East Fork Amazon Headwaters; OPRD Local Govt Grant 2008

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listed priorities was to identify and acquire ecologically significant sites. From the Mayors Committee: pre- serve viewsheds (hills and ridges seen from town); acquire land along City's southern boundary making connections to the wetlands area; provide access to the two major waterways flowing through the commu- nity — Amazon Creek and the Willamette; complete the public open space connections along major city wa- terways by continuing acquisition and expansion efforts; acquire sites with exceptionally high habitat value; ability to access parks without driving to them; and interconnect City's existing parks and open space as and improve the connections along Amazon Creek_ Parks and Open Space Bond Measure (20061 In November, 2006, Eugene voters passed a $27.5 million bond measure for Parks and Open Space. With 59 percent of the vote, it was the most supported of all lo- cal voter initiatives on the ballot. It also followed on the heels of a $25.3 million bond measure for Parks and Open Space that was approved 8 years earlier.in 1998. Such support clearly illustrates that the citizens of Eugene put a very high value on opportunities for recreating out of doors and preserving natural areas. $7.75 million of the 2006 bond measure is identified for acquisition of natural area parks. A portion of the City's matching funds will come from this specific fund. Metro Waterways Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Assessment- Preliminary Draft (2007) The purpose of the Metro Waterways Study is to provide a better understanding of existing problems and opportunities related to area waterways and to identify solutions to improve these waterways. The study provides an integrated, comprehensive, and long -range plan for enhancing and maintaining the waterway system within this area for multiple objectives. Project partners include the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, City of Eugene, City of Springfield, Lane County, and the Eugene Water & Electric Board. The first phase of this project focuses on the Amazon Creek planning area and in December of 2007, a draft report was completed that provides an environmental assessment for the planning area and recommended enhance- ments. Included in these recommendations is the acquisition of headwater streams (including those within this site) for overall watershed protection, such as minimizing future channel stability problems and reduc- ing peak flows. South Ridgeline Habitat Study Recommendations Report (2007). The South Ridgeline Habitat Study (SRHS) evaluated approximately 2,600 acres near the ridgeline of the South Hills to determine where im- portant upland habitat (versus stream and wetland habitat) areas exist. In 2007, the City of Eugene com- pleted an inventory of undeveloped upland habitat near the ridgeline of the South Hills area, entitled the South Ridgeline Habitat Study, and conducted six public workshops to showcase the study results and ob- tain public input on habitat conservation. Beginning in August 2007 a diverse group of nine Eugene citi- zens met to consider the question of habitat preservation in the South Ridgeline area. The Task Group completed its work and submitted recommendations in late November 2007. Upon consideration of the study information and the public comment on the study, the Task Group agreed that conservation of addi- tional habitat in the South Ridgeline area is warranted, noting that in addition to conserving biological di- versity (including rare species and habitats), conservation of habitat also contributes to recreational values and to other ecological values, such as stormwater management. The resulting recommendations from the Task Group support acquisition of this property. Ridgeline Area Open Space Vision and Action Plan (2008). The Ridgeline Area Open Space Vision and Action Plan has been developed to serve as a conceptual framework to guide future open space and recrea- tion planning efforts for this area. Building on the vision of Rivers to Ridges, a regional parks and open space study, Lane Council of Governments coordinated this effort, working closely with a partnership that included the City of Eugene, Lane County Parks, Willamalane Park & Recreation District, McKenzie River Trust, The Nature Conservancy, Long Tom Watershed Council, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, and the National Park Service. +