New Search
City of Eugene <br /> Parks and Open Space Division <br /> Dillard Hollow Acquisition Project <br /> Environmental Assessment <br /> Purpose of and Need for Action <br /> Background <br /> • The City of Eugene Parks and Open Space Division (POS) owns or participates in the <br /> management of over 5,000 acres of natural areas within and around the urban center. The Natural <br /> Resource Management Section of POS consists of 22 full time staff dedicated to employing a wide <br /> variety of cutting edge tools and techniques to restore, enhance, protect and manage these areas. In <br /> addition to these City owned properties, the POS division is a key partner in the West Eugene <br /> Wetlands which consists of over 2,900 acres of wetlands managed and owned in partnership with <br /> seven other agencies and organizations. <br /> Central to the POS park system is the Ridgeline Park System. This string of upland parks delineates <br /> the City's southern border following the ridgeline of the south hills. It totals over 1,000 acres including <br /> Spencer Butte, the highest point in the City. A range of habitats including mixed conifer forests, oak <br /> savannas, oak woodlands, riparian forests, depressional wetlands, rocky outcrops and balds, and, <br /> upland prairies make this natural area biologically rich. This region of Eugene represents the <br /> northernmost range of the black oak (Quercus kelloggii). Several rare plant species are also found in `,.) <br /> the ridgeline system. <br /> Description of the Project Area <br /> Dillard Hollow is a 38.4 acre undeveloped parcel located off of Dillard Road, in the South Hills of <br /> Eugene. It is one of the more intact natural areas remaining in private ownership in the South Hills. It <br /> is located at Township 18, Range 3, and Section 20. It is bordered on the north and east edges by <br /> Dillard Road, along the western edge by a single family residential neighborhood and along the <br /> • southern edge by Amazon Headwaters, a 226 acre City -owned open space park. Historic photo <br /> analysis indicates that the site has not been impacted by human disturbances. The site represents <br /> one of the headwater sources for Amazon Creek, one of the largest waterways flowing through <br /> • Eugene. There are three open waterways flowing across the site which converge at the lowest point <br /> on the property in a depressional broadleaf wetland forest. In addition to these wetland resources, <br /> significant portions of the property consist of mixed conifer forest. The entire site is currently <br /> forested. <br /> Purpose of and Need for Action <br /> The purpose of this proposed action is to acquire Dillard Hollow and protect it as publicly -owned and <br /> managed natural open space. This action will prevent the property from eminent development and <br /> protect the forested natural areas, waterways, and wetlands as well as the diversity of species <br /> currently inhabiting this property. <br /> The need for this project is the likely eminent conversion of the site from natural open space to <br /> residential housing. The current owner has proposed to subdivide the property into approximately ;, <br /> 77 -115 new home sites and to construct a road system and utility infrastructure required to serve <br /> these new homes. Joe Green, the owner, has expressed clear intentions of pursuing plans to <br />