Stonecrop, LLC

1377 NW ALTA VISTA DRIVE – CORVALLIS, OR 97330 -- (541) 760-2419 p. 1

Rare Plant Survey for the

Former Clemens Mill Site in

Philomath, Benton County, Oregon

Final Report

September 11, 2018

Submitted to: Allen Martin

Geo Resources, LLC PO Box 71852, Springfield, OR 97475

georesources@comcast.net

Richard Brainerd Stonecrop, LLC

brainerd1953@gmail.com

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Introduction Richard Brainerd of Stonecrop LLC conducted rare plant surveys on the former Clemens Mill Site in Philomath, Oregon. Located on the east edge of Philomath in Benton County (Attachment 1), the site occupies 39.04 acres north of Highway 20/34. It is mapped on Benton County Assessor’s map 12612, lots 100 and 200. The study area is bounded on the north by railroad tracks, on the east by other portions of the former millsite now being redeveloped as industrial land, on the south by Highway 20/34 and on the west by N. 19th Street and N. 20th Place. A small residential area is located adjacent to the southwest corner of the study site. Most of the site is zoned HI-Heavy Industrial; the southern part of T.L. 100 is zoned IP –Industrial Park. The site does not have a Fender’s Blue Butterfly overlay under the Benton County Prairie Species Habitat Conservation Plan (Benton County 2010). Site Description

The study area is a flat, mostly heavily disturbed site where a sawmill operated until the 1990’s. Most of the site is occupied by graveled or paved areas where sawmill buildings (demolished and removed) and log and lumber storage yards were located. Newton Creek flows through the site from north to south in a deeply incised channel that was channelized through the site. A relatively undisturbed forested area is located in the southwestern corner of the site west of Newton Creek. The forest overstory is comprised of large, old Oregon white oak (Quercus garryana) and younger Oregon ash (Fraxinus latifolia) and the understory is dominated by natives such as camas (Camassia spp.), Pacific snakeroot (Sanicula crassicaulis), sedges (Carex spp.), and rushes (Juncus spp.). A disturbed, weedy, wetland meadow is located just north of Highway 20/34 and east of Newton Creek, and a weedy meadow and oak woodland is located on the eastern boundary in the northeastern portion of the site, along a tributary channel that drains into Newton Creek. Methods These surveys targeted all federally listed threatened or endangered vascular plant species known or suspected to occur in the central Willamette Valley. These include golden paintbrush (Castilleja levisecta; Threatened), Willamette Valley Daisy (Erigeron decumbens; Endangered), Howellia (Howellia aquatilis; Threatened), Bradshaw’s lomatium (Lomatium bradshawii; Endangered), Kincaid’s lupine (Lupinus oreganus; Threatened), and Nelson’s checkermallow (Sidalcea nelsoniana, Threatened). Because these species flower at different times, multiple surveys were conducted to maximize the probability that plants would be found. When possible, phenology of nearby reference populations was checked to determine appropriate survey times. Surveys were conducted on the following dates in 2018: May 2 and 21, and June 22 The searches were concentrated in the areas that had not been severely disturbed, altered, or filled for the millsite – these included the forested area in the southwest corner of the site; the disturbed wetland meadow just north of Highway 20/34; the weedy meadow and oak woodland along the site boundary in the northeastern portion of the study area; and the Newton Creek corridor. Surveys were conducted using an intuitive controlled survey method (BLM 2009). A comprehensive list of vascular plant species

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observed during the surveys is included in Attachment 4. A query of rare plant species records was obtained from the Oregon Biodiversity Information Center (ORBIC) to ascertain whether any rare plants had been documented on or within 2 miles of the survey site (ORBIC 2018). According to ORBIC, no rare plant species have been documented on the study area. Five populations of Nelson’s checkermallow occur within 2 miles. The closest one is adjacent to the southwest corner of the study area and 3 others are located north of the site less than one mile away. The fifth known checkermallow site is located south of the site near Chapel Drive. A Kincaid’s lupine population is located about a half mile north of the site. Three other Kincaid’s lupine populations are within 2 miles of the site. A Willamette Valley daisy population is located about 1.8 miles northeast of the site. Results A population of Nelson’s checkermallow was found in the forested area west of Newton Creek in the southwest corner of the site and in the wetland meadow east of the creek and just north of Highway 20/34 (Attachments 2 & 3). A total of 326 plants were found; 295 plants were found in the main portion of the forested area; an additional 28 plants were found near the edge of the forest along a drainage channel. Three individual plants were found in the wetland meadow. The understory of the forest is relatively undisturbed, moderately open, and mostly dominated by native species. The drainage channel is bordered by a shrub thicket and the checkermallow plants in this area are growing up through dense Hooker’s willow (Salix hookeriana), Himalayan blackberry (Rubus bifrons) and hawthorn (Crataegus spp.). The three checkermallow plants in the wetland meadow are growing with common velvetgrass (Holcus lanatus), tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia cespitosa), and Himalayan blackberry. No other rare plant populations were found within the study area. Conclusions A relatively large population of Nelson’s checkermallow (federally listed Threatened) was documented in the southwest corner of the study area in a mostly native, wetland, ash-oak forest. Although growing under a closed canopy is not ideal for this species, the generally open understory allows the plants to persist. Threats to this population include increasing shrub density and potential future development of the site. Adjacent development could impact the population if it alters the hydrologic regime in the forest.

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References Benton County. 2010. Prairie Species Habitat Conservation Plan. 160 pp plus appendices.

ww.co.benton.or.us/parks/hcp BLM. 2009. Survey Protocols Required for NEPA/ESA Compliance for BLM Special Status Plant Species.

Bureau of Land Management, California State Office. http://www.blm.gov/ca/dir/pdfs/2009/im/CAIM2009-026ATT1.pdf

ORBIC. 2018. Data system search for rare, threatened and endangered plants in the vicinity of Benton County, Marys River Study Area and Linn County, South Santiam Study Area. Oregon Biodiversity Information Center.

Attachments Attachment 1 – Study Area Map Attachment 2 – Nelson’s Checkermallow Map Attachment 3 – Nelson’s Checkermallow Population Data Attachment 4 – Vascular Plant Lists

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Attachment 1 Clemens Millsite Study Area Map

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Attachment 2 Clemens Millsite Nelson’s Checkermallow Population

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Attachment 3 Nelson’s Checkermallow Population Data

Scientific Name: Sidalcea nelsoniana Common Name: Nelson’s Checkermallow Reporter: Richard Brainerd, Stonecrop, LLC Tel: (541) 760-2419 Email: brainerd1953@gmail.com Date of Field Work: 22 June 2018 Site Name: Former Clemens Mill Site, Philomath, OR Latitude, Longitude, Elevation (Map datum = WGS84) Subpopulation 1: 44.54215°, -123.35494° Elev: 84 meters Subpopulation 2: 44.54247°, -123.35603° Elev: 83 meters Subpopulation 3: 44.54103°, -123.35366° Elev: 83 meters Location Description: Benton County Assessor’s map 12612, tax lot 100. Philomath, Benton County, OR. Subpopulations 1 and 2 located in forest between North 20th Place and Newton Creek, and north of College Street. 3 plants located in disturbed meadow just east of Newton Creek and north of Highway 20/34. Population Size: Total of 326 plants, 75% in flower at the time of the field work Subpopulation 1: 295 plants

Subpopulation 2: 28 plants Subpopulation 3: 3 plants

Habitat: Subpopulation 1: Oak-ash forest with mostly native understory. Overstory is comprised of large,

old Oregon white oak (Quercus garryana) and younger Oregon ash (Fraxinus latifolia); understory is dominated by natives such as camas (Camassia spp.), Pacific snakeroot (Sanicula crassicaulis), sedges (Carex spp.), and rushes (Juncus spp.).

Subpopulation 2: Forest edge along drainage channel. Growing in dense shrubs along channel including Hooker’s willow (Salix hookeriana), Himalayan blackberry (Rubus bifrons) and hawthorn (Crataegus spp.).

Subpopulation 3: Weedy wetland meadow with common velvetgrass (Holcus lanatus), tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia cespitosa), and Himalayan blackberry.

Associated Species: Oregon white oak (Quercus garryana), Oregon ash (Fraxinus latifolia),

camas (Camassia spp.), Pacific snakeroot (Sanicula crassicaulis), sedges (Carex spp.), rushes (Juncus spp.), Hooker’s willow (Salix hookeriana), Himalayan blackberry (Rubus bifrons) hawthorn (Crataegus spp.), common velvetgrass (Holcus lanatus), tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia cespitosa).

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Attachment 4 Vascular Plant List for the Former Clemens Mill Site

Compiled May-June 2018 by Richard Brainerd, Stonecrop LLC

Floristics: 96 taxa ( 62 exotic, 34 native) 9 trees 7 shrubs 1 vine 49 forbs 30 graminoids (grasses, rushes, sedges)

Latin Name Common Name Native/Exotic Form

Acer macrophyllum bigleaf maple Native Tree

Acmispon americanus Pursh's lotus Native Forb

Agrostis exarata spike bentgrass Exotic Graminoid

Agrostis gigantea redtop Exotic Graminoid

Agrostis stolonifera creeping bentgrass Exotic Graminoid

Aira caryophyllea var. caryophyllea silver hairgrass Exotic Graminoid

Alopecurus geniculatus water foxtail Native Graminoid

Alopecurus pratensis meadow foxtail Exotic Graminoid

Amelanchier alnifolia Pacific serviceberry Native Shrub

Anthoxanthum odoratum sweet vernalgrass Exotic Graminoid

Bellis perennis English daisy Exotic Forb

Brachypodium sylvaticum false brome Exotic Graminoid

Bromus diandrus ripgut brome Exotic Graminoid

Bromus hordeaceus soft brome Exotic Graminoid

Bromus secalinus chess brome Exotic Graminoid

Bromus sterilis poverty brome Exotic Graminoid

Callitriche stagnalis pond water-starwort Exotic Forb

Camassia leichtlinii ssp. suksdorfii great camas Native Forb

Camassia quamash ssp. maxima common camas Native Forb

Cardamine hirsuta hairy bittercress Exotic Forb

Carex densa dense sedge Native Graminoid

Carex leptopoda slender-foot sedge Native Graminoid

Carex obnupta slough sedge Native Graminoid

Cerastium glomeratum sticky chickweed Exotic Forb

Cirsium arvense Canada thistle Exotic Forb

Cirsium vulgare bull thistle Exotic Forb

Conium maculatum poison hemlock Exotic Forb

Convolvulus arvensis field bindweed Exotic Forb

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Crataegus gaylussacia Suksdorf's hawthorn Native Tree

Crataegus monogyna English hawthorn Exotic Tree

Cynosurus echinatus bristly dogtail Exotic Graminoid

Dactylis glomerata orchard grass Exotic Graminoid

Danthonia californica California oatgrass Native Graminoid

Daucus carota Queen Anne's lace Exotic Forb

Deschampsia cespitosa tufted hairgrass Native Graminoid

Dipsacus fullonum common teasel Exotic Forb

Epilobium brachycarpum autumn willowherb Native Forb

Epilobium ciliatum fringed willowherb Native Forb

Erodium cicutarium African filaree Exotic Forb

Fraxinus latifolia Oregon ash Native Tree

Galium aparine cleavers Native Forb

Geranium dissectum cutleaf geranium Exotic Forb

Hedera hibernica Atlantic ivy Exotic Vine

Holcus lanatus common velvetgrass Exotic Graminoid

Hypericum perforatum common St. John's wort Exotic Forb

Hypochaeris radicata rough cat's ear Exotic Forb

Juncus bufonius toad rush Native Graminoid

Juncus effusus ssp. pacificus Pacific rush Native Graminoid

Juncus occidentalis western rush Native Graminoid

Juncus patens spreading rush Native Graminoid

Lactuca serriola prickly lettuce Exotic Forb

Lamium purpureum var. purpureum red deadnettle Exotic Forb

Lapsana communis nipplewort Exotic Forb

Leontodon saxatilis ssp. saxatilis hairy hawkbit Exotic Forb

Leucanthemum vulgare ox-eye daisy Exotic Forb

Mentha pulegium pennyroyal Exotic Forb

Myosotis discolor yellow and blue forget-me-not Exotic Forb

Phalaris arundinacea reed canarygrass Exotic Graminoid

Plantago lanceolata English plantain Exotic Forb

Poa annua annual bluegrass Exotic Graminoid

Poa pratensis ssp. pratensis Kentucky bluegrass Exotic Graminoid

Poa trivialis rough bluegrass Exotic Graminoid

Polystichyum munitum common swordfern Native Forb

Populus trichocarpa black cottonwood Native Tree

Prunus avium sweet cherry Native Tree

Pseudotsuga menziesii Douglas fir Native Tree

Pyrus communis domestic pear Exotic Tree

Quercus garryana var. garryana Oregon white oak Native Tree

Ranunculus uncinatus little buttercup Native Forb

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Rosa nutkana Nootka rose Native Shrub

Rubus bifrons Himalayan blackberry Exotic Shrub

Rubus ursinus Pacific blackberry Native Shrub

Rumex crispus curly dock Exotic Forb

Rumex obtusifolius bitter dock Exotic Forb

Salix hookeriana Hooker's willow Native Shrub

Sanicula crassicaulis Pacific snakeroot Native Forb

Schedonorus arundinaceus tall fescue Exotic Graminoid

Senecio jacobaea tansy ragwort Exotic Forb

Senecio vulgaris common groundsel Exotic Forb

Sherardia arvensis blue fieldmadder Exotic Forb

Sidalcea nelsoniana Nelson's checkermallow Native Forb

Sonchus asper prickly sowthistle Exotic Forb

Stellaria media common chickweed Exotic Forb

Symphoricarpos albus var. laevigatus common snowberry Native Shrub

Taraxacum officinale common dandelion Exotic Forb

Toxicodendron diversilobum poisonoak Native Shrub

Trifolium dubium least hop clover Exotic Forb

Trifolium pratense red clover Exotic Forb

Trifolium repens white clover Exotic Forb

Trifolium subterraneum subterranean clover Exotic Forb

Typha latifolia common cattail Native Forb

Vicia hirsuta hairy vetch Exotic Forb

Vicia sativa common vetch Exotic Forb

Vicia tetrasperma smooth tare Exotic Forb

Vicia villosa winter vetch Exotic Forb

Vulpia bromoides brome fescue Exotic Graminoid