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MAYOR_ gift B2Q . c9 NI/CC 484-0669 POs 3429 Eugcac• GEC 97405 MGR �✓ SST MGR_______ RECEIVED Bob Hammitt RV CITY MANA( R f �) j� Eugene Public Works DEPTXY =- 858 Pearl M AY 2 11992 CO) D Eugene 97401 13 May 1 92 Dear Mr. Hammitt, 1 am a professional environmental planner and registered wetland consultant based here in Eugene. The Friends of the Wayne Morse Historical Park asked me to identify environmental impacts associated with off-leash dog use and to review any departures from accepted public land use planning procedures at the Wayne Morse Historical Park Enclosed are my report and recommendations, they are based on site visits on March 7 and May 9 of this year. Normal Master Planning versus Actual Chronology of Events: My understanding is that at Wayne Morse Historic Park, the Eugene Parks Department made a major land use decision with no prior site assessment, no master plan, no coordination with an on -going University of Oregon planning study, no wetland or riparian mapping, no search for sensitive plant or animal species or habitat, no estimate of probable use levels or impact, no consideration of increased traffic and noise on a residential neighborhood, no study of management feasibility, no consideration of compatibility with historic uses by the Wayne Morse family, no prior consultation with the established Wayne Morse Historical Association, no consideration of established user groups or of altemative potential new user groups, no coordination with the State of Oregon, Parks Department, no solicitation of public comment, and evidently no community consensus. In Eugene, any citizen expressing interest in public land planning , soon finds a mailbox full of opportunities for involvement in neighborhood, City, County, State, BLM, BPA, and Forest Service planning issues. Consequently, even non - planning professionals are very familiar with standard planning protocols. It is very bizarre to sees the ry City of Eugene, with all h es Wa resources , Morse Hbstoric Park is a�major c fac I ty planning procedures. The Wayne erit effort deserves a commensurate manage Field Observations and Management Considerations: use 1 observed considerable environmental mo, gm�hd��rt,o� for at the time of in the meadow area despite favorable the second site visit. Bare spots are evident�sacompaction Vee�preventing I�� vegetation recovery. Degradation of springs and seeps points to worst situation is at the creek: dogs have broken down the stream banks at numerous f the get at drinking water. The condition of the was The�s must be in the dogs, probably due to aggressive 9 P ractices. meadow before recovery will be seen in woods, where the gradient is steeper. Poor riparian conditions here are at cross purposes with City efforts elsewhere to improve the Amazon watershed. Stabilization or recovery in the west meadow or the creek is precluded by current usage levels. •