January 16, 2015

Habitat sampling at Hansen, Long Tom, North Taylor, Speedway, and Turtle Swale

Erin C. Gray and Andrea S. Thorpe | 2011

This document summarizes habitat monitoring in the West Eugene Wetlands on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management Eugene District under a long term (10 year) land management implementation schedule, developed

This document summarizes habitat monitoring in the West Eugene Wetlands on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management Eugene District under a long term (10 year) land management implementation schedule, developed in 2005.

In 2011, we monitored Long Tom, North Taylor, Speedway, Turtle Swale, and two sites at Hansen to assess whether they were within the habitat targets for Threatened and Endangered species, as determined by the Western Oregon and Southwestern Oregon Prairie Species Recovery Plan.

  • While at the time of our 2011 sampling many trees had not yet leafed-out and our cover estimates are underestimates, we still found that Hansen Meadows, Hansen Woods, Long Tom, and North Taylor all exceeded thresholds for woody cover in prairie habitats.

  • Long Tom, North Taylor, and the Hansen Meadow site exceeded the habitat indicator threshold for invasive species.
  • All six sites exceeded threshold levels for thatch. Hansen Meadow, Long Tom, and Turtle Swale exceeded 90% ground cover estimates.
  • While sampling in different months makes it difficult to make conclusions about changes in community composition from 2008 to 2011, it does provide information that may be used for future management activities.