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Project IEP City of Eugen - atmaker-Johnsto e <br /> West Eugene Wetlands Plan <br /> , e <� ; e j , <br /> Summary and Highlights <br /> Summary <br /> Located in the Amazon Creek watershed in the western region of the City of ; <br /> Eugene, over 1,300 acres of wetlands were discovered in 1987 in the midst of the <br /> City's major industrial area within the comprehensive land use plan's urban growth -., <br /> boundary. The City had invested over $20 million in new public facilities in this <br /> region. In response, the City Council initiated a study to: 1) find a balance between <br /> protection and development, 2) include all interested parties, 3) meet state and federal laws, and 4) use the best <br /> information available to find a solution. Initiated in 1989, the West Eugene Wetlands Plan was adopted by the <br /> City and Lane County in 1992 after extensive study and involvement by citizens, property owners, and state and <br /> federal officials. The Plan has since been approved by two state and three federal agencies to guide wetland <br /> decisions. The Plan contains goals, policies, and a map that guide protection, restoration, and development of <br /> 1,300 acres of wetlands. <br /> The impetus for the Plan was discovery of remnants of are Willamette Valley wet prairie habitat that is home to <br /> six species of rare plants, as well as sensitive wildlife, like the western pond turtle. The wet prairies are domi- <br /> nated by tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia cespitosa). The Plan adds certainty about wetland impacts in the region <br /> and makes it easier to fill and develop about 250 wetland acres. Over 1,000 acres of wetlands are designated for <br /> protection or restoration. <br /> To implement the Plan, the City lobbied for federal funds to buy wetlands. To better manage these wetlands <br /> jointly for multiple values, the City entered into a partnership with the U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of <br /> Land Management (BLM), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), and the <br /> Oregon Youth Conservation Corps. BLM has received almost $9 million in Land & Water Conservation Funds to <br /> purchase wetlands from willing sellers. TNC owns 404 acres at the Willow Creek Natural Area with wetlands <br /> and associated rare plants and animals. The City operates a wetland mitigation bank that has created restoration <br /> and enhancement credits that sell for $30,000 and acre (over $1.3 million of business to date). The wetland <br /> system totals over 2,200 acres and is the largest open space within the City limits. <br /> The Plan is a national model, and the effort and cost of developing a wetland plan has paid dividends to the <br /> community that will last for generations. <br /> Highlights <br /> Since 1992, key steps have been taken to implement the Plan: <br /> • A partnership was formed among the City, BLM, TNC, Corps, and Oregon Youth Conservation Corps to jointly <br /> manage the wetlands and implement the Plan. <br /> • Almost $9 million in federal Land & Water Conservation Funds have been appropriated by Congress for BLM <br /> to buy wetlands from willing sellers; BLM now owns about 1,200 acres and has over 600 acres pending <br /> acquisition. <br /> rtz.$ v <br /> EUGEI. <br /> August 2000 <br />