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7. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT — <br />Describe the proposed action, a statement regarding the need for it, a description of what the action is <br />designed to accomplish, location of the project, its scope, the level of impact- causing activities, and any <br />adverse or beneficial, environmental impacts resulting from the project. Describe the site, land use of site <br />and surrounding area and the: <br />a) Fish and wildlife g) historic /archaeological resources <br />b) Vegetation h) transportation /access <br />c) Geology and soils 1) consumption of energy resources, and overhead utilities <br />d) Mineral resources j) Are there any overhead utilities? <br />e) Air and water quality k) Is the project site located in a floodplain or wetland? <br />f) Water resources /hydrology 1) Are there any threatened or endangered species on the site? <br />Attach comments received from State Natural Resource Agencies and a list of other persons consulted. <br />The City's goal is to purchase the 39.9 -acre site and conserve and protect it in perpetuity. It is one of the <br />largest intact natural areas remaining in private ownership in the South Hills. It is bordered on the north and <br />east edges by 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. The site represents one of the <br />headwater sources for Amazon Creek, one of the largest waterways flowing through Eugene. There are three <br />open waterways flowing across the site which converge at the lowest point on the property in a depressional <br />broadleaf wetland forest. In addition to these wetland resources, significant portions of the property consist of <br />mixed conifer forest. The entire site is currently forested. <br />The property, if acquired, will serve multiple functions including passive recreation, preservation of water <br />quality, storm water retention, and habitat preservation. The site contains two rare upland plants, wayside <br />aster (Aster vialis) and tall bugbane (Cimicifuga elata), and also provides suitable habitat for several rare <br />animals, including the olive sided fly catcher, Northern red - legged frog, Pacific pallid bat, Pacific western <br />big -eared bat, and fringed myotis. The proposed recreation amenities planned for this site will provide <br />protection of the most sensitive plant and animal species while also offering a unique opportunity for edu- <br />cating the public about these rare species and protection of the local watershed. Degradation of the site if <br />not part of the Open Space System can be illustrated in the following table: <br />Consequences <br />g a, <br />a. Acres of protected riparian area (assuming 75' ripar- <br />ian buffer <br />City Purchase <br />—15 <br />Development <br />7 <br />b. Length of protected waterways, including ephemeral <br />& intermittent <br />— 4,500 feet <br />2,800 <br />c. Acres of impervious surface <br />0 <br />11.64 <br />d. Stability of waterways <br />No change <br />Less stable w /in- <br />creased erosion & <br />downcuttin <br />at, <br />a. Acres of habitat vegetated w /native forest cover. <br />38.4 <br />20 <br />b. Contiguity w /adjacent wildlife habitat <br />Unchanged contiguous w/ <br />Ridgeline Park System <br />Fragmented & <br />dis- contiguous <br />�,. Native,P ' . t t'o` ulatlons <br />a. Acres of native dominated plant community <br />38.4 <br />20 <br />b. Acres of site w /in 50' of a road or cleared area. <br />5.5 <br />29 <br />a. Acres of soil disturbed <br />0 <br />25 <br />Please see attached Environmental Assessment for a more detailed and thorough environmental <br />analysis. <br />