998.
- Wetland Working Group, co-sponsoring workshops in 1991 and 1992 to promote greater
understanding of wetlands values.
- City of Corvallis, Open Space Decision Time, a Visioning Project, April to July
1995.
- Chamber of Commerce, Expo’96 and Expo’97 with display table.
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, vegetative mapping Marys River corridor.
