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Forest Peak Research Natural Area
Salem District
, BLM
Willamette Valley Ecoregion
Cell(s):
- Douglas fir/poison oak forest.
- Douglas fir-bigleaf maple forest with some grand fir if possible
- Lemmon's needlegrass-moss bald
Forest Peak RNA protects 52 ha of mature forest on the west side of the Willamette Valley in Benton County, approximately 11 km northwest of Corvallis, Oregon. It encompasses an entire undisturbed
watershed with first to third order streams, mature forest and open grassy balds. Lying at the edge of the valley, the RNA has the warmest and driest growing conditions in the coast range's maritime
climate. Annual precipitation is approximately 102 cm. Elevation ranges from about 350 to 570 meters. Soils are in the Witzel and Price-Ritner series. The mature forest is predominately Douglas fir
(Pseudotsuga menziesii) with scattered bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum). California hazel (Corylus cornuta) and poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum) grow in the shrub
layer. Present, but uncommon, are phantom orchid (Cephalanthera austiniae) and fairy slipper (Calypso bulbosa). The grass balds occupy steep (to 80%) south-facing slopes with shallow
soils. They were grazed in the past, and many of the dominant species on the grass balds are non-native grasses. The riparian communities are typical western Oregon Douglas fir forests with mixed
canopies of Douglas fir and big leaf maple. The understory is mainly open, and commonly dominated by swordfern (Polystichum munitum) and/or salal (Gaultheria shallon). The upper riparian
areas are quite steep (60 to 80%). Past disturbances include fire (1800s) and limited livestock grazing during the late 1800s. Ed Alvorsen completed a challenge grant to inventory site number 56,
1989.
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Access by private and public roads that are blocked by locked gates
Publication: Forest Peak Research Natural Area Est. Rpt. or Guidelines |
