East Fork Amazon Headwaters; OPRD Local Govt Grant 2008

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CITY OF EUGENE PARKS AND OPEN SPACE DIVISION East Fork Amazon Headwaters Acquisition Project Environmental Assessment 1). The Proposed Action 1.1. Proposed Action and Statement of Need The purpose of this proposed action is to acquire East Fork Amazon Headwaters and protect it as publicly - owned and managed natural open space. This action will prevent the 39.9 acre property from development and protect the forested natural areas, waterways, and wetlands as well as the diversity of species currently inhabiting this property. The need for this project is the likely conversion of the site from natural open space to residential housing. The current owner has completed engineering, site design, and submitted a Planned Unit Development application to the City that would subdivide the property into approximately 113 new home sites and construct a road system and utility infrastructure required to serve these new homes. The application came very close to approval and was only denied due to insufficient data about soil stability. The owner has since made an offer to the City for acquisition, he has also expressed cleai intentions of continuing the process to develop this property if the city is unable to complete the acquisition. 1.2. Location and Description of the Project Area East Fork Amazon Headwaters is a 39.9 acre undeveloped parcel located off of Dillard Road, in the South Hills of Eugene. It is one of the more intact natural areas remaining in private ownership in the South Hills. It is located at Township 18, Range 3, and Section 20. It is bordered on the north and east edges by Dillard Road, along the western edge by a single family residential neighborhood and along the southern edge by Amazon Headwaters, a 226 acre City -owned open space park. Historic photo analysis indicates that the site has not been impacted by human , disturbances. The site represents one of the headwater sources for Amazon Creek, one of the largest waterways flowing through Eugene. There are three open waterways flowing across the site which converge at the lowest point on the property in a depressional broadleaf wetland forest. In addition to these wetland resources, significant portions of the property consist of mixed conifer forest. The entire site is currently forested. 1.3. Environmental Impacts and Benefits The acquisition of this property will accomplish multiple benefits. Environmental benefits gained through acquisition extend far beyond the parcel itself. Acquisition will protect one of the largest intact natural areas remaining in private ownership in Eugene's South Hills. It will provide a diversity of high quality habitat types and will protect an area that is home to two rare plant species and has good potential habitat for several other endangered plant and animal species. It will serve as a wildlife refuge to an increasingly large natural reserve and as a corridor to rural lands outside the UGB. By preserving headwater streams of the West Eugene Wetlands, this acquisition will strengthen and enhance existing work by West Eugene Wetlands Partnership to restore habitat and ecological functioning. of the watershed. Protection of the headwater streams will help preserve water quality and the health of the entire stream corridor. The proposed recreation amenities planned for this site will provide protection of the most sensitive plant and animal species while also offering a unique opportunity for educating the public about these rare species and protection of the local watershed.