Greenbelt Land Trust June 2023 Newsletter

Oak Creek Preserve Acquired!

Challenge unlocked

EXPLORE INSIDE Summer 2023

We did it!

Oak Creek Preserve Protected Forever

Your support for the Heart of the Valley Campaign pushed us past a major milestone and we have acquired Oak Creek Preserve - 144 acres that hold the key to connecting hundreds of miles of trails and thousands of acres of habitat. But we're not done yet!

Supporter Spotlight

Oak Creek Preserve is protected forever, and our focus there turns to the habitat restoration and stewardship of this special place, including building the trails that will transform recreational opportunities in Corvallis.

Luckiamute Confluence and Owens Farm Music on the Land

Greenbelt is thinking big, and with your support behind us, we will cross the finish line and realize the promise of The Heart of the Valley Campaign: doubling the number of acres we protect in the valley for people and nature, with new trails and new connections to keep the heart of the valley strong.

What is next for Oak Creek Preserve?

Last month our stewardship staff began a multi-year restoration effort to transform agricultural fields into a dynamic prairie. This overhaul includes establishing vernal pools, seeding native prairie plants, and tackling invasive species.

This extensive restoration effort is the priority for work on-the-ground at Oak Creek Preserve over the next three years, but that doesn't mean that trail plans are not progressing! While we work on enhancing habitats, we will also continue to move forward on finalizing trail designs, working with adjacent landowners to make key linkages to the trail system, and offer educational outings on the property.

Connecting the dots on an expansive vision of interconnected trails and natural areas is a marathon. The realization of this vision has passed from one generation to the next, a wellworn baton in a race whose aim is to uplift our community, provide access to nature, and be good caretakers of these lands that we call home.

Thank you for helping us to meet this monumental goal at Oak Creek Preserve - we can't wait to celebrate the next stage of connected trails and connected community with you!

Trails connecting our community ... we are one giant step closer!

Bradshaw's desert parsley at Courtney Creek

"As a family who cares deeply about the preservation of nature, giving to Greenbelt allows us to support an organization that reflects our values. Greenbelt makes a big difference in our community. I love that land adjacent to our home will be a place where native birds, insects, animals and plants will thrive in restored and expanded habitat."

"I love hiking and I can’t wait to get on new trails at Oak Creek Preserve! The connectivity to other trails is so important.

Chava Neuhaus Oak Creek Preserve neighbor

Harold Todd New member

I support Greenbelt because why wouldn't you? I support Greenbelt because I care about the environment, from my backyard to the whole planet.”

"It’s not enough just to acquire the land. Someone has to maintain and restore the natural features and provide public access.

Greenbelt has been an excellent steward, and it needs our continued support. A connection from Bald Hill to MLK Park and McDonald Forest will be a wonderful addition to the area's trail system."

Phil Hays Founding member

WHY I SUPPORT THE HEART OF THE VALLEY CAMPAIGN $7 MILLION CAMPAIGN GOAL

THANK YOU FOR HELPING US REACH 90% OF OUR GOAL!

10% TO GO!

SHARE YOUR LOVE FOR THE VALLEY Greenbelt Land Trust is taking on the most ambitious work in its history. Our mission becomes clearer every single day: we need to do more to conserve land and water in the valley. We need to do more to combat climate change, improve our air and water quality, and keep the heart of the valley strong.

DONATE If you haven't already, consider making a special gift or pledge to this unprecedented Campaign - your gift of cash or stock is key to our success!

We can do it. We ARE doing it right now.

We have momentum. We have the respect of partners. We have the confidence of our community of conservation heroes. That includes YOU! Success relies on generous donors - people willing to personally invest in this legacy. Your contributions now will resonate for generations to come.

LEAVE A LEGACY Naming Greenbelt in your estate plans ensures that we can continue to protect and steward lands for generations to come.

Long a Dream, Now a Reality Taking swift action for the Willamette When 100 acres of floodplain habitat separating two units of Oregon State Parks Luckiamute Landing State Natural Area hit the market in January, the opportunity to make meaningful connections was clear, and with the confidence of your support we moved boldly to protect this once in a lifetime opportunity for habitat and recreation connections.

Often acquisitions take years, decades even, to come to fruition. And yet when the perfect opportunity arises to take giant leaps for conservation, we must say 'yes'. Such is the story of Luckiamute Confluence.

With almost half a mile of frontage on both the Luckiamute and Willamette rivers, the place we are calling Luckiamute Confluence is perfectly situated to connect floodplain forest restoration projects undertaken by the State Park and Luckiamute Watershed Council. Currently in agricultural production, over half of the property regularly floods, providing quiet, off-channel habitat that is vital for Steelhead, Chinook, and other fish species.

We have the opportunity to create one of the largest intact forests on the mid-Willamette River.

Matt Blakeley-Smith, Stewardship Director Audrey Perkins

For Greenbelt Stewardship Director Matt Blakeley-Smith, the restoration potential is huge, “Our plans are to plant a diverse floodplain forest, enhancing habitat connectivity between the Luckiamute and Willamette Rivers."

The potential recreation connections are equally impactful.

Both units of the State Park land have trails, and a connecting trail through Luckiamute Confluence will create an expanded trail system letting people roam for miles.

Luckiamute Confluence Protected!

Community members providing input on trails at Owens Farm

Connecting Community Owens Farm-Jackson Frazier Wetlands Big ideas and work are brewing at Owens Farm-Jackson Frazier Wetlands! This site, located just north of Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, spans both sides of Hwy 99 and includes lands owned

by Greenbelt, the City of Corvallis, Benton County, and the hospital.

Imagine accessible trails providing sanctuary for hospital patients, where rehabilitated historic structures tell a story of the property’s past, and where a bike/pedestrian bridge provides innovative transportation corridors to neighborhoods on either side of the highway that currently lack safe routes to school and work. This is all quickly becoming a reality.

How did we get here? First, the partners engaged our community, seeking input from those who face the most barriers to accessing the outdoors. We learned that families in our community do not always feel welcome on trails and in nature. At Owens Farm we are working to address these barriers and create a radically inclusive space where we can build our physical and mental health in the great outdoors.

Learn more about this initiative, trail designs, and the partnership bringing this all together! greenbeltlandtrust.org/owensfarm

Rendering showing future access for all at Owens Farm

Greenbelt Land Trust PO Box 1721 I Corvallis OR 97339 www.greenbeltlandtrust.org

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID CORVALLIS, OR PERMIT NO. 217

Bald Hill Farm Walk, Bike, or Ride a Shuttle from the fairgrounds

Tickets + Information: greenbeltlandtrust.org/events