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PROJECT OVERVIEW
DORRIS RANCH LIVING HISTORY FARM MASTER PLAN UPDATE| 1
I . PROJECT OVERVIEW
Oregon’s history is rooted in agricultural landscapes surrounded by natural
features such as rivers, meadows and woodlands that have attracted both
Native Americans and settlers to this region for centuries. Today, few
places remain that embody this aspect of our collective heritage, and even
fewer remain that are open to the public. Dorris Ranch is one such place.
The 258-acre Dorris Ranch Living History Farm — Willamalane’s largest
park — is located at the confluence of the Middle and Coast Forks of the
Willamette River, less than one mile south of downtown Springfield.
With its authentic rural character, recreational activities, cultural
resource centerpieces, and native oak and riparian communities, Dorris
Ranch is not only a highlight of Willamalane’s collection of parks and
open spaces, it is an invaluable natural and cultural resource for the
region.
The park’s rich ecological diversity and cultural significance raises
interesting development and management issues that require a long-term
plan, sensitive to the authentic character of the site as well as its
experiential values. The purpose of this updated master plan will be to
preserve and appropriately enhance the distinctive and vital blend of
history, landscape, architecture and programming that exists on the site.
The plan will review past activities and ideas along with those presently
pursued, providing clear future direction for improving and managing the
ranch and its resources. While this constellation of natural and man-made
features — rare in Springfield and Oregon —provides a multi-layered
assortment of opportunities, it also requires customized management
tactics.
This overview describes the purpose of the plan, the Dorris Ranch site,
and the master plan development planning process. It summarizes
findings from the public involvement process and provides a description
farm road
dorris house
barn
PROJECT OVERVIEW
2 | DORRIS RANCH LIVING HISTORY FARM MASTER PLAN UPDATE
of the Ranch’s cultural and natural history. Finally, it describes the
organization of this master plan document.
PURPOSE OF PLAN
The intent of this updated master plan is to draw from the original goals
of the Dorris Ranch Land Use Plan (1979) which include:
Preserving the extraordinary historical and natural resources on
the site;
Ensuring conservation of the site as a significant open space
resource;
Preserving and enhancing the site’s distinctive character and
visual quality; and
Providing recreational and support facilities that do not degrade
habitat or visitor experience.
These goals will be weighed with current management opportunities and
challenges as outlined in the Dorris Ranch Management Plan (2005) to
develop an inspirational, achievable plan for the future of the Dorris
Ranch Living History Farm.
SITE DESCRIPTION
Dorris Ranch is part of an extensive system of parks and open spaces in
both the Willamalane Park and Recreation District and in Lane County.
The Ranch is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as the first
commercial hazelnut farm in the United States. It lies at the confluence
of the Middle Fork and Coast Fork of the Willamette River. It also lies
within the Willamette River Greenway established by the state of Oregon
in 1973. The 258-acre Ranch lies south of a small residential
neighborhood on a forested butte called Willamette Heights, and east of a
manufactured home subdivision called Filbert Grove. Currently the park
is divided between the roughly ten acres that is used for community
functions, the forested and riparian natural areas with more than two
miles of trails, several acres of upland hill slope, and the active filbert filbert orchard
PROJECT OVERVIEW
DORRIS RANCH LIVING HISTORY FARM MASTER PLAN UPDATE| 3
orchards. Much of the west and south portions of the park (approximately
200 acres) are in the 100-year floodplain. An existing site plan and aerial
photograph are shown in Maps 1 and 2.
The park is currently accessed primarily by auto with some bicycle and
foot traffic from its main entrance at the end of South Second Street—a
distance of about three-quarter miles from downtown Springfield. The site
seamlessly blends features reflecting its cultural history and its natural
setting. Eight historic buildings and structures nestled in and around 75
acres of filbert orchards on fertile agricultural land are accessed by historic
farm roads—many of which serve as walking trails today. Added cultural
water features, originally dug in the 1920s and improved through the
1940s, include the irrigation channel, diversion dam, and the pond.
These cultural features are complemented by numerous natural features
including a wetland and a lush native riparian habitat containing 3,750
feet of Willamette River frontage. Coniferous and deciduous woodlands
blanket portions of the site. Hillsides in the northern and eastern portions
of the site are primarily inhabited by oak woodlands, savanna, and prairie
landscapes. Because of the diversity and interspersion of habitat types, the
entire area has considerable value to many species of plants and wildlife.
Existing wetlands and prairies provide highly productive and valuable
habitat for certain wildlife species and plants. Natural areas (containing
old growth Douglas fir stands) are habitats of climax vegetation and
contain diverse vegetation types and wildlife habitats.
PLANNING PROCESS
Over twenty years have passed since the Facility Development Plan was
completed in 1986. While this Plan stands as the most recent guiding
document for future development, it does not wholly reflect
Willamalane’s current operating budget and staff resources, the
community’s values and interests, or the changing face of current
agricultural and preservation practices. To guide planning and log cabin
PROJECT OVERVIEW
4 | DORRIS RANCH LIVING HISTORY FARM MASTER PLAN UPDATE
development for the special resources of Dorris Ranch, funding was
secured to produce an updated Master Plan that would take current
values, issues and budgets into account and provide an inspiring and
achievable roadmap for the future. The consulting firm of MIG Inc. was
chosen to lead this effort with a team of landscape architects, planners,
architects, historic preservation specialists, and natural resource experts.
For the planning process, major emphasis was placed on involving various
members of the community at crucial points during the development of
the plan. Towards the beginning of the planning process, members of the
community at large and friends of Dorris Ranch were encouraged to
participate in a web-based survey of current needs and preferences,
community leaders were interviewed, and natural and cultural resource
experts gathered for a one-day workshop to bring together the latest
knowledge and identify the most critical current and future issues facing
Dorris Ranch. At the midpoint of the process, the MIG planning team
met with the Willamalane Board of Directors to discuss the results of
these outreach efforts and gain their insights.
The MIG planning team met four times with the Willamalane Project
Steering Committee. This collaboration aided in identifying priorities and
guiding the development of master plan design alternatives. The master
plan alternatives were previewed at a Community Open House where all
members of the community and those who have contributed to the
process had an opportunity to comment and ask questions. Following this
Open House and further direction from the Project Steering Committee,
elements from each of the alternatives were combined and further
developed to form a draft master plan for review by the Committee before
being approved by the Willamalane Board of Directors.
pump house
*
briggs housrigg hououtbuildingsbuil ngschicken coopn co
chicken coochch ckenrestrooms
kitchen gardenkitctchheritage gardenheh
tomseth housepioneer cabin
dorris barn/toolshededd
dorris house: privateresidence and gardenr
historic swimming pool
basalalt roct rock quak rry
pump housuseus and ushpacking shedeededn
picnic areaic
wedding treewedd
H I S TO R I C B O U N D A RY
tiooninformatioioonatiookiosk
W I L L A M E T T E R I V E R
S I T E B O U N D A RY ( A P P R OX I M AT E )
oldold dairyyairyirybarnbarn sits e
irrigatiogatiion pondondgation piotiiioiifor nurserrseeryrynurseserer
asparagusfield
dorrdo is leonardrrevetment
concordgrapes
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yy fielfielddhayay
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BACK WALNUT ORCHARD
7 ACRE CHERRY ORCHARD
CLUMPORCHARD
MANNORCHARD
CANNERYORCHARD
NURSERYORCHARD
ROADORCHARD
FRONT CHERRYORCHARD
SNELLORCHARD
OLDBRIGGSORCHARD
NEWBRIGGSORCHARD
WALNUTORCHARD
GOAT ORCHARD
MAP 1: EXISTING SITE N
0 ft 200 ft 400 ft
NOTE: THE HISTORIC FEATURES ON THIS MAP ARE BASED ON THE 1979 LAND USE MAP DRAWN BY RUFF, CAMERON, LACOSS AND ASSOCIATES.
wetland / floodplain area
detsil yltnerruc sdrahcroyradnuob cirotsihas contributing resources in the national registry of historic places documentation
orchards not currently listed as contributing resources in the national registry of historic places documentation
site boundary (approx.) structure historic features
historic diversion channel and dam
openpasture{ }
*
D O R R I S R A N C H L I V I N G H I S T O R Y F A R M M A S T E R P L A N U P D A T EW I L L A M A L A N E P A R K D I S T R I C T , S P R I N G F I E L D , O R
M O O R E I A C O F A N O G O L T S M A N , I N C .
8 1 5
S W 2 N D A V E S U I T E 2 0 0 P O R T L A N D , O R 9 7 2 0 4 T 5 0 3 . 2 9 7 . 1 0 0 5
PROJECT OVERVIEW
6 | DORRIS RANCH LIVING HISTORY FARM MASTER PLAN UPDATE
MAP 2: SITE AERIAL
site boundary (approximate)
N
0 ft 200 ft 400 ft
D O R R I S R A N C H L I V I N G H I S T O R Y F A R M M A S T E R P L A N U P D A T ED O R R I S R A N C H L I V I N G H I S T O R Y F A R M M A S T E R P L A N U P D A T EW I L L A M A L A N E P A R K D I S T R I C T , S P R I N G F I E L D , O R
M O O R E I A C O F A N O G O L T S M A N , I N C .8 1 5 S W 2 N D A V E S U I T E 2 0 0 P O R T L A N D , O R 9 7 2 0 4 T 5 0 3 . 2 9 7 . 1 0 0 5
PROJECT OVERVIEW
8 | DORRIS RANCH LIVING HISTORY FARM MASTER PLAN UPDATE
PROJECT OVERVIEW
DORRIS RANCH LIVING HISTORY FARM MASTER PLAN UPDATE| 9
The information gathered to date from the community, from meetings
and strategy sessions with the Project Steering Committee, through
meetings and consultations with natural and cultural resource experts,
and research and analysis completed by the MIG planning team ensures
that the master plan will address the current needs and opportunities
related to Dorris Ranch.
PUBLIC OUTREACH
To understand the intricate relationships between existing resources at
Dorris Ranch, it is important to examine these resources with an
understanding of how they have been formed and managed to date. Due
to the complexity of these dynamic elements, it was important to involve
community members in the planning process. The MIG planning team
believes that reaching out to the community—by using a variety of
methods and in a variety of ways—ensures a successful public
involvement process. Understanding that some people feel comfortable
writing letters or participating in surveys, while others like to engage in
discussions, MIG was careful to infuse all methods into the process. For
example, the web questionnaire at the beginning of the planning process
was blended with an Open House near the end. A workshop with cultural
and natural resource specialists, which facilitated a free-flowing
discussion, was balanced with one-on-one interviews with community
leaders and professionals. Hosting Open Houses, administering
questionnaires, and displaying idea and design boards encouraged a free
flow of ideas and discussions between resource specialists, park planners
and the public. The process—summarized below—generated active
discussions and provided a foundation and direction for the updated
Master Plan. More detailed summaries of outreach efforts are included in
the Appendix.
Over 300 individuals participated in the master plan development
process. Key findings that emerged include:
Enhance Dorris Ranch’s services;
dying incense cedar
PROJECT OVERVIEW
10 | DORRIS RANCH LIVING HISTORY FARM MASTER PLAN UPDATE
Rehabilitate, enhance, and/or preserve historic buildings and
landscape features;
Improve the trails and signage, and provide larger parking areas;
Provide more opportunities to view wildlife and learn about the
natural resources;
Expand offerings of programs and events—especially the Living
History Program;
Increase connectivity to other places in the community;
Expand event facilities;
Emphasize resource management;
Maintain form, function and vitality of infrastructure;
Support a multiplicity of activities on site; and
Minimize car traffic in the interior of the Ranch
Web Questionnaire
A web-based and supplemental paper questionnaire gathered community
opinion from interested park users on such topics as natural resources,
cultural resources, programs and special events. Over 250 responses were
collected between March 14, 2008 and May 2, 2008. Results from the web
and paper responses were merged, and key findings included:
Most respondents feel Dorris Ranch is important or very
important to the community's quality of life.
Most respondents who visit Dorris Ranch between once a month
to once a week feel that its cultural and natural resources are of
high importance.
Half of the respondents rarely visit Dorris Ranch (less than five
times a year). They cited reasons such as not knowing what is
available; not being interested or having very little time.
For the majority of respondents, Dorris Ranch is important to the
local economy.
Over 80% of respondents felt the following were important
benefits of Dorris Ranch:
willamette river side channel
PROJECT OVERVIEW
DORRIS RANCH LIVING HISTORY FARM MASTER PLAN UPDATE| 11
-Protecting the historic resources (94%) and natural environment
(88%) at Dorris Ranch;
-Providing programming and special events (86%) at Dorris
Ranch; and
-Providing facilities that accommodate unguided personal or
small-group use (92%).
Cultural and Natural Resources Workshop
In an effort to exchange ideas and develop preliminary solutions for the
stewardship of cultural and natural resources, the MIG Planning Team
met with natural and cultural resource specialists and members of the
Willamalane Project Steering Committee on Monday, February 25, 2008.
Invited guests included: Ed Alverson, The Nature Conservancy; Matt
Blakely-Smith, Institute for Applied Ecology; Bruce Newhouse, Salix
Associates; Jeff Olsen, Oregon State University Extension Service; Chris
Orsinger, Friends of Buford Park and Mt. Pisgah; Ross Penhallegon,
Oregon State University Extension Service; and Barry Sims, Trout
Mountain Forestry. With goals for the workshop carefully outlined,
cultural and natural resource specialists each met in separate small group
sessions to discuss areas of high value, opportunities, and constraints.
Salient points of each small-group discussion were brought back to the
larger group for learning and discussion. Some key discussion points
included:
Dorris Ranch possesses some of the region’s most distinctive
resources. More well-known are the ranch’s cultural resources,
including the filbert orchards and agricultural buildings and
structures. Less well-known, but just as exceptional, are the site’s
natural resources—most notably the oak|prairie|savanna and the
old-growth floodplain forest. These traditionally recognized
natural resources also possess cultural significance, notably to the
Native American settlement era.
While often perceived as conflicting resources, Dorris Ranch’s
cultural and natural resources are balanced on site. They fit
cabin workshop
PROJECT OVERVIEW
12 | DORRIS RANCH LIVING HISTORY FARM MASTER PLAN UPDATE
together in the landscape like the Chinese philosophical symbol of
yin and yang.
Management is as important as restoration. Adjusting how
resources are managed will gradually improve the ecosystem and/or
add vitality to the cultural resources. Active management of these
resources is critical to increase their value and function.
Stakeholder Interviews
MIG conducted six stakeholder interviews with a variety of individuals
with close ties to Dorris Ranch. These interviewees spoke about their
personal and professional experiences with the site and shared their
opinions on how to increase its successful integration with the
community. The list of interviewees, including representatives of public
agencies in education, historic preservation and planning, as well as
individuals representing the interests of local businesses and residents, was
generated in consultation with the Willamalane Park and Recreation
District and the MIG Planning Team. Those interviewed were:
Evelyn Abraham – citizen with lengthy involvement with Dorris
Ranch;
Dan Egan – Springfield Chamber of Commerce;
Linda Pauly – City of Springfield Planning Department;
Stephen Poyser – Oregon State Historic Preservation Office;
Robert Young – Lane Education Service District; and
Scott Dano – Dorris Ranch Living History Program Those interviewed offered a great deal of information and insight to the
planning team including the following summarized thoughts:
Dorris Ranch provides an irreplaceable opportunity to experience
various times in history. It provides first-hand, engaging
educational experiences and various opportunities for visitors. It is
a great place for walking, and a distinctive attraction for
Springfield.
douglas fir
PROJECT OVERVIEW
DORRIS RANCH LIVING HISTORY FARM MASTER PLAN UPDATE| 13
People benefit from experiences they wouldn’t otherwise
encounter in everyday life. Dorris Ranch provides high-quality
programming and valuable events, especially for children.
Providing an educational experience in a relaxing, beautiful green
space is of great value, and improves the quality of life for the
whole community. The site possesses many rare and valuable
ecological resources.
Dorris Ranch should expand their offerings of programs and
events, scheduling activities on a more regular basis.
Open space and natural areas are of utmost importance. This issue
needs to be front and center. However, there must be a balance,
and resources should not be overprotected. A sign of success
should be more visitors—a more accessible park.
It is important to preserve the historical elements and interpret
these resources in the proper way.
More emphasis should be placed on outreach to the community in
order to attract more people to the park.
Living History exhibits and activities should be expanded. A
larger meeting facility and improved signage is needed. Trails and
riparian areas need continued maintenance. Bike paths and other
connections to the community should be provided.
Willamalane should ensure that the Ranch is adequately
supported, including funding from the District’s general fund if
needed. It is not realistic for the park to be self-sufficient.
There are many opportunities for partnerships.
Springfield Historic Commission Meeting
Rebecca Gershow, a Planner for Willamalane Park and Recreation
District, met with the Springfield Historic Commission on April 8, 2008
to discuss the ongoing master planning process and provide an
opportunity for Commissioners’ comments. Willamalane staff consulted
with Kitti Gale, a planner with the City of Springfield and staff to the
Springfield Historic Commission. Key information obtained included: wetland area
PROJECT OVERVIEW
14 | DORRIS RANCH LIVING HISTORY FARM MASTER PLAN UPDATE
Increase efforts to inform local community about Dorris Ranch,
including better signage in downtown;
Nominate the Tomseth House and Briggs House to the National
Register of Historic Places;
Encourage a decrease in car traffic through interior of Ranch;
Consider a demonstration garden/landscape around one of the
homes on site to show interested homeowners the value of
“domesticated” historic plantings;
Instead of more signage, consider using Crime Prevention
Through Environmental Design (CPTED) since this method
provides ways to use lighting and landscaping to direct park users;
Increase coordination efforts. They are vital and should include
the Springfield Museum and the Springfield Historic Commission;
and
Educate the public about historic preservation
Board of Directors Meeting
On April 23, 2008 MIG presented information to the Willamalane Board
of Directors about the Dorris Ranch Master Plan update. The planning
process, particularly the public outreach, was reviewed with the board
members. Questions focused on the web survey and how to increase
outreach in the remaining week that it was available to the public.
Open House
MIG hosted an Open House for the community to solicit comments on
two master plan design alternatives for Dorris Ranch on August 19, 2008.
This provided the community—especially those who have participated in
the process during previous public outreach opportunities—with a relaxed
environment in which to discuss the recommendations with the MIG
planning team and the Project Steering Committee. It gave those who
have not been involved in the process an opportunity to influence the
direction of the master plan at a key moment.
powerline corridor
PROJECT OVERVIEW
DORRIS RANCH LIVING HISTORY FARM MASTER PLAN UPDATE| 15
Key findings from the Open House included:
Support for redirecting traffic flow on the main entry road
Support for additional trails that are ADA accessible
Support for expanding the Living History Village and keeping it in
its current location
Support for rehabilitating historic buildings
Support for enhanced event and gathering space
Support for treading lightly on the site
Concern about removing the Briggs House
Concern about the addition of significant parking
SITE HISTORY
Planning for the future of Dorris Ranch requires an understanding of the
site’s cultural and natural history. The preservation of this history and the
existing historic fabric were tantamount to the property’s transfer from
private ownership to public stewardship by Willamalane and its
designation as a public park. A great deal of research completed over the
years was consulted during the development of this Master Plan. In
particular, the site’s cultural and natural history that is summarized below
was based on four primary sources, the Dorris Ranch Land Use Plan (1979),
the Dorris Ranch Facility Development Plan (1986), the National Register of
Historic Places Nomination (1988), and the Dorris Ranch Management Plan
(2005). It was outside the scope of work for the Master Plan update to
duplicate research that had already been completed so in many cases
information from these reports is directly summarized. Additional
research was limited, but was completed and included in the following
Site History when the information was considered germane to this
planning effort.
Cultural History
Established in 1892, Dorris Ranch is recognized as the first commercial
filbert orchard in the United States and is listed in the National Register
of Historic Places. The site, a classic example of an early 20th century oaks
PROJECT OVERVIEW
16 | DORRIS RANCH LIVING HISTORY FARM MASTER PLAN UPDATE
agricultural property, covers 258 acres, but once totaled over 277 acres at
its height of production under the Dorris’ ownership. Under the guidance
of George Dorris, Dorris Ranch was recognized as one of the most
successful commercial filbert orchards in the United States. The orchards
planted by George Dorris and later by his nephew Ben Dorris have been
in continuous successful operation since 1905. Dorris Ranch has been
described as “a landscape significant in the history of Springfield, the
history of agriculture in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest, and the
history of filbert nut culture in the United States.”
The history of Dorris Ranch has been shaped by many influences,
including the Kalapuyan people, who lived and hunted and gathered here,
as well as early white settlers. Occupation by the native Indians in the
Willamette River Valley began with a gradual drift southward from the
Northwest Territories. The upper Willamette River Valley was inhabited
by three Indian tribes who lived and passed through the region: the
Kalapuyas who made the region a permanent home, and the Molallas and
Klamath who regularly visited the valley. The valley abounded in game,
many varieties of blackberries, salalberries, huckleberries, and several
types of edible roots such as the wapato and camas. Early contacts with
white settlers were made by the Klamath Indians who came over the
mountains on the old Indian trail. According to early writings, the trail
led down the north bank of the Middle Fork, possibly passing through
Dorris Ranch.
Indian occupancy ended in 1855, when the Kalapuyan Indians ceded the
Willamette River area to the United States Government, and the white
settlement and pioneering era began. Between 1850 and 1880 there was
an accumulation of homesteads on the valley floor, including the first
donation claim in the village of Springfield by Elias M. Briggs. A major
shift in land occupancy and ownership occurred with the Donation Land
Claim Act of 1850, which allowed a single person to claim 320 acres or a
family to claim 640 acres if the land was occupied prior to that date. After autumn meadow
PROJECT OVERVIEW
DORRIS RANCH LIVING HISTORY FARM MASTER PLAN UPDATE| 17
1850 the allotted land was lowered to 160 acres and 320 acres for single
men and families, respectively. Settlement took place along the River,
with wheat and vegetable fields set aside, along with kitchen gardens. It
soon became apparent to European settlers that the Willamette Valley
was a rich and fertile area well suited for agricultural endeavors of all
types.
The property’s first owners, William and Eliza Masterson, homesteaded
320 acres of land in 1852. For the next forty years the property exchanged
hands thirteen times. In October 1892, George and Lulu Dorris bought
the rich bottomland, river frontage, and scrubby hillside land that is now
Dorris Ranch from George and Marietta Thurston for $4,000. George
Dorris soon began to make it a viable and prospering ranch. In 1899 he
built the Dorris House, where he lived until he died. Hops were an active
crop on the land prior to George Dorris’s ownership. Although he
continued their production, it wasn’t too long before George decided that
hops were not viable or productive enough and their commercial
production was soon abandoned in 1899. Over the following years, the
Dorris Family planted asparagus, artichokes, okra, peaches, plums, figs,
table grapes, strawberries, walnuts and cherries.
The first fifty filbert trees were planted in 1905, making this one of the
oldest filbert orchards in the Pacific Northwest. In 1912, Dorris began
experimenting with filbert propagation methods, paying particular
attention to new ways of propagating, planting, pruning and harvesting.
Those experiments led to his becoming an industry leader. Before 1931
there were only two acres of filbert nursery and thirty acres of orchards.
In 1935 three more acres of nursery were added. In fact, by 1951 more
than half of all commercial filbert trees in the United States could be
traced back to Dorris Ranch. This acreage produced 70,000 trees annually
that were sold throughout the Northwest thereby ensuring Dorris’
influence on the region’s commercial production of filberts. The nursery
area was diminished in 1956, and sales of filbert stock were halted in walnut grove
PROJECT OVERVIEW
18 | DORRIS RANCH LIVING HISTORY FARM MASTER PLAN UPDATE
1965. When George Dorris died in 1936, he was praised for his
commitment to agriculture, his civic responsibility and his role as a
pioneer. As a result, Dorris Ranch played an integral and significant part
in the development of the southern Willamette Valley as a center of
filbert agricultural production. Though the nursery business ceased, the
orchards are still in commercial production today. In April 2005, the
Dorris Ranch orchards received Oregon Heritage Tree status,
commemorating the 100th year anniversary of the first commercial filbert
orchard at the Ranch.
Between 1970 and 1973 a large portion of Dorris Ranch was acquired by
Willamalane through funding provided by the Land and Water
Conservation Fund, the Willamette River Park System Corridor Project,
the Springfield Park Development Committee, and a donation from Ben
and Kay Dorris. An additional 75 acres of riparian area was deeded by
Oregon Parks and Recreation to Willamalane in 1988. As part of the
transition, Willamalane created the Dorris Ranch Land Use Plan in 1979,
and by its adoption the District agreed, in principle, to protect and use
the historic resources of Dorris Ranch, rather than devote the property
solely to recreational uses. In 1984, the Willamalane Board of Directors
unanimously approved a special task force proposal to protect, maintain,
and develop the historically significant and successfully producing
agricultural land as a living history farm and agricultural museum. In
1986, the Dorris Ranch Facility Development Plan was created with the goal
of “ensuring that in coming years the Ranch continues to be a meaningful
source of appreciation for this area’s past and an inspiration for its future.”
In 1987, a nomination was submitted for 109 acres of Dorris Ranch to be
included in the National Register of Historic Places, including the
majority of the filbert orchards, barns, Dorris House, freezer house, roads,
diversion dam and swimming pool. Not included in the National Register
documentation is the entry area, Briggs House, Tomseth House, riparian
or upland areas. farm equipment
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DORRIS RANCH LIVING HISTORY FARM MASTER PLAN UPDATE| 19
Natural History
Ecologically, geologically and geographically, the Dorris Ranch site lies in
a transition zone between the hills to the south and the expanding and
widening valley to the north. Typical of landscapes along the Middle Fork
of the Willamette River, Dorris Ranch is rich and diverse, containing
3,750 lineal feet of river frontage, fertile agricultural land, lush riparian
vegetation, and dense conifer and deciduous woodlands. These natural
features are complemented by an array of oak woodlands, savanna and
prairies. Because of the diversity and interspersion of habitat types, the
entire area as it now stands has considerable value to many species of fish
and wildlife. Existing wetlands provide highly productive and valuable
habitat for certain wildlife species and plants. Natural areas containing
old growth Douglas fir stands are examples of habitats of climax
vegetation.
The pattern and vegetation types of the Dorris Ranch landscape have
evolved due to both natural and anthropogenic forces. During the mid-
1800s, the site was wooded with open grassland covered hills, primarily
due to the repeated fires set by local Native Americans for hunting
purposes. The relatively sparse woodland—likely most dense near the
river—was found throughout the property, including scattered oaks on
the hillside, a mix of Douglas fir, Ponderosa pine, and oak on the lower
elevations, as well as a mix of cottonwood, maple, ash, alder, and willow
along the river edge.
Settlement began around 1850 and many remaining woodlands were
cleared to provide more viable farm land. Grazing kept the hillside grassy
except along fence rows and along the rocky slope at the base of the
hillside where young oaks began to grow around established oaks. Along
the southern edge of the property a thick stand of Douglas fir spread out
from a core of older trees which shaded a small but growing forest of both
firs and maples. Along the river’s edge repeated flooding left a patchwork
of old and new growth riparian plant species. flower garden
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20 | DORRIS RANCH LIVING HISTORY FARM MASTER PLAN UPDATE
The basic pattern of woodland/grassland/farm remained the same from
1900 to 1945 with only some changes in the woodlands’ composition. All
of the woodlands grew taller and shadier. In the Douglas fir woods, maples
grew abundantly in the understory and began to join fir in the canopy
along the southern edge of the forest. In the oak woodlands at the base of
the hillside, maples grew with some firs, especially among the oaks at the
bottom of the rocky slope. Construction of an irrigation channel and
diversion dam through the site in the 1930s produced a new community
of maples and firs along its banks. Construction of the river revetment in
the 1950s removed a large area of woodland, but flood control by dams
upstream has allowed for a denser more stable growth of riparian species
along the Willamette River bank. By 1979, continued succession in the
woodlands brought more shade and more shade-tolerant species.
PLAN ORGANIZATION
The Dorris Ranch Master Plan is organized into six sections and an
appendix:
Project Overview: Describes the purpose of the plan, Dorris Ranch
site, a summary of the planning process and public involvement
efforts, and a brief summary of the Ranch’s cultural and natural
history.
Site Inventory & Analysis: Summarizes the existing site conditions
to provide context and analysis for master plan development.
Mission, Vision, & Goals: outlines the mission, vision, and goals
both for Willamalane Park and Recreation District and for Dorris
Ranch, which served as overarching guides for the planning
process.
Master Plan Narrative and Diagrams: Provides recommendations
and a design plan that will guide future planning and development
efforts at Dorris Ranch.
Phasing Plan: Provides recommendations for phased
implementation of the design plan. gate to orchards
PROJECT OVERVIEW
DORRIS RANCH LIVING HISTORY FARM MASTER PLAN UPDATE| 21
Cost Estimates: To be developed following the presentation to the
Willamalane Board.
Appendix: Provides supplementary information related to the
master plan and development process.