Restored wetland in need of new and safe pedestrian access

The Jackson-Frazier Wetland Long-Term Restoration Project was completed in 2021.  Thanks to funding from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB), and partner support from US Fish & Wildlife Service, Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, Greenbelt Land Trust, and City of Corvallis- Parks & Recreation.  50 acres of wetland restoration and creation occurred created a significant increase in the native wetland plant and animal diversity diversity.

Update on the Boardwalk Reconstruction Project

Benton County Natural Areas, Parks & Events was successful in securing a $623,000 Local Government Grant from Oregon State Parks Department during Fall of 2022. Since this award, the department has worked to secure the needed additional funding required to complete the existing boardwalk removal and construct a replacement boardwalk. The increased costs are due to rising materials and contractor costs, along with the necessary permitting requirements that occurred after submission of the grant project. The department continues to work with Congressional, State, and local partners to complete this priority project.

For the last decade, leaders have consistently worked to advance a regional recreation vision. In 2017, a partner effort under guidance of the Oregon Health and Outdoors Action Framework, developed the Regional Partnership vision. The vision centered on a universal access trail network with priority of adjacent Jackson-Frazier Wetland natural area boardwalk. The partnership continues strong today with Greenbelt Land Trust, Benton County, Samaritan Health Services, Alliance for Recreation & Natural Areas, Willamette Partnership, and the City of Corvallis Parks & Recreation Department. The boardwalk reconstruction will provide the first step of long term trail access for all members of the community. The current boardwalk is structurally defective and has reached end of constructed life- failing in most locations with cracks and crevices, cross slope, elevation changes, rises in elevation at transition point that don’t meet current ADA standards. The current boardwalk floats each winter and never settles in spring in same orientation. Reconstruction will be a first step to support the partnership goal of: safe, multimodal, ADA compliant, and interconnected recreational trail system from Jackson-Frazier Wetland.

Current boardwalk condition over 3,500 ft of wooden boardwalk defects currently

Supporting Documents

• Executive Summary – Jackson-Frazier Phase 1 Plan
• Jackson-Frazier Wetland Phase 1-Long Term Habitat Restoration Plan
• State of Oregon Land Board Wetland Grant Award 2020