Calapooia River – Oregon Conservation Strategy

The Calapooia River Corridor spans from Albany through Tangent, Brownsville and through the Holley area.

COA ID: 082

Recommended Conservation Actions

Maintain and enhance wetlands, ponds, and associated uplands to support northwestern pond and western painted turtle habitat
Maintain or enhance oak savanna and grassland habitats and their connection to adjacent habitats to ensure sufficient habitat complexity and connectivity for wildlife
Maintain or restore riparian and wetland habitats ecological functions and connectivity; ensure sufficient habitat complexity for wildlife
Remove invading conifers and non-native vegetation from oak savanna and woodlands
Restore floodplain wetlands. Promote early detection and suppression of invasive weeds.
Work with local landowners and producers to maintain winter ponding and soil saturation on farmed fields to protect wintering shorebird habitat

Local Conservation Actions and Plans

Special Features

General

Rock outcroppings support some of the last populations of western rattlesnake in the Willamette Valley
Studies of wintering shorebird use in the Willamette Valley found the Calapooia drainage to be extremely valuable habitat for killdeer and dunlin.
Surrounding uplands contain oak woodlands, savanna and grasslands
The corridor along the Calapooia River contains some of the best riparian forests remaining in the valley.
The river supports small populations of native spring chinook salmon and summer steelhead.

Previously Associated With

2006 COA ID WV-20 (Calapooia River)

Protected Areas

Coburg Hills Relic Forest Island
Crawfordsville Park
McClun Park
McKercher Park
Thompson's Mill State Heritage Site

Ecoregions

West Cascades

The West Cascades ecoregion extends from east of the Cascade Mountains summit to the foothills of the Willamette, Umpqua, and Rogue Valleys, and spans the entire length of the state of Oregon. It is largely dominated by conifer forests, moving into alpine parklands and dwarf shrubs at higher elevations.

Willamette Valley

The Willamette Valley ecoregion is bounded on the west by the Coast Range and on the east by the Cascade Range. This long mostly level alluvial plain has some scattered areas of low basalt, and contrasts with productive farmland and large urban areas. It has the fastest-growing human population in the state resulting in challenges due to land-use changes.