Denman Wildlife Area
Encyclopedia
The Denman Wildlife Area (originally the Rogue Valley Game Management Area) is a wildlife management
area located near Eagle Point
, Oregon
, in the United States
. It was named in honor of Kenneth Denman, an attorney
from nearby Medford, Oregon
who lobbied for the creation of the area in 1954.
The area is adjacent to TouVelle State Recreation Site
and the Upper and Lower Table Rock
lava formations.
in 1904. His father, George Washington Denman, was superintendent
of Benton County
schools and began practicing law soon after the birth of his son. Kenneth's mother, Minnie Hodes, died when he was 17 years old and beginning to practice law himself.
Denman married a French teacher from Salem in 1930 named Margaret Bolt. The two of them moved to Medford for job opportunities. He remained very active in the Rogue Valley
for many years until his death in 1962.
After World War II, Denman was offered a position in the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
(then called the Game Commission). He took the spot in 1944 and remained there for about a year and a half. Denman was reappointed in 1951 and was elevated to chairman a year later.
The Denman Wildlife Area is situated on land originally owned by the United States Government. In 1942, the US Army had established Camp White
in what is now known as White City
, a census-designated place located in Jackson County, Oregon
. The 174 km2 (67 mi2, 43,000 acre) training facility had remained in service until the end of World War II
, and almost all of it was sold as real estate
.
The US Government trusted the remaining land to Department of Fish and Wildlife for use as a wildlife management area in April 1954. By then, only 7.122 km2 (2.75 mi2) of the Camp White land remained.
Kenneth Denman, who had asked legislators in Salem, Oregon
to set the area aside as a wildlife preserve, was regarded by Southern Oregon
residents to be most responsible for the area. In March 1963, less than a year after his death, the area was renamed in his honor.
and on the Little Butte Creek
. Features in this unit also include partially-underground World War II
-era ammunition storage buildings, ponds and marshes. Recreational facilities include horse trails and a nature loop trail. The gated Touville Road provides access to the interior of the refuge on both sides of the river.
ing in the wildlife area by installing locks on one of the gated entrances. Keys were made available at no charge to hunters and fishermen who requested them. A similar move two years earlier saw great success in eliminating much of the illegal dumping that was occurring.
In 2009, a project was approved to construct a $70,000 building for equipment stored at the Denman Area. The building is expected to be completed within a few months of being started and will be approximately 2,880 square feet (268 square meters).
and calls for provisioning the wildlife area in four overlapping parts; 2.95 km2 (1.14 mi2) of wetland
habitat, 1.18 km2 (0.45 mi2) of upland habitat, 2.91 km2 (1.13 mi2) of vernal pool
habitat, and 0.49 km2 (0.19 mi2) of forage
land.
The second goal announced at the October 2006 meeting involves improving the recreational aspect of the area, with discussions touching on improving wheelchair
-accessible trails, predator control, blackberry
overgrowth, and the ongoing problem of litter
ing.
Another project in the works is a 10-year plan to restore the flow pattern of Little Butte Creek
, a tributary
of the Rogue River
which was straightened into a man-made canal
during the 1950s. The straight canal is prohibitive to juvenile coho salmon, which use small stream
s as a wintering refuge. By restoring a "natural" winding path, the endangered salmon
gain not only another such refuge, but new spawning
grounds as well. As of 2007, the project has no funding or engineering plans in effect.
. In 2007, five-hundred pheasants were purchased for the event, which lasts for two days.
Wildlife management
Wildlife management attempts to balance the needs of wildlife with the needs of people using the best available science. Wildlife management can include game keeping, wildlife conservation and pest control...
area located near Eagle Point
Eagle Point, Oregon
Eagle Point is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States. The population was 8,469 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-2000 Census data:...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was named in honor of Kenneth Denman, an attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
from nearby Medford, Oregon
Medford, Oregon
Medford is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2010 US Census, the city had a total population of 74,907 and a metropolitan area population of 207,010, making the Medford MSA the 4th largest metro area in Oregon...
who lobbied for the creation of the area in 1954.
The area is adjacent to TouVelle State Recreation Site
TouVelle State Recreation Site
TouVelle State Recreation Site is a state park, administered by Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, and located in Jackson County, Oregon, United States, north of Medford, where Table Rock Road crosses the Rogue River. This park is used for fishing, birding, hiking , picnicking and swimming...
and the Upper and Lower Table Rock
Upper and Lower Table Rock
Upper Table Rock and Lower Table Rock are two prominent volcanic plateaus located just north of the Rogue River in Jackson County, Oregon. Created by an andesitic lava flow approximately seven million years ago and shaped by erosion, they now stand about above the surrounding valley...
lava formations.
History
Kenneth George Denman was born in Corvallis, OregonCorvallis, Oregon
Corvallis is a city located in central western Oregon, United States. It is the county seat of Benton County and the principal city of the Corvallis, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Benton County. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 54,462....
in 1904. His father, George Washington Denman, was superintendent
Superintendent (education)
In education in the United States, a superintendent is an individual who has executive oversight and administration rights, usually within an educational entity or organization....
of Benton County
Benton County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Siuslaw National Forest *William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 78,153 people, 30,145 households, and 18,237 families residing in the county. The population density was 116 people per square mile . There were 31,980...
schools and began practicing law soon after the birth of his son. Kenneth's mother, Minnie Hodes, died when he was 17 years old and beginning to practice law himself.
Denman married a French teacher from Salem in 1930 named Margaret Bolt. The two of them moved to Medford for job opportunities. He remained very active in the Rogue Valley
Rogue Valley
The Rogue Valley is a farming and timber-producing region in southwestern Oregon in the United States. Located along the middle Rogue River and its tributaries in Josephine and Jackson counties, the valley forms the cultural and economic heart of Southern Oregon near the California border. The...
for many years until his death in 1962.
After World War II, Denman was offered a position in the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is an agency of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon responsible for programs protecting Oregon fish and wildlife resources and their habitats....
(then called the Game Commission). He took the spot in 1944 and remained there for about a year and a half. Denman was reappointed in 1951 and was elevated to chairman a year later.
The Denman Wildlife Area is situated on land originally owned by the United States Government. In 1942, the US Army had established Camp White
Camp White
Camp White was an Army training base in Jackson County, Oregon, United States, during World War II. It was also the site of a prisoner-of-war camp. The camp was named in honor of George A. White, who served as adjutant general for Oregon starting in 1915. The camp was dedicated September 15, 1942...
in what is now known as White City
White City, Oregon
White City is an unincorporated community in Jackson County, Oregon, United States. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined White City as a census-designated place . The census definition of the area may not precisely correspond to local understanding of the area with...
, a census-designated place located in Jackson County, Oregon
Jackson County, Oregon
-National protected areas:* Cascade–Siskiyou National Monument* Crater Lake National Park * Klamath National Forest * Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest * Umpqua National Forest -Demographics:...
. The 174 km2 (67 mi2, 43,000 acre) training facility had remained in service until the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and almost all of it was sold as real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
.
The US Government trusted the remaining land to Department of Fish and Wildlife for use as a wildlife management area in April 1954. By then, only 7.122 km2 (2.75 mi2) of the Camp White land remained.
Kenneth Denman, who had asked legislators in Salem, Oregon
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
to set the area aside as a wildlife preserve, was regarded by Southern Oregon
Southern Oregon
Southern Oregon is a region of the U.S. state of Oregon south of Lane County and generally west of the Cascade Range, excluding the southern Oregon Coast. Counties include Douglas, Jackson, Klamath, and Josephine. It includes the Southern Oregon American Viticultural Area, which consists of the...
residents to be most responsible for the area. In March 1963, less than a year after his death, the area was renamed in his honor.
Geography
The Denman Wildlife Area consists of two units. One, south of the White City Industrial Park, is centered around the Gregory Ponds and contains the Wildlife Area's office. The other, north of the Industrial Park and the Touville State Recreation Site, contains frontage on both sides of the Rogue RiverRogue River
Rogue River may refer to:* "Rogue River" , an episode of Jericho and the eponymous place* Rogue River , a river in Michigan, USA* Rogue River , a river in Oregon, USA* Rogue River, Oregon, a city in Oregon, USA...
and on the Little Butte Creek
Little Butte Creek
Little Butte Creek may refer to two streams:*Little Butte Creek , a tributary of Butte Creek*Little Butte Creek , a tributary of the Rogue River in Oregon...
. Features in this unit also include partially-underground World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
-era ammunition storage buildings, ponds and marshes. Recreational facilities include horse trails and a nature loop trail. The gated Touville Road provides access to the interior of the refuge on both sides of the river.
Development
In January 1999, the ODFW took action against the problem of litterLitter
Litter consists of waste products such as containers, papers, wrappers or faeces which have been disposed of without consent. Litter can also be used as a verb...
ing in the wildlife area by installing locks on one of the gated entrances. Keys were made available at no charge to hunters and fishermen who requested them. A similar move two years earlier saw great success in eliminating much of the illegal dumping that was occurring.
In 2009, a project was approved to construct a $70,000 building for equipment stored at the Denman Area. The building is expected to be completed within a few months of being started and will be approximately 2,880 square feet (268 square meters).
Future Goals
In an October 2006 meeting, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife identified two long-term goals for the Denman Wildlife Area. The first goal involves habitat conservationHabitat conservation
Habitat conservation is a land management practice that seeks to conserve, protect and restore, habitat areas for wild plants and animals, especially conservation reliant species, and prevent their extinction, fragmentation or reduction in range...
and calls for provisioning the wildlife area in four overlapping parts; 2.95 km2 (1.14 mi2) of wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
habitat, 1.18 km2 (0.45 mi2) of upland habitat, 2.91 km2 (1.13 mi2) of vernal pool
Vernal pool
Vernal pools, also called vernal ponds or ephemeral pools, are temporary pools of water. They are usually devoid of fish, and thus allow the safe development of natal amphibian and insect species...
habitat, and 0.49 km2 (0.19 mi2) of forage
Forage
Forage is plant material eaten by grazing livestock.Historically the term forage has meant only plants eaten by the animals directly as pasture, crop residue, or immature cereal crops, but it is also used more loosely to include similar plants cut for fodder and carried to the animals, especially...
land.
The second goal announced at the October 2006 meeting involves improving the recreational aspect of the area, with discussions touching on improving wheelchair
Wheelchair
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, designed to be a replacement for walking. The device comes in variations where it is propelled by motors or by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hand. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the pushing...
-accessible trails, predator control, blackberry
Blackberry
The blackberry is an edible fruit produced by any of several species in the Rubus genus of the Rosaceae family. The fruit is not a true berry; botanically it is termed an aggregate fruit, composed of small drupelets. The plants typically have biennial canes and perennial roots. Blackberries and...
overgrowth, and the ongoing problem of litter
Litter
Litter consists of waste products such as containers, papers, wrappers or faeces which have been disposed of without consent. Litter can also be used as a verb...
ing.
Another project in the works is a 10-year plan to restore the flow pattern of Little Butte Creek
Little Butte Creek (Rogue River)
Little Butte Creek is a long tributary of the Rogue River located in the U.S. state of Oregon. Its drainage basin consists of approximately of Jackson County, and another in Klamath County. The north fork of the creek begins at Fish Lake, while the south fork begins near Brown Mountain. The two...
, a tributary
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Rogue River
Rogue River (Oregon)
The Rogue River in southwestern Oregon in the United States flows about in a generally westward direction from the Cascade Range to the Pacific Ocean. Known for its salmon runs, whitewater rafting, and rugged scenery, it was one of the original eight rivers named in the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act...
which was straightened into a man-made canal
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
during the 1950s. The straight canal is prohibitive to juvenile coho salmon, which use small stream
Stream
A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...
s as a wintering refuge. By restoring a "natural" winding path, the endangered salmon
Salmon
Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
gain not only another such refuge, but new spawning
Spawn (biology)
Spawn refers to the eggs and sperm released or deposited, usually into water, by aquatic animals. As a verb, spawn refers to the process of releasing the eggs and sperm, also called spawning...
grounds as well. As of 2007, the project has no funding or engineering plans in effect.
Events
The Denman Wildlife Area is a high-use hunting zone, especially for game birds. Since 1992, the Area has hosted the Youth Game-Bird and Waterfowl Hunt. During this annual event, only children and teenagers are allowed to hunt in the area. The ODFW takes reservations and allows up to 90 hunters at a time the chance to catch stocked pheasantPheasant
Pheasants refer to some members of the Phasianinae subfamily of Phasianidae in the order Galliformes.Pheasants are characterised by strong sexual dimorphism, males being highly ornate with bright colours and adornments such as wattles and long tails. Males are usually larger than females and have...
. In 2007, five-hundred pheasants were purchased for the event, which lasts for two days.