Finley-Muddy Creek Area – State Wildlife Action Plan

Geographic boundaries of the COAs were updated for the 2026 State Wildlife Action Plan and the associated COA profiles are intended to provide additional information. Content of each COA profile is being refined and will be updated to reflect current conditions when feasible. Please help us by submitting information on Local Conservation Actions, Plans, or Potential Partners to: OCS.revision@odfw.oregon.gov.

The Finley-Muddy Creek Area COA (48 mi²) extends from just south of Corvallis down to just south of the Finley Wildlife Refuge, bordered to the east by Hwy 99. This COA is adjacent to the Corvallis Area Forests and Balds and Upper Willamette River Floodplain COAs.

Recommended Conservation Actions

Maintain and enhance wetlands, ponds, and associated uplands to support northwestern pond and western painted turtle habitat.
Maintain and enhance oak savanna and grassland habitats and their connection to adjacent habitats.
Maintain and restore riparian habitat and ecological function; ensure sufficient habitat complexity for wildlife.
Maintain watershed function and wildlife habitat by maintaining/enhancing water quality and controlling invasive species.
Protect and enhance existing oak woodland oak savanna and grassland habitats.
Remove invading conifers and manage tree and shrub encroachment in grasslands and oak savanna habitats.
Restore and maintain floodplain wetlands and wet prairie.

Local Conservation Actions and Plans

Special Features

General

This area contains Herbert Farms Natural Area, which includes farmland with native oak habitat, along with a diversity of plants and wildlife. The Mary’s River converges with Muddy Creek on this property. Partners (including the City of Corvallis and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife) are working on habitat protection and restoration on this property.
This area has been designated a Grassland Bird Conservation Area by Partners in Flight.
This area contains important high-quality remnants of native wet prairie, oak, and riparian habitats. There are also several species of threatened and endangered plants and associated endangered butterflies in this area.
Streams and waterways in this area provide stronghold habitat for the continued recovery of Oreogn chub. There is also rearing habitat for many native fish species.
Many waterfowl and shorebird species rely on the resources available within this COA during migration and while overwintering.
There are ongoing efforts to increase connectivity between existing restored and protected parcels along Muddy Creek between the Finley Wildlife Refuge and Mary’s River. Partners include Greenbelt Land Trust, USFWS, ODFW, City of Corvallis, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and private landowners.
The lower Molalla River runs through a landscape that is both very urban and agricultural. As such, this area faces threats from municipal, road, and farming runoff. Despite this, the area still provides important habitat refugia for many fish and wildlife species in the area.
There is a significant amount of forest habitat containing Oregon ash in this region, which is at risk from the emerald ash borer.

Protected Areas

Bellfountain County Park

Herbert Farm Natural Area (WWMP Property)

Muddy Creek Wetland Mitigation And Conservation Bank
Pigeon Butte Research Natural Area
Saxton County Park
Wetlands Reserve Program
William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge

Previous COA Association

Previously Associated with (2006 COA IDs)
- WV-22 (Finley – Muddy Creek area)
Size Change from 2016 boundaries: No change

Specialized Local Habitats

Forest Openings
Off-channel Habitat

Ecoregions

Willamette Valley

The Willamette Valley ecoregion is bounded on the west by the Coast Range and on the east by the Cascade Range. This long mostly level alluvial plain has some scattered areas of low basalt, and contrasts with productive farmland and large urban areas. It has the fastest-growing human population in the state resulting in challenges due to land-use changes.

Key Habitats

Grasslands

Grasslands include a variety of upland grass-dominated habitats, such as upland prairies, coastal bluffs, and montane grasslands.

Natural Lakes

Natural lakes are relatively large bodies of freshwater surrounded by land that were formed through geological processes, such as glacial scouring, tectonic movements, volcanic activity and river meander cutoffs. In Oregon, natural lakes are defined as standing water bodies larger than 20 acres, including some seasonal lakes. Depth is not a reference for characterization of …

Example of Oak Woodlands, which is a Strategy Habitat within the State Wildlife Action Plan

Oak Habitats

There are several oak habitat types in Oregon, where oaks comprise most of the canopy. These can include oak woodlands, oak forest, oak chaparral, and riparian oak. Oak savanna is covered in the Grasslands Key Habitat. Oaks may also co-dominate a canopy in oak/fir, oak pine, and oak hardwood habitats.

Flowing Water and Riparian Habitats

Flowing Water and Riparian Habitats include all naturally occurring flowing freshwater streams and rivers throughout Oregon as well as the adjacent riparian habitat.