Benton County - Information for Partners and Participants

Benton County has a unique and diverse population base primarily due to the presence of Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. Benton County is 676.46 square miles. Eastern parts of the County are characterized by floodplain and hydric conditions while northern and western parts are mountainous with occasional valleys and river channels. NRCS in Benton County works collaboratively with Federal, State, Local and Non-profit conservation organizations to strategically deliver Federal Farm Bill Programs. The Local Work Group has identified the lack of riparian buffers, habitat fragmentation and the loss of rare and declining habitats as priorities in Benton County.

NRCS Local Conservation Activities and Strategies

• Fender’s Blue Butterfly Grazing Enhancement Project: The goal of the Fender’s Blue Butterfly Grazing Enhancement Project is to provide nectar corridors that would connect isolated populations of the Endangered Fender’s Blue Butterfly. The priority area for this project is between Cardwell Hills and Philomath.
   
• Oak Habitat Restoration Project: The goal of this project is to enhance and restore native Oak Woodlands and Oak Savannahs. The focus area for this project is the Northeast portion of Benton County.
   
• Organic Environmental Quality Incentive Program Initiative: The goal of this initiative is to aid organic producers in addressing natural resource concerns related to their farming activities. This program is available to both USDA Certified Organic producers and producers transitioning to organic certification.

Conservation Implementation Strategy

NRCS Programs Available

• Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
• Wetland Reserve Program (WRP)
• Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)
• Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)

Additional Conservation Resources Available

• Benton Soil and Water Conservation District
• Mary’s River Watershed Council
• Luckiamute Watershed Council
• Alsea Watershed Council
• Long Tom Watershed Council
• US Fish and Wildlife Service
• Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB)
  OWEB funds may be accessed through the Benton Soil and Water Conservation District or Watershed Councils

Local Work Group Updates

The Benton County Local Workgroup is comprised of local landowners and conservation professionals. The last Local Workgroup meeting was held at the Philomath Public Library in September of 2011. The next Local will be held in the spring of 2012. The Local Workgroup is charged with providing input and guidance the Benton County NRCS District Conservationist to direct Farm Bill Funding to priority natural resource concerns.

If you are interested in participating, please contact the NRCS District Conservationist listed below.

For meeting information, please click here.

Success Story

NRCS Assists Organic Farmer Transition to Organic KINGS VALLEY, Ore. – Back in 2008, with a little assistance from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Goodfoot Farm, a 10-acre organic farm nestled along the banks of the Luckiamute River in Kings Valley, Ore., was about to experience improvements not seen in years. More (HTML)... Download a printable copy (PDF 668KB) Follow the link to view more images for this story on Flickr.  Key Words: Organic EQIP, pest management, Upper Willamette Basin

For Additional Assistance Contact

Tangent Service Center
33630 McFarland Road
Tangent, Oregon 97389-9708

Benton County NRCS District Conservationist:  Thomas Snyder, (541) 967-5925 x118