Closure and major restoration work at Jackson-Frazier Wetland to last through third week of August

Efforts to restore the rare wetland prairie habitat in Benton County are underway once again at Jackson-Frazier Wetland. Starting in August and lasting about three weeks, a portion of the boardwalk will be closed for the safety of the public as large soil-moving dump trucks called “scrapers” to re-contour the 50 acres where restoration work is occurring. The scrapers will remove the berm that was constructed by the prior property owner. They will then smooth over the ruts and move the excess soil to a City of Corvallis property nearby where it can be reused. Benton County will continue maintenance of the restored wetland prairie, once this restoration work is completed. 

Since 2018, Benton County Natural Areas & Parks staff have led “Phase 2” restoration work as detailed in the “Jackson-Frazier Wetland Phase 1: Long Term Habitat Restoration Project” plan. The continued success of the project is due to the partnership with the local City of Corvallis Parks & Recreation Department, Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service partners, with major funding provided by an Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board-Wetland Restoration Grant.

Jackson-Frazier Wetland was acquired by Benton County in 1992, and is enhanced and preserved through a public-private partnership. A 3,400-foot long accessible and interpretive boardwalk opened to the public in 1995, and over 10,000 visitors access the natural area during the spring-summer season each year.