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<br /> Ethen Perkins, Ph.D. Botanical, Restoration, Resource, and Wetland Studies
<br /> 2410 Monroe, Eugene, Or. 97405 541 - 345 -3944 fax 334 -0980
<br /> t h,„ epandlk @efn.org. Page 1 of .
<br /> Natural Resources Site Inspection -Toe Green Parcel
<br /> Description/Location: The subject is a forested 38+ acre, north - tapering, triangular tract bounded on the
<br /> north and east by Dillard Road, on the south by a BPA power line easement, on the west by housing lots
<br /> east of Nectar Way. The parcel is located in the South Hills of Eugene, Lane County, Oregon. A simple
<br /> legal description is: TL 101 of sec 20 T 18S, R3W, Willamette Meridian. Elevation ranges from 520
<br /> (N. W.) —800+ (S. central) feet. Drainage tends north - northwesterly with a westerly minor ravine
<br /> descending from the northwest. Slopes face west, north and northeast. Easterly and northerly facing
<br /> steeper side slopes are covered in maturing (ca 75+ years) Douglas fir forest. Oregon ash dominates in the
<br /> valley terraces; bigleaf maple/fir on the steepest northeastern slope; and open -grown oak with bigleaf
<br /> maple on the less steep westerly slopes. A few large openings are associated with an abandoned road. They
<br /> are dominated by blackberry thickets. An abandoned, grown -over road and walking trail enters from near
<br /> the north point of the triangle and follows the western edge of the valley floor to about mid - parcel, then
<br /> crosses the water course and ascends the steeper slopes at a steep grade with side cuts toward the south
<br /> center of the parcel.
<br /> Scope of this study: This study is to determine potential natural resource issues associated with this
<br /> parcel, particularly probabilities of occurrences of rare species, wetlands and other identifiable wildlife
<br /> • resources associated with the parcel. Determinations are preliminary and focus on probabilities of resources
<br /> •
<br /> that may be found under appropriate field conditions.
<br /> Rare plant occurrences: Potential occurrence probabilities are coded on the attached map. Significant
<br /> acreage exists with high or moderate potential for finding Aster vialis, wayside aster, and Cimic fuga elata,
<br /> tall bugbane, on this site. These species are federally listed as species of concern. Their distribution or
<br /> small population numbers make them potentially at risk for becoming a future listing as threatened or
<br /> (000, endangered. Both species are also recognized by Oregon law as threatened (Aster) or as a candidate for
<br /> future listing (Cimic fuga). Habitats closely resembling those in which these species frequently occur
<br /> elsewhere appear to be present on the site. Known occurrences of the aster are at similar elevations and
<br /> slopes as little as 1,500' to the west on an adjacent headwater watershed in mixed deciduous/coniferous
<br /> forest. Know occurrences of the bugbane exist at higher elevations on the same watershed in similar
<br /> vegetation associations, soil types, slopes and aspects. While other listed species may be present, their
<br /> occurrences would be less probable based on habitat characteristics. These include Astragalus unbraticus,
<br /> woodland milk - vetch, Fraseia umpquaensis, Umpqua swertia, Hieracium bolanderi, bolanders hawkweed,
<br /> and Montia howellii, Howell's montia.
<br /> Rare animal occurrences: Tentatively identified host plants for a newly discovered butterfly that is rare in
<br /> Oregon occur in the wetland areas of the site. The host plant is Rumex salicifolia, willow dock, upon
<br /> which the Great Copper Butterfly, Lycaena xanthoides , larvae feed. Due to the season and rosette
<br /> immaturity, it is not possible to positively identify this plant, but as an immature basal rosette it is one of
<br /> two or three possible species. If it is R salicifolius , it will have leaves without crispy - curled edges that are
<br /> less than 10 cm (occasionally 15 cm) wide and more than five times longer than wide. The status for this
<br /> butterfly is too newly discovered in the Willamette Valley to be officially listed. The habitats -it frequents
<br /> as an adult do not occur in the immediate vicinity of this parcel. Therefore the potential for this species to
<br /> be found on the site as an adult is low- except wandering females in the process of ovipositing on host
<br /> plants. The caterpillar, pupae or egg stages of the Great Copper appear to be moderately likely to be found
<br /> on the parcel, provided the preliminary plant identification is confirmed and those plants occur in some
<br /> numbers throughout the wetland. Two rosettes were casually observed on 12 -16 -04 but this survey was not
<br /> an exhaustive random walk of the site, especially not the wetland areas which are invaded by denser
<br /> blackberries.
<br /> Western Pileated Woodpecker, Dryocopus pileatus, has been observed on the parcel on numerous
<br /> occasions. It is listed by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife as SV (sensitive - vulnerable).
<br /> ce, Development of the parcel would probably mean loss of important habitat for this species. Several snags
<br /> and dead fir trees were observed on the site. Tree cavities produced by Pileated Woodpeckers are present,
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