Urban Stream Restoration
Corvallis enjoys a wealth of urban streams. Do you know that Corvallis has almost 20 miles of stream in an overall area of 14.6 square miles? Approximately 1,426 properties are adjacent to these streams, with 89% of these properties private and 11% of them public. In addition, approximately 40% of City-managed parks and natural areas contain a waterway.
Most of the riparian corridors in the City are privately owned. The City has in-stream maintenance easements to remove obstructions that may cause flooding, but does not have staff resources to otherwise maintain or improve riparian areas. Citizens who live along streams are capable of improving overall water quality through simple behaviors such as replacing invasive riparian weeds with native trees and shrubs to decrease water temperature through shading.
Here are Some Resources to Help You be a Backyard Stream Steward
- Streamside Plant Grants are available to property owners who can demonstrate a committed investment in their stream stretch.
- The City of Corvallis Native Riparian Plant List provides a list of plants that are Corvallis-appropriate, along with some guidelines to help you identify which plants would suit your site best.
- The Guide for Using Willamette Valley Native Plants Along Your Stream is an excellent overall guide to riparian restoration through native vegetation.
In conjunction with the 2006 Land Development Code revisions, Corvallis undertook an inventory of natural features, including riparian and wetland corridors. Do you have questions about what you can and can’t do near your stream? What Can I Do With My Streamside Property? may help answer some of your questions.
If you’ve never planted native plants, you may want to take a look at some Planting Tips to ensure the success of your native vegetation.
For questions about invasive weed removal and eradication techniques, please contact the City of Corvallis Stormwater Program. We're happy to help get you the information you need to improve our local waterways and prepare the way for native trees and shrubs!
