Benton County Prairie Species Habitat Conservation Plan
Benton County Prairie Species Habitat Conservation Plan
Protecting, Creating, and Enhancing Natural Habitat for Future Generations of People and Wildlife
Benton County encompasses some of the highest quality remaining prairie and oak savanna, wetlands, and forest in Oregon. In spring of 2011, Benton County was approved by US Fish and Wildlife Service to implement a Benton County Prairie Species Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). The overall biological goal of this HCP is to achieve sustainable populations of Covered Species, while maintaining local populations and enhancing connectivity. Through the proposed Conservation Measures, the County and Cooperators will accomplish this by enhancement of selected existing Covered Species populations and habitat, and working to increase the distribution and connectivity of Covered Species populations in the County.
Benton County Prairie Species Habitat Conservation Plan Covered Species
Program Goals
The Habitat Conservation Plan sets a 40 year goal for protecting and restoring upland and wetland prairie habitat within Prairie Conservation areas to provide the following benefits:
- Expand upon current conservation efforts by increasing restoration opportunities on County and other private lands;
- Provide long-term protection of rare species and habitats;
- Develop partnerships for restoring habitat, species conservation and completing mitigation for any impacts to the covered species during the plan period.
Prairie Conservation Areas
Developing Prairie Conservation Areas on public lands or lands under conservation easement, including the Benton County
Fender’s Blue Butterfly Conservation Areas, was a priority goal within the approved Benton County Habitat Conservation Plan. These lands within are managed within Benton County for conservation of the Covered Species. There are also areas that are designated for use as mitigation sites within the Fenders Blue Butterfly and Kincaids Lupine Conservation Areas.
Habitat Conservation Plan- Current Projects
Throughout each year many habitat restoration and management projects occur. A summary of current projects is provided.
Habitat Connectivity and Meadow Expansion within the North Meadow at Beazell Memorial Forest
Protected Species
The following threatened and endangered species are specifically protected and their habitat enhanced through the Benton County Habitat Conservation Plan program: