Using Oral Histories to Document Changing Forest Cover Patterns:

Soap Creek Valley, Oregon, 1500 - 1999

By Bob Zybach

A THESIS submitted to Oregon State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, presented March 5, 1999

[Complete Thesis: 321 numbered pages, PDF_12.4_MB file]

Historic Soap Creek Valley Auto Tour, 1989: 32 pp. [ PDF_3.5_MB]

Soap Creek Valley Oral History Series, 1989-1997.

Table of Contents [PDF_266_KB ]

Abstract & Citation

Acknowledgements & Dedication

Acronyms & Abbvs.

Chapter 1. Introduction

Chapter 2. Methodology

Chapter 3. Identification of Agents of Forest Cover Change

Chapter 4. Theoretical Accounts of Forest Cover Changes

Chapter 5. Chronological Account of Forest Cover Changes

Chapter 6. Conclusions

References

Appendices

List of Figures

List of Maps

List of Tables

I. Introduction [PDF]

OUTLINE AND DESCRIPTION OF THESIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Arrangement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Method of Oral History References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION OF SOAP CREEK VALLEY . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Boundaries and Landmarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Legal Descriptions and Land Ownership. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Geology and Climate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Topography and Aspects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Destination of Surface Waters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Threatened and Endangered Species . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

II. Methodology [PDF]

TYPES AND USES OF RESEARCH INFORMATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Definitions, Uses, and Values of Research Information . . . . 19
Primary Research Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

BACKGROUND AND DOCUMENTATION OF ORAL HISTORIES . . . . . . . . . 28

Oral Traditions and Oral Histories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Documentation of Oral Histories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

CREATION OF SOAP CREEK VALLEY ORAL HISTORY SERIES . . . . . . . . 34

Selection and Profile of Informants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Development of Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

DATA ANALYSIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
General Chronology and Values of Data Types . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Comparative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Theoretical Tests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

III. Identification of Agents of Forest Cover Change [PDF]

TYPES OF AGENTS OF CHANGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

Events and Processes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Wildlife Demographics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Human Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

EFFECTS OF CATASTROPHIC EVENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Disease Epidemics (1770-1999) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Floods and Droughts (15,000 BP-1999) [PDF] . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

Landslides (minor effects) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

Snowstorms and Freezes (1830-1999) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

Wildfires (12,800 BP-1999) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

Windstorms (1931-1999). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

EFFECTS OF WILDLIFE DEMOGRAPHICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

Animal Extinctions and Extirpations (12,000 BP-1999) [PDF] . . 92

Animal Introductions (1806-1999) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

Plant Introductions (1806-1999) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

Plant Migrations (1500-1999) [PDF] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

EFFECTS OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117

Broadcast Burning (1500-1999)[PDF] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118

Farming and Ranching (1846-1999) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121

Forestry and Logging (1846-1999) [PDF] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126

Hunting, Fishing, and Gathering (1500-1999) . . . . . . . . . . . . 135

Land Subdivision and Home Construction (1846-1999) [PDF] . . 136

Military and Industrial Development (1846-1999) [PDF] . . 148

Transportation and Communications (1500-1999) . . . . . . . . . 151

IV. Theoretical Accounts of Forest Cover Changes [PDF]

FOREST COVER TRENDS AND CONDITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158

Method of Multiple Hypotheses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Possible Conditions of Prehistoric Forests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Successional and Climax Forest Theories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Landscape Disturbance and Even-Aged Forest Theories . . . . 162
Systematic Theories of Events, Cycles, and Periods . . . . . . . . 163

FORESTS WITHOUT PEOPLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164

Predictive Assumptions for Soap Creek Valley Forests . . . . 164
Oak and Grass: Fire and East Wind History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Douglas-fir: Fire and South Wind History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Mixed Hardwoods: Fire and Flood History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Mixed Conifers: Fire and Landslide History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169

FOREST PRODUCTS AND WILDLIFE HABITAT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170

Changes in Forest Product Uses and Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171

Forest Product Values and Forest Cover Changes . . . . . . . . . 172

V. Chronological Account of Forest Cover Changes

PREHISTORIC CONDITIONS, 1500-1825 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177

1500-1625: Prehistoric Old-Growth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
1626-1825: Prehistoric 2nd Growth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185

EARLY HISTORICAL CONDITIONS, 1826-1899 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186

1826-1845: Exploration and Epidemic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
1846-1882: Ranching and Home Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
1883-1914: Fencing and Farming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194

LIVING MEMORY, 1900-1999 [PDF] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196

1883-1914: Fencing and Farming (Cont.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
1915-1940: Automobiles and Logging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
1941-1962 Wind and War . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
1963-1999: Recent Developments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201

VI. Conclusions [PDF]

RELEVANCE OF ORAL HISTORIES TO DOCUMENTING AND
UNDERSTANDING FOREST COVER PATTERNS, 1999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207

SUMMARY OF SOAP CREEK VALLEY FOREST COVER
CONDITIONS AND TRENDS, 1500-1999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208

TESTS OF EXISTING THEORIES OF FOREST HISTORY AND ECOLOGY . . 209

References [PDF] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211

Appendices [PDF]

A. Soap Creek Valley Oral History Series Monographs, 1990-1999 . . . . . . 235

B. Informant Consent Forms and Filings, 1975-1998 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238

C. Historical Themes, Markers, and Periods, 1788-1999 [PDF] . . . 246

D. Landowner Names, Locations, and Types, 1841-1990 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249

E. Native, Extirpated, and Exotic Wildlife Species, 1500-1999 . . . . . . . . . . . 259

F. Bearing Tree Species, Locations, Sizes, and Associations, 1852-1882 . . . 275

G. Merchantable Conifer Species, Locations, and Volumes, 1915 . . . . . . . 293

H. Kalapuyan Oral Traditions, 1913-1933 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300

I. Tampico Song, 1858 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319

List of Figures [PDF]

II. Methodology
Fig. 1. William Hartless (Sawala), Champoeg, OR, c. 1914 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Fig. 2. Soap Creek Valley Oral History Series participants, 1940-1991 . . . . 37
Fig. 3. Timeline of Willamette Valley forest history, 15,000 BP-1999 . . . . . 54
Fig. 4. Timeline of Soap Creek Valley oral history data, 1800-1999 . . . . . . 54

III. Identification of Agents of Forest Cover Change
Fig. 5. Sketch of Kalapuyan male near Marys River tributary, 1841 . . . . 73
Fig. 6. “The Wallamet Valley from a Mountain,” 1845 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Fig. 7. Soap Creek floodplain, T. 5 S., R. 10 W., S. 11-14, & 24, 1890-1945 . . . 78
Fig. 8. Soap Creek, SW from Tampico Road Bridge: dry and flood, 1998 . . . 79
Fig. 9. Corvallis area flooding, December 28, 1998 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Fig. 10. T. J. Starker with 1881-1882 “Blue Snow” oak evidence . . . . . . . . . 85
Fig. 11. Glender Brothers Tampico Spring elephant teeth, c.1919 . . . . . . 93
Fig. 12. Hanish Forest Peak obsidian biface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Fig. 13. Lewis sketch of California condor head, 1806 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Fig. 14. Soap Creek Valley wildlife inventory, c.1899 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Fig. 15. Baker Creek beaver ponds, 1990 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Fig. 16. Pioneer apple trees, 1947-1999. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Fig. 17. Drawing of oak afforestation from NE viewpoint, 1885. . . . . . . . . 107
Fig. 18. Mowed Soap Creek Valley prairie, c.1899 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Fig. 19. McDonald Forest 1936 Douglas-fir plantation, c.1950 . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Fig. 20. Smith Peak oak and Douglas-fir succession, 1938-1990 . . . . . . . . . 112
Fig. 21. Soap Creek Valley, NE from Lewisburg Saddle: 1914-1989 . . . . . . . 113
Fig. 22. Writsman Hill Douglas-fir and housing, June 12, 1999. . . . . . . . . . 115
Fig. 23. Soap Creek area prehistoric vegetation processing tools . . . . . . . 120
Fig. 24. Glen Moore Ranch, view SE from house, c.1899 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Fig. 25. Glender Brothers horse and tractor, c.1910 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Fig. 26. Central Soap Creek Valley (annotated aerial), 1936 . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Fig. 27. Tampico, “Early Rival of Corvallis,” c.1856-c.1895 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Fig. 28. Tampico and California Trail traces (annotated aerial), c. 1951. . 142
Fig. 29. Southern Soap Creek Valley (annotated aerial), c.1936 . . . . . . . . 144
Fig. 30. Coffin Butte real estate development, 1885-1990 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Fig. 31. Camp Adair traces (aerial), 1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Fig. 32. Coffin Butte quarry and landfill panoramas, 1941-1998 . . . . . . . . 152
Fig. 33. Coffin Butte southern slope (annotated aerial), 1998 . . . . . . . . . . 153
Fig. 34. Coffin Butte landfill, June 12, 1999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153

IV. Theoretical Accounts of Forest Cover Changes
Fig. 35. Diagram of forest products/forest cover interrelationships . . . . 174

V. Chronological account of Forest Cover Changes
Fig. 36. “Greg George Doug”: old-growth Douglas-fir, 1989 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Fig. 37. Old-growth logging stump, T. 11 S., R. 5 W., S. 6, 1990 . . . . . . . . . . 181
Fig. 38. Forest Peak prairie afforestation, 1991 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183

List of Appendix Figures [PDF]

Appendix B. [PDF]
Fig. B.1 OSU Oral History Program Interviewee Agreement, 1975 . . . . . . . 239
Fig. B.2 OSU Horner Museum permission form, 1979 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Fig. B.3 OSU Horner Museum Gift and Release Agreement, 1989 . . . . . . . . 240
Fig. B.4 OSU Research Forests Gift and Release Agreement, 1990 . . . . . . . . 240
Fig. B.5 OSU Protection of Human Subjects exemption filing, 1995 . . . . . . 241
Fig. B.6 OSU Research Forests Gift and Release Agreement, 1995 . . . . . . . . 245

Fig. B.7 Agreement to Reproduce and Distribute Oral History, 1998 . . . . . 245

Appendix H. [PDF]
Fig. H.1 John B. (“Mose”) Hudson, 1909 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Fig. H.2 Joseph Hudson (Yelk-ma), 1851 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Fig. H.3 “A Kalapuya Lad,” 1841 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302

List of Maps [PDF]

I. Introduction
Map 1. Location of Soap Creek Valley study area in Oregon, 1999 . . . . . . 7
Map 2. Named landmarks and original 1846-1882 land surveys . . . . . . . . 8
Map 3. Soap Creek Valley and OSU land ownership patterns, 1990 . . . . . . 10
Map 4. Extent of ice age floods in the Willamette Valley, 12,800 BP . . . . . 12
Map 5. Topography and ice age floods extent, 15,000 BP-1999 . . . . . . . . . . 13
Map 6. OSU Research Forests’ GIS topographical layers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Map 7. OSU Research Forests’ GIS aspect layers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Map 8. Destination of Soap Creek Valley surface waters to the ocean . . . 17

II. Methodology
Map 9. Locations of Soap Creek Valley informants, 1898-1999 . . . . . . . . . 40

III. Identification of Agents of Change
Map 10. Nations and languages of western Oregon, c.1788 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

Map 11. US GLO/PLS cadastral map, T. 10 S., R. 5 W., 1854 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Map 12. Bagley timber cruise map, T. 10 S., R. 5 W., S. 5, 1915 . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Map 13. Territory bought of the Luckiamute Band of Callapuya, 1851 . . . 138
Map 14. “Plot of the Town of Tampico,” 1857. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Map 15. Hindes’ map of 1929 Soap Creek Valley logging camp, 1994 . . . . 145
Map 16. US Army purchase of Soap Creek Valley lands, 1941 . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Map 17. Camp Adair artillery ranges in Soap Creek Valley, c.1945 . . . . . . 149
Map 18. Soap Creek Valley road and trail history, 1788-1999 . . . . . . . . . . . 155

IV. Theoretical Accounts of Forest Cover Changes
Map 19. Soap Creek Valley “potential” forest cover pattern . . . . . . . . . . 167

V. Chronological Account of Forest Cover Changes
Map 20. OSU Research Forests’ conifer stand ages, 1650-1992 . . . . . . . . . . 184
Map 21. Forest cover patterns & bearing tree locations, 1826 . . . . . . . . . . 193
Map 22. Forest cover patterns & landowner boundaries, 1853 . . . . . . . . . . 195
Map 23. Forest cover patterns & landowner boundaries, 1929 . . . . . . . . . . 200
Map 24. Forest cover patterns & Camp Adair developments, 1945 . . . . . . . 202
Map 25. Comparative forest cover patterns: 1826, 1853, 1929, & 1945 . . . . 206

List of Tables [PDF]

I. Introduction
Table 1. Citation and reference list of oral history informants . . . . . . . . 5
Table 2. Landmark names and locations, 1845-1999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

II. Methodology
Table 3. Basic components of oral histories and oral traditions . . . . . . . . 32
Table 4. Profile of oral history informants, 1894-1999. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Table 5. Profile of research study consultants, 1984-1999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Table 6. Thematic time periods and historical markers, 1788-1999 . . . . . . 57
Table 7. General time periods and values of information, 1500-1999. . . . . 58

III. Identification of Agents of Forest Cover Change
Table 8. Causes of change to forest cover patterns, 1500-1999. . . . . . . . . . . 66
Table 9. Earliest documented forest cover changes, 1826-1931. . . . . . . . . . 67
Table 10. Local area flood and drought events, 1861-1999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Table 11. Major snowstorms in Corvallis and Portland, OR, 1893-1999 . . . 86
Table 12. Native and exotic wild terrestrial vertebrates , 1805-1999 . . . . . 99
Table 13. Native and exotic wild vascular plants, 1500-1999 . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Table 14. Bagley timber cruise table, T. 10 S., R. 5 W., S. 5, 1915. . . . . . . . . . 129
Table 15. Old-growth & 2nd growth timber volumes, 1852-1915 . . . . . . . . . 131
Table 16. Logging volumes, McDonald and Dunn Forests, 1949-1979 . . . . . 133
Table 17. Numbers and types of landowners, 1841-1990 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147

IV. Theoretical Accounts of Forest Cover Changes
Table 18. Primary Soap Creek Valley forest products, 1500-1999. . . . . . . . 173

V. Chronological Account of Forest Cover Changes
Table 19. Extreme ages and diameters of wild tree species, 1853-1999 . . . 178
Table 20. Size, location, and species of bearing trees, 1826-1882 . . . . . . . . 187
Table 21. Location, age, and species of tree seed sources, 1600-1915 . . . . . 188
Table 22. Timeline of events affecting forest cover patterns, 1500-1999 . 204
Table 23. Changes in horizontal forest cover patterns, 1826-1945 . . . . . . . 205

List of Appendix Tables [PDF]

Table of Appendices Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234

Appendix A. [PDF]
Table A.1 Soap Creek Valley Oral History Series titles and numbers . . . . . 236
Table A.2 Total oral history pages, tour maps, and index pages . . . . . . . . . 237

Appendix C. [PDF]
Table C.1 Land ownership themes, markers, and periods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Table C.2 Land use themes, markers, and periods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Table C.3 Local politics themes, markers, and periods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Table C.4 Structural development themes, markers, and periods . . . . . . . . 248
Table C.5 Transportation themes, markers, and periods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Table C.6 Wildlife populations themes, markers, and periods . . . . . . . . . . . 248

Appendix D. [PDF]
Table D.1 Kalapuyan landowners and residents, 1841 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Table D.2 Pioneer landowner names and locations, 1853 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Table D.3 Depression-Era landowner names and locations, 1929 . . . . . . . . . 253
Table D.4 Modern landowner names and locations, 1990 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255

Appendix E. [PDF]
Table E.1 Native terrestrial vertebrates, 1805-1999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Table E.2 Exotic and extirpated terrestrial vertebrates, 1805-1999 . . . . . . . 263
Table E.3 Native vascular plants, 1500-1999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Table E.4 Exotic vascular plants, 1826-1999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272

Appendix F. [PDF]
Table F.1 Bearing Tree species, sizes, locations and recording dates . . . . . 277
Table F.2 Bearing Tree undestory plant species’ associations . . . . . . . . . . 285
Table F.3 Size distribution of 1852-1882 BT species . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292

Appendix G. [PDF]
Table G.1 Timber species, locations, and volumes, 1915 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295

List of Acronyms and Abbreviations [PDF]

The following list contains acronyms and abbreviations used in this thesis. Acronyms are series of letters, usually capitalized, that represent a series of words; examples include CCC, ESA, and USDA from the list. Abbreviations are accepted shortened spellings of common words and phrases, usually using lower case letters and followed by a period; examples include misc., etc., and e.g. from the text, and OR and Rng. from the list.

AD Anna Domini. Standard US calendar year.

BP Before Present Time (in years). Thesis uses 1999 AD.
BT PLS Bearing Tree. Key reference points for 1852-1914 surveys.

c. circa. Approximate date or year.
CCC US Civilian Conservation Corps, 1933-1941

DLC OR Donation Land Claims. Property obtained through 1850 law.

ESA US Endangered Species Act of 1973

GIS Geographic Information Systems
GLO US General Land Office Survey

HBC Hudson’s Bay Company

OAC OR State Agricultural College (previous name for OSC)
OR State of Oregon
OSC OR State College (previous name for OSU)
OSU OR State University

PLS US Public Land Survey, beginning in 1852 for OR and Benton Co.
PSU Portland (OR) State University

Rng.; R. PLS Range (approximate 6-mile wide east/west strips)

S. (1) South of the PLS Willamette Meridian
Sec.; S. (2) PLS Section (approx. one square mile; 640 acres)

Tsp.; T. PLS Township (1) approx. 6-mile wide north/south strips, or
(2) approx. 36-sq. mile intersections of surveyed Rngs. and Tsps.

UO University of Oregon
US United States
USDA US Department of Agriculture
USDI US Department of the Interior
USGS US Geological Survey

WW I World War I
WW II World War II
W.W.M.; W. West of the PLS Willamette Meridian

AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF [PDF]

Bob Zybach for the degree of Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies in Forest Science, Anthropology, and Anthropology presented on March 5, 1999.

Title: Using Oral Histories to Document Changing Forest Cover Patterns: Soap Creek Valley, Oregon, 1500 - 1999

Presented March 5, 1999
Commencement June, 2000

Abstract approved: __________________________________________________
Steven Radosevich

This thesis examines forest history of a portion of the Douglas-fir Region: Soap Creek Valley, a 15,000 acre sub-basin of the Luckiamute River in northern Benton County, Oregon. The primary reasons for the research were to test oral history methodology, document sub-basin scale forest cover pattern changes, and determine basic causes of change. Oral history research methods include interdisciplinary scientific and gray literature reviews, archival research, consultations with local experts, personal observations, and location and/or creation of relevant interviews and interview transcripts. Key findings of this research are: 1) Soap Creek Valley forest cover patterns reflect local human values at any given point in historical time (as modified by local nonhuman disturbances and wild plant and animal species), and 2) oral histories can be an efficient method for documenting and interpreting forest conditions, particularly for the last century of time.

Major findings concerning Soap Creek Valley include: 1) current forest cover patterns are largely a result of savannah afforestation, agricultural practices, and housing developments since 1845; 2) wildlife biodiversity richness is greater now than in preceding centuries; 3) forest trees occur in even-aged stands and groves generally less than 100 years and rarely over 350 years of age; 4) early historical forest trees existed in isolation, groves, and relatively small stands and pockets; and 5) local people and prevailing cultural values have been primary shapers of forest conditions for the past 500 years, and likely the past 10,000 years as well.

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Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies thesis of Bob Zybach presented on March 5, 1999

APPROVED:
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Steve Radosevich, Major Professor, representing Forest Science
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Courtland Smith, Committee Member, representing Anthropology
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David Brauner, Committee Member, representing Anthropology
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Logan Norris, Head of the Department of Forest Science
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Sally Francis, Dean of Graduate School

I understand that my thesis will become part of the permanent collection of Oregon State University libraries. My signature below will authorize release of my thesis to any reader upon request.
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Bob Zybach

Citation

Zybach, Bob 1999. Using Oral Histories to Document Changing Forest Cover Patterns: Soap Creek Valley, Oregon, 1500 - 1999. MAIS Thesis, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon: 321 pp.

Acknowledgments [PDF]

This thesis has taken several years and a significant amount of funding to complete; the personal and professional success achieved by this process was made possible by the help of many people and organizations. Major contributions of encouragement, financial support, and/or information have been provided by a number of individuals, businesses, landowners, and institutions during the course of this study. Others have provided a key thought, word, loan, or meal at a critical point in time. If the following list looks a bit too long, from my perspective it is far too short, and I apologize to those I may have overlooked or failed to properly acknowledge.

First, I would like to thank my committee for their work and help toward making my education at OSU as pleasant and productive as possible. Steve Radosevich, in particular, accepted me as a student and made my graduate studies possible. Steve encouraged and supported this work, and made it much improved with his pointed questions and detailed edits. Court Smith reviewed my early drafts and gave me excellent help in separating the wheat from the chaff; he then helped me to understand the theory behind the practice. David Brauner and Stella Coakley also offered excellent help through critical review at key points in time. The work of each of these individuals is readily apparent to those of us who have worked on this project the past several years.

Next, in addition to my family (to whom this work is dedicated), I would like to thank Bill Atkinson, Wayne and Betty Jo Giesy, Richard Hermann, Ralph and Wilma Hull, Royal Jackson, and Benjamin and Elaine Stout for all the help and encouragement they provided me during the past ten years of research, education, and writing. This work would be of far less quality and consequence, particularly to me, if it were not for the help of these individuals.

Private businesses and individuals played a large role in encouraging and initially funding this work. Important and timely support was provided by Juan and Peggy Medina, and Rodney Slattum of Phoenix Reforestation, Inc.; Tom Tvedten and Pamela Zybach of Zybach Timberland Management, Inc.; John Zybach, Ernest Oleman, and Dan Leedle of ZOL Forestry Services, Inc.; and Bob Edmond and Bruce Fraser of NW Maps Co.

Oregon State University students that were particularly helpful during the course of my studies include Dr. Mack Barrington, Patricia Benner, Debbie Deagen, Md. Shahid Islam, Janet Meranda, Phadrea Ponds, Randy Sablan, Harold Sandstrom, Kevin Sherer, Rodney Slattum, Angela Sondenaa, Ken Till, Terri Trosper, and George Wisner.

Much of this research was accomplished as a student employee of OSU Research Forests. Students, citizen volunteers, and staff that were particularly helpful include Bill Atkinson, Pamela Beebee, Lisa Buschman, Debbie Deagen, Jeff Garver, Sanliang Gu, Phil Hays, Md. Shahid Islam, Debbie Johnson, Holly Losli, Marvin Rowley, and Tami Torres. Other institutions and individuals that provided significant help include Judith Juntanen, of the Benton County Historical Museum; Larry Landis, OSU Archives; JoAnne Perry, OSU Map Library; Elizabeth Winroth, Oregon Historical Society map library; James Strassmeier, Oregon Historical Society oral historian; and Joe Mardis, Benton County Surveyors Department.

Academic leadership and guidance was provided by John Elliot Allen, Chris Anderson, Bill Atkinson, Dave Brauner, Robert Buckman, Ron Clarke, Henry Hansen, Richard Hermann, Royal Jackson, Norm Johnson, Charles Kay, Barry Lawler, Jean Mater, Mike Newton, Court Smith, John Stewart, and Benjamin Stout. Administrative guidance (and understanding) was provided by Jack Higginbotham, Fred Horne, Tom Maresh, Logan Norris, John Ringle, Bruce Shepard, and Carl Stoltenberg.

Business and industrial assistance was provided during key research phases by Ralph Hull, Todd Nystrom, and Wayne Giesy, Hull-Oakes Lumber Co.; Kent Kelly, Siuslaw Timber Operators Association; Mike Miller, Associated Oregon Loggers, Inc.; Jim Peterson, Evergreen Magazine; Barte and Bond Starker, and Gary Blanchard, Starker Forests, Inc.; and Mark, Gary, and Lisa Trosper, Trosper Tile, Inc.

Most financial aid was in the form of student loans, wages, grants, gifts, and contracts. Key support was provided by Ralph and Wilma Hull of Corvallis, Oregon; Wayne and Betty Jo Giesy of Philomath, Oregon; Bob and Donna Adams of Dallas, Texas; Emilio Vejil, OSU Financial Aid Director; Fred Friedow, OSU College of Forestry Accounting; and Delphine Jackson and Jenine Sablan of Albany, Oregon.

Major reviews of the data and ideas contained in this study, in addition to those performed by my committee, were provided by Bill Atkinson, Mack Barrington, Dennis Becklin, Wayne Giesy, Cynthia Phelps, Benjamin Stout, and Terri Trosper. Other reviews and technical assistance were provided by Bob Buckman, Ron Clarke, Bob Edmond, Henry Hansen, Joey Heimberg, Richard Hermann, Md. Shahid Islam, Kent Kelly, Jean Mater, Marv Rowley, Harold Sandstrom, Linda Satchwell, Rodney Slattum, Angela Sondenaa, George Taylor, and Rex Wakefield.

Thank you.

Dedication [PDF]

This thesis is dedicated to Melodie Ann, Aaron Michael, Aaron Tyler, Dylan Thomas, Natalie Kate, Alistar Nova, Sherry Lynn, Aaron Leopard, Cynthia Jo, Paul Kevin, Terri Michele, and Pamela Kay. You have been my cause and inspiration. Thank you for your love and support. Remember Arnold von Winkelreid.

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Copyright by Bob Zybach & NW Maps Co.
March 5, 1999
All Rights Reserved