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r • • ENt et. 4eel eemated"""7 484-0669 P0'8 3429 S 9CKC. 97405 Bob Hammitt Eugene Public Works 858 Pearl Eugene 97401 • 13 May 1992 Dear Mr. Hammitt, I 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, EWEB, McKenzie River, Lane 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 City of Eugene, with all its resources, exhibit such apparent unfamiliarity with customary planning procedures. The Wayne Morse Historic Park is a major community facility and deserves a commensurate management effort. Field Observations and Management Considerations: I observed considerable environmental damage directly attributable to off -leash dog use in the meadow area despite favorable seasonal growth conditions for the grasses at the time of the second site visit. Bare spots are evident, with soil compaction clearly preventing vegetation recovery. Degradation of springs and seeps has occurred: they have become dog wallows. The worst situation is at the creek: dogs have broken down the stream banks at numerous points to get at drinking water. The condition of the creek was a disgrace prior to introduction of the dogs, probably due to aggressive mowing practices. The stream must be stabilized in the 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.