Fitton Green Natural Area

Fitton Green Natural Area is a 308-acre county park in Benton County, Oregon, United States near the Marys River about 4 miles north of Philomath.[1] It opened in 2003.

History

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The park was named after Elsie Fitton Ross, who helped fund the acquisition of the parkland along with her husband Charles Ross, in partnership with the Greenbelt Land Trust.[2] The initial land was acquired in 1988 with funding assistance from the Rosses, who were the founders of the Greenbelt Land Trust.[3] Over the next 10 years the park's landbase continued to grow to its current size.[3] The land trust works in partnership with Benton County's Natural Areas and Parks division to manage the property, and retains a 143-acre conservation easement.[3]

Geography and vegetation

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Fitton Green is located in the Central Oregon Coast Range foothills.[3] The park comprises several forest types, including Douglas fir, mixed riparian forest, oak woodland, oak savanna, Bigleaf maple groves, old-growth forest remnants, managed conifers and tree plantations, and rare upland prairie, which supports a population of the endangered Taylor's checkerspot butterfly.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Fitton Green County Natural Area". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. November 12, 2002. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  2. ^ "Fitton Green Natural Area". Benton County, Oregon. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Fitton Green Natural Area". Greenbelt Land Trust. Retrieved November 24, 2019.

44°34′44″N 123°22′22″W / 44.57889°N 123.37278°W / 44.57889; -123.37278