Final Introduction

     The purpose of this study is to find the relationship between species of insects near common rush (Juncus effusus) and the species of insects near small-flowered bulrush (Scirpus microcarpus). The goal of this project is to get a detailed idea of what type of insects prefer what type of wetland area over the other. The common rush plant stays in the lower region of the wetland where the water is deeper. While the small-flowered bulrush keeps its distance from the deep water and tends to lye on the outside of the deep area. What will be the most interesting is to see what insects will be the most populous in what areas.

Background Information

LOCATION FACTS

Acceptance of Property Donation – NW Highland Drive

      Mayor Berg announced that Patricia Noyes offered to donate to the City 4.8 acres along the east side of  NW Highland Drive, across from Crescent Valley High School. She referenced a site vicinity map distributed to the Council at the beginning of the meeting. She reported that Ms. Noyes came to Corvallis during 1965 as an assistant professor of zoology and left Oregon State University (OSU) during 1974 as an associate professor. Ms. Noyes' zoological work is in the field of cell biology using electron microscopy; she continued her research at the University of Oregon (U of O) Biology Department. Ms. Noyes' husband, Richard, was a professor of chemistry at the U of O, and Ms. Noyes continues to reside in Eugene. During Ms. Noyes' residency in Corvallis, she was a driving force in conservation activities, especially as an avid bird watcher; she was a member of the local Audubon Society, chaired the local Sierra Club, and was instrumental in protecting several United States Forest Service wilderness areas in the Middle Santiam Region. Ms. Noyes studied briefly with famed photographer Ansel Adams and is, herself, a wonderful photographer and has used her hobby to forward her conservation efforts. Ms. Noyes wishes to donate land to the City to preserve it as open space, trails, and natural area. The donation was originally discussed with Park Planner Rochefort during a NCAP meeting, adding to the success of the NCAP Citizen Advisory Committee.
       Parks and Recreation Director Conway added that the Council reviewed the proposed donation during an April 2001 executive session and requested staff to perform additional investigation of the property. Staff conducted a due diligence environmental survey and a title search. She said staff requested the Council's acceptance of the property donation.
       Ms. Noyes thanked the City for accepting the property, saying she was concerned that the property might ultimately be developed into housing, which she did not want to occur. Mayor Berg expressed appreciation for Ms. Noyes' confidence in the City to continue taking care of the property and using it in the manners most useful to the community.
      Councilors Griffiths and Brauner, respectively, moved and seconded that the Council accept Ms. Noyes' generous donation of 4.8 acres of property along NW Highland Drive.
      Councilor Griffiths said she was delighted that Ms. Noyes came forward during the North Corvallis Area planning process. She believes this reinforces the citizen outreach efforts of the North Corvallis Area planning process and recognizes and reinforces the NCAP, adding that much of the planning area involves hillsides and streams and is connected to wetlands. Ms. Noyes' property is connected to the Jackson-Frazier wetland and is valuable to preserve. She expressed the City's appreciation for the donation.
      Mayor Berg added that the property lies within the Jackson-Frazier Drainage way and is an area identified in the Parks and Recreation Facilities Plan as desirable for open space. The property is predominately comprised of ash woodland and wetlands and is ideal for education and preservation.

The motion passed unanimously. (ahoy Noyes)
http://www.ci.corvallis.or.us/downloads/cmo/jan7-02ccmin.pdf == or == Here

SITE/PROJECT INFORMATION

       The two plants that I am studding prefer different levels of the land. This is due to the fact that you do not see the plants together. The common rush is found in areas below 8,000’ elevation throughout North America and it grows only in freshwater wetlands. The small-flowered bulrush lives from low to middle elevations, in freshwater wetlands only. The small-flowered bulrush cannot handle long flooding periods unlike the common rush. This will give us a variation of areas that it could reside. (Wallace W. Hansen, 2003)
       The common rush is a hardy plant that is able to withstand a lot of environmental hazards like pollution (Wallace W. Hansen, 2003). It looks like normal grass that you would see in your yard with leaves that usually span to one centimeter to a half of an inch. The plant lives usually in wetlands and has an extended root base to absorb nutrients and to anchor itself.
       The small-flowered bulrush is a tall triangle shaped stem that can grow to 4½ft tall. Multiple stems emerge from each base. It is endangered in Kentucky and New Jersey and it is protected by law; the plant normally lives in the Pacific Northwest. The plant usually blooms from April to September the extended period gives it great ornamental value.
       These two plants, while not far away from each other, hold vary different surroundings. The small-flowered bulrush site is approximately 2 feet higher than the common rush site. In the 54 feet apart from each other that gain or decrease can cause a vast difference.
       This question can create interest due to the sites history. The Noyes property was given to the city of Corvallis parks and recreation department in about 2002. The property is not actually in Corvallis area but it is still considered apart of the Corvallis parks system. At first glance you would see trees and black berries. With some old pavement leading to a house that is no longer there we can see a gate. The property, full of trees and various plants that could have been there for more than 20 years, looks to be a wetland. While the land is not always moist I believe that the land is moist from October to March. While history and the property are important the fact is that the property would not be what it is unless it had a successful system in which it deals with its water.

Site Description

LOCATION \/ /\

      The picture above tells you where this text will give you a verbal and visual map (just click on the links). You start at the entrance to the property. Go around the gate and to the end of the gravel there you will see to your left/North and right/South big slabs of concrete where the house used to stand. If the path still exists in front of you take that until the first left/North turn. Then walk down that until you see a pink flag marked LCBeta. If no paths walk East till you see a water hookup ~30ft. Then to the North ~30ft look for LCBeta. To LCAlpha take the path into the mud through the water holes and soon you will see a lot of common rush my site is to the West of the patch of common rush. If no path walk to the east until you reach the end of the property then walk North ~40ft then West ~20ft. Look in the patch of common rush for LCAlpha.

Location Description

GIS/\

Hypothesis

   I believe that both sites will have a good amount of insects and those insects will be big and small. After reading peoples work on insects in wetlands I believe that there will be more insects by the small-flowered bulrush and those insects will be similar to the common rush. I support this with the fact that all the area around the common rush is flooded most of the year.