|
Page 6 CAMASSIA
<br /> Restoration Project Initiates Wetland Bank
<br /> A major innovation of the West Eugene Wetlands cent development projects in the Eugene area. The first
<br /> Plan is the creation of a wetland mitigation bank. The step of the mitigation project was to remove more than
<br /> bank establishes a "credit" program in which wetlands 20,000 cubic yards of fill material that had been
<br /> in one area are enhanced, restored, or created to com- dumped at the site over the years. Removing the fill
<br /> pensate for the loss of wetlands in other areas due to material lowered the elevation of the site, allowing it
<br /> -- - velopment. to retain water as a natuuJrvetland: The existing ash
<br /> In 1993, the west Eugene wetland mitigation bank woodland on the site was preserved, and the construc-
<br /> was initiated with a restoration project on a 16 -acre tion area was replanted with native Willamette Valley
<br /> wetland site. The site is located between West Fifth prairie grasses and other wetland plants. Steps will be
<br /> and West Seventh avenues, east of Bailey Hill Road. taken to control the spread of invasive, non - native veg-
<br /> etation on the site.
<br /> Restored Site Contains Many Types of Wetland The site will be closely monitored and is ex
<br /> to provide valuable information for the design of fu-
<br /> • �; (1 11 V \ r l ture wetland mitigation prcjects. ra,
<br /> 5TH AVENUE -- -' -' -' -' — Proposed Bike Path- --
<br /> .0 • •
<br /> AO, Woodland
<br /> Partnerships Help P ect i
<br /> Proj t'i z , ., r undisturbed
<br /> Q P°' " _. w The wetland mitigation project is significant for sev-
<br /> V� 4:41,,,,,,,.414.., Wet i 4 eral reasons. First, it represents the successful use of fed-
<br /> _ `-�...✓ ' ; Y I ,i). p ra'"` I F - er al funds to purchase wetlands to be protected or enhanced.
<br /> i ng 5 Second, the project demonstrates the partnership approach
<br /> ■�_ j D
<br /> I - eveloprnent that underlies the West Eugene Wetlands Plan.
<br /> '� i N1 Project participants included: the Federal Aviation Ad
<br /> --. �/p i— Proposed Buffer ministration, which contributed funding to mitigate wetland • / V i sually: open. areas._•: gab
<br /> j - - - -• impacts resulting from a runway expansion at the Eugene
<br /> ' `�►v+r r s•+" i -- rs... i _ Airport; the Bonneville Power Administration, whose funds
<br /> WEST 7TH PLACE were accepted for mitigation of substation improvements in
<br /> I Goshen; a private developer, who contributed to the site for
<br /> Every predominant type of wetland found in west Eu impacts of a small development in west Eugene; and the City
<br /> gene is present on the publicly owned site, which also of Eugene, which funded part of the project to meet a mitiga
<br /> serves as the eastern gateway to the west Eugene wet tion obligation for a low income housing project
<br /> land system. Among the agencies cooperating in the mitigation and
<br /> The goal of the project was to successfully restore restoration project were the City of Eugene, the BLM, the
<br /> the natural wetland functions and values to approxi Oregon Division of State Lands, and the Oregon Department
<br /> mately seven acres of former wetland. This amount of of Environmental Quality.
<br /> restoratation mitigated the wetland effects of four re-
<br /> i
<br /> Information and Resources
<br /> short -term loan. If you are interested in purchasing or
<br /> tY I ,, �E borrowing a copy, call 687 -4283.
<br /> It Can Be Done - A Model Approach to Solving Urban
<br /> Wetland Problems — shows how a perceived local wet-
<br /> land problem was turned into a community opportu- P te$u DOCUMENTS
<br /> nity. The 14- minute, locally produced video describes
<br /> the effects of the discovery of wetland resources in west The West Eugene Wetlands Plan — is the plan adopted
<br /> Eugene on private property owners, the business com- by the City of Eugene and Lane County. Copies of the
<br /> munity, and planned public improvements. It also talks plan, published in December 1992, can be purchased
<br /> about the value of the partnerships that have been cre- at the Lane Council of Governments office for $15.25 -
<br /> ated among local, state, and federal public agencies and or by mail for $18.50. To order a copy of the plan by
<br /> the private, nonprofit Nature Conservancy. Other com- mail write:, Lane Council of Governments, Attn:
<br /> munities have given the video good reviews. Copies of Carolyn Henderson, 125 E. Eighth Ave., Eugene, OR
<br /> the video can be purchased at the Lane Council of Gov- 97401. Please enclose a check for $18.50. For infor-
<br /> ernments for $25. Several copies are also available for mation please call 687 -4283.
<br />
|