East Fork Amazon Headwaters; OPRD Local Govt Grant 2008

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WREN 751 S Danebo Eugene, OR 97402 Willamette Resources & ( 541) 68 3 -6494 Educational Network www.wewetlands.org April 3, 2008 Oregon Parks and Recreation Department Local Government Grants Program Attention: Michele Scalise 725 Summer St. NE, Suite C ; Salem OR, 97301 RE: Letter of Support for City of Eugene's East Fork Amazon Headwaters Land Acquisition Grant Application Dear Ms. Scalise and members of the review committee, On behalf of the Willamette Resources & Educational Network (WREN), 1 am pleased to provide a letter of support for the City of Eugene's East Fork Amazon Headwaters Land Acquisition Grant. WREN is nonprofit organization dedicated to practicing and promoting land stewardship through education, partnerships, and scientific research. Based in the West Eugene Wetlands, our school and interpretive programs for children and adults we have reached more than 15,000 participants over the last 5 years. Acquisition of this land by the City will provide multiple benefits to the city—through permanently protecting . headwaters of Amazon Creek, an area that'has been identified as high 00ohty for conservation in several recent planning efforts, and an area that is closely connected to the West Eugene Wetlands where most of our -work has taken place to date. Some of these benefits include: • Providing an important connection between a southeast Eugene neighborhood and the 14 =rile Ridgeline trail system and the associated :potential for educating the public about watershed and riparian habitat, protection. through interpretive sig hagei- • Preservation of an intact native undersfory'plant community that includes mature. forests and Oregon white oak and several documented rare species; • Protection and further enhancement of significant investments made many years ago to improve over 2,000 acres of floodplain wetlands and stream channel in the Amazon basin. Additionally., the City has gained extensive experience managing and restoring important habitat through it's , partnerships and strong community and volunteer support: If acquired, this parcel will be well managed, and will be a wonderful place to continue our educational and stewardship work.