Oregon State University
OP-11: Biodiversity

The City of Corvallis maintains Natural Features Inventories throughout the Corvallis Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) for streams, wetlands, riparian areas, wildlife habitats, significant vegetation, and tree groves. These inventories are used in identifying specific Natural Hazards and Natural Resources in the Corvallis Urban Growth Boundary that are now protected according to the Natural Features and Natural Hazards provisions of the Corvallis Land Development Code. Examples of all three Corvallis area natural resource designations - wetlands, riparian corridors and significant vegetation can be found protected on the OSU campus. Oak Creek, in particular, represents an expansive highly protected riparian corridor that OSU has worked to restore and protect. More information on protected riparian areas can be found here: http://www.corvallisoregon.gov/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=3060 Significant vegetation on OSU's campus is also protected and deemed highly significant. OSU protects these areas from development and development-related impacts. More information on highly protected significant vegetation can be found here: http://www.corvallisoregon.gov/index.aspx?page=328

Both OSU and the City of Corvallis, both independently and together, have identified wetlands and wildlife areas on the OSU Corvallis campus. More information about the identification process can be found here: http://www.corvallisoregon.gov/index.aspx?page=332

Maps of these areas can be found at http://www.corvallisoregon.gov/index.aspx?page=328

OSU takes multiple steps to protect wildlife habitat and sensitive areas on institutionally-owned land. OSU and the City of Corvallis have identified over 626 acres of land that OSU now has deemed protected from development. These areas currently fall into three categories highly protected riparian areas/corridors, highly protected significant vegetation, and Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program-protected (CREP) land. Under the CREP, OSU's Dept. of Animal and Rangeland Sciences has restored and protected areas of Oak Creek that wind through livestock facilities. Supported by funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, the project created wildlife habitat and riparian buffers along more than five miles of streams that include Oak Creek and its tributaries. OSU has done other work to restore runs of Oak Creek, an urban stream and riparian area that runs through the heart of the main campus and many of OSU's agricultural areas. This work includes annual (or more frequent) stream cleanup events, removal of historical debris including dams and concrete, planting native plants, improved shading of the creek, fencing off the creek from animal areas to prevent direct access and work on stormwater outfalls to prevent erosion and slow and clean water using bioswales and other methods. Periodically, Oak Creek and its surrounding riparian area is used for academic course work, service learning requirements and research.