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f4:?. ; r/ <br /> ,, August 2, 2000 <br /> 4 03, <br /> ' � i J Johnson, City Manager <br /> 4. <br /> ` <!. Eugene City Hall <br /> 777 Pearl St. <br /> Friends of Eugene, OR 97401 <br /> Rasor Park Dear Jim, <br /> 202 Hawthorne W have recently learned that a decision was made "downtown" to permit another car <br /> Eugene, OR 97404 y <br /> show to be held in Rasor Park in September. We are writing to express our dismay at <br /> this news, and to lodge a complaint about the decision. We also request that the City <br /> provide us an explanation of the rationale for issuing the new permit, as the decision <br /> seems to represent a reversal of a prior decision that no further car shows would be <br /> allowed after this year's Cruise In until a Master Plan for the site is developed. <br /> Our biggest concern about car shows at Rasor Park is the detrimental impact that <br /> driving of vehicles has on the soils, existing trees and plants, and future restoration <br /> efforts on the site: <br /> • As you undoubtedly know, compaction around a tree's roots can kill the tree outright. <br /> I recently had occasion to see this first hand at a park in Seattle where a large, 30 +- <br /> year -old tree died this year following compaction of soil in the root zone caused by a <br /> truck used to haul materials in for construction of a new path. We would hate to see <br /> STEERING COMMIT"IbE any of the precious few mature trees at Rasor Park lost due to such compaction by <br /> Kathleen Allison vehicular traffic allowed in the park. We know that previous car show permits granted <br /> Joan Connolly p g <br /> Judy Granatstein by the City ostensibly have had requirements that trees be protected to the dripline. <br /> Rob Handy However, we also know that these requirements have been flouted by car show orga- <br /> Julie Hulme <br /> Dennis Lueck nizers (see enclosed photo #1 from this year's "Cruise In 2000" held on June 17th). <br /> Steven Mueller <br /> Becky Riley <br /> Jim Wolter • Less well -known are the adverse impacts that compaction can have on the health and <br /> structure of soils themselves, and the ripple effects that such compaction can have <br /> throughout an ecosystem. Scientists now know that healthy soil is an incredibly <br /> complex system of aggregates, pores and channels of air, and millions of different <br /> organisms, including beneficial species of bacteria, fungi, nematodes, and protozoa. <br /> When soils are compacted, as when driven on, the pores and channels of air within a <br /> soil profile collapse, and the organisms that live in top layers of soil are killed. With <br /> the loss of these organisms and the soil's structure, many of the soil's vital functions <br /> are lost. Decreased biological activity in soil limits nutrient availability to plants, <br /> suppresses plant growth, and inhibits the breakdown of toxins ( "biofiltration "). Com- <br /> pacted soil can no longer hold water, inhibits water filtration, and contributes to <br /> runoff, and soil erosion. <br /> • Healthy soils contribute directly to healthier water resources. Steps taken to improve <br /> soils lead to improved water quality and healthier fish habitat. I have enclosed a <br /> report, Soils for Salmon: The relationship between soil and water, from King County, <br />