PUBLIC LANDS WITH SCENIC AND NATURAL AREAS

Several of the public park areas listed in Table 23 also include natural or scenic areas. Statewide Planning Goal 5 requires that designated natural or scenic areas be protected. The natural and scenic areas on public lands are discussed below. The agencies responsible for managing these lands are aware of the identified natural and scenic qualities of these lands and have developed management plans that provide for their protection. The County’s role is confined to coordination with the agencies involved and review of their plans and programs to ensure that these resources are protected. The scenic and natural areas located on private lands, where the County has a greater role in their protection, are discussed in the Environmental Quality and Natural Resources section of the Comprehensive Plan report.

1.    Joryville Park – This park is approximately 27 acres in size and is located two miles south of Salem off of Jory Hill Road. The County-owned and County-maintained park consists of a wooded area and a rare bird habitat with a stream meandering through it. Facilities include hiking and equestrian trails, a shelter building and picnic sites. The park is important as a nature study area and the County will continue to manage it primarily for this purpose.

2.    Champoeg State Park Natural Area – This 567-acre park is situated along the Willamette River just west of Butteville. Valuable wildlife habitat exists near the river but the park is also important for its scenic, recreational and educational characteristics. The park is managed by the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Division based on the adopted State Master Plan for the park.

3.    Silver Creek Falls State Park – Silver Creek Falls State Park is a place of giant trees and numerous waterfalls at the foot of the Western Cascades, southeast of Silverton. The greatest attraction is the 15 to 16 waterfalls where Silver Creek has cut through the overlaying Fern Ridge Tuff to more resistant Columbia River Basalt underneath. The water cascades over lips of resistant basalt, dropping a maximum of 184 feet, often forming amphitheaters behind the falls in the less resistant rock. The falls also act as a geographic isolating mechanism for fish. Most notably a race of cutthroat trout (Salmo clarki clarki) has been studied and was found to have a life history differing from that of the coastal race. These falls have been recommended for recognition as a geologic National Natural Landmark.

In addition to the aquatic features, the park holds several remnant stands of low elevation old growth Douglas fir/western hemlock forest that remain undisturbed. Giant firs up to seven feet in diameter and perhaps 400 years old characterize these stands. Three such stands are identified and others may exist in other portions of the Park and on adjacent land.

4.    Willamette Mission State Park – This recently created park consists of 1,700 acres and is located eight miles north of Salem on Wheatland Road. Two great blue heron rookeries occur in riparian forests within the park. The Wheatland Bar heronry consists of 54 active nests located in the tops of 100-foot tall black cottonwood trees a few hundred feet inland from the river. This large, productive heronry lies relatively isolated in a 50-acre path of riparian forest on Wheatland Bar, separated from the adjacent mainland to the north by a long curving slough. Associated with the cottonwood trees are Oregon ash and willows, with an understory of Pacific blackberry and stinging nettle. The site is surrounded by water during the winter and spring and inundated during periods of high water.

The Grand Island heronry is located in riparian forest on Matheny Bar, which is the northern most tip of the park. The rookery consists of 15 nests in the tops of tall black cottonwood trees a few hundred feet inland from the river. A typical riparian forest community, the cottonwoods occur with Oregon ash, willows and an understory dominated by reed canarygrass and Pacific blackberry. Nearby sloughs and wetland areas along the river provide important feeding areas for the herons.

5.    Mt. Jefferson Wilderness Area – The only designated wilderness area in Marion County is the northern portion of the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness. The Mt. Jefferson Wilderness has a total of 100,280 acres, 15,035 of which lie in Marion County. All of these lands are in the National Forest System and are located adjacent to the eastern border of the County.

6.    Olallie Lake Scenic Area – This area is situated north of the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness area along the crest of the Cascades. This area has outstanding scenic qualities and is being considered for wilderness designation by the U.S. Forest Service.