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the endangered species in the WEW area. At this time, without special status designation, the WEW <br /> Project is not eligible for additional LWCF funding. <br /> • <br /> Restoration and Resource Protection <br /> In 1995, the City of Eugene, BLM, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, <br /> Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Oregon Division of State Lands and U.S. Army Corps of <br /> Engineers entered in an MOU to establish a comprehensive mitigation banking program in the West <br /> Eugene Wetlands. <br /> A highly variable set of activities and staff expertise are necessary to restore, manage and maintain the <br /> WEW; wetland and upland habitat restoration, native seed and plant propagation programs, botanical and <br /> wildlife monitoring (including T &E species), wetland maintenance, (including invasive weed control and <br /> hazardous fuel reduction), landscape scale wetland habitat planning, maintenance of off -site office <br /> facilities, contract administration and partnership coordination. The city's mitigation wetlands mitigation <br /> bank generates funds to implement wetland restoration projects on select BLM - administered parcels. <br /> However that leaves much of the BLM wetlands s are condition. <br /> e cored Additionally, as <br /> mitigation <br /> city <br /> purchases more land of its own in the WEW, less of the BLM land <br /> banking system. <br /> Furthermore, as BLM administered lands exit mitigation bank management, they are left unprotected and <br /> require a minimum level of monitor and maintenance to protect the wetland resource and the initial <br /> restoration investment made by the City of Eugene. <br /> Long term sustainability of these wetlands and increased overall ecosystem health and diversity includes <br /> control of invasive species, reduction of hazardous fuels, improved water quality and quantity, flood <br /> control, protection of T &E species and habitat. A 204 BPS d proposal <br /> on the BLM administered l BLM budget of <br /> approximately $1.0 million to adequately address these <br /> BLM administered lands and resources, including ESA protected species, are at risk as funding levels <br /> decrease. Invasive plant species threaten critical habitat. In general, due to the urban nature of the <br /> project, resources and public safety are at risk due to trespass or illegal activities on BLM- administered <br /> lands, including but not limited to homeless issues, illegal camping, dumping, uncontrolled burns /arson, <br /> harassment, etc. <br /> Education and Outreach <br /> The WEW Plan identified either an Interpretive Center or anEnvironmental ni m Education Ce nte r as a part of <br /> the 1992 vision for the WEW Project. The 1995 BLM National <br /> identified the WEW as one of 18 National BLM Service Centers to support environmental education. <br /> l <br /> In 1999 BLM responded to the local community request EE Strategy the <br /> and WEW construction <br /> PIan. Willamette Resources <br /> education center as a complement to the National BLM gY <br /> and Educational Network (WREN) was formed to be BLM's non - profit partner to implement education and <br /> outreach programs in the WEW and secure additional private gained support this <br /> build this center Since <br /> in the WEW WREN <br /> has built a stellar environmental education program and g pP ort t <br /> The loss of BLM's funding to the project would jeopardize no <br /> last only the years. partner, <br /> BLMer, WRE <br /> Project the <br /> the program that has served over 25,000 students in Y <br /> Manager has served in a leadership role overseeing the education program and the development of the <br /> education center. <br /> --------------- <br /> WEW Background and Options Page 4 - - <br />