A unique trail taking walkers through a new natural preserve opens Monday in the heart of Keizer.

The new concrete-and-wood trail stretches along Claggett Creek between Northeast Chemawa Road and Dearborn Avenue, east of Claggett Creek Park.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for 5 p.m. Monday, June 1, at the trailhead on Chemawa Road.

“The area is designed for peaceful activities like birdwatching, nature photography, quiet walks and environmental education,” according to a paper prepared by Jenny Ammon, the city’s Environmental Division manager.

The work is more than another stretch of pathway.

City officials say the restored wetlands beside the trail will serve crucial purposes.

“They reduce flooding, improve water quality, recharge groundwater, absorb carbon, cool urban environments and provide crucial habitat for wildlife,” Ammon wrote.

The $2 million city project, built by K&E Excavating Inc., includes 500 feet of boardwalk.

How many boards are in Keizer’s new boardwalk?

The city is urging families to wander along and turn in their count to the Keizertimes.

“Of course, city officials hope most visitors spend more time looking up than down,” Ammon said.

Ammon said the Claggett Creek Wetland Enhancement Project is “transforming an underutilized area into a thriving natural habitat and a peaceful place for residents to reconnect with nature right in the heart of the community.”

One goal was to remove a berm along the creek’s bank, reopening a natural floodplain where dairy cows once grazed.

“When water can spread naturally across a floodplain, it slows down during storms and heavy rains,” Ammon said. “That helps reduce flooding, filters pollutants from runoff, replenishes groundwater supplies, and improves overall water quality before the water eventually reaches the Willamette River.”

Claggett Creek forms in Salem just east of Interstate 5, flowing through Keizer and ending in an oxbow lake – Clear Lake – at the north end of Keizer.

Walkers will see the start of what is expected to be a thicket of trees, shrubs and grasses in the coming years.

Trees have been planted, including red alder, Hooker’s willow and Pacific crabapple. Shrubs put in include snowberry, red-osier dogwood and tall Oregon grape. Native tufted hairgrass and meadow barley were seeded as was Oregon iris and river lupine.

A growing assortment of birds has been seen in the project, including red-breasted sapsuckers, hairy woodpeckers, American goldfinch and Anna’s hummingbird.

“The city anticipates the wetland will also provide valuable habitat for beavers, river otters, deer, pollinators, and many small mammals,” Ammon said.

The walkway is for foot traffic only and pets are to be leashed. The city urges walkers to keep trash out of the area.

“Visitors are encouraged to respect wildlife habitat and avoid disturbing waterfowl,” Ammon said.

Property owners along Claggett Creek can get help to build on the city’s work.  Each year, three to four owners can get free native plants to install along the creek bank with guidance from the city. Applications for the help on the city’s website under the Streamside Plant Program.

City officials identified contractors and city employees who worked on the project. 

For the prime contractor K&E Excavating Inc. that included Zach Toney, project manager; Ben Agee, foreman; Justin Guenther, concrete superintendent; and Pete Petite, concrete foreman.

Subcontractors included Don Druliner Construction (boardwalk decking), Fox Erosion (vegetation planting and seeding, Absolute Foundation (boardwalk piling) and Western Wood Structures (boardwalk engineering and supplies)

Keizer public works team: Matt Reyes, project manager; Robert Johnson, project manager and Parks Division manager; Jenny Ammon and Haley Seth of the Environmental and Technical Division; Austin Foster, park staff; Bill Lawyer, now-retired public works director.

Contact Editor Les Zaitz: [email protected]