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Upper Amazon Creek <br />Upper Amazon Creek <br />Location <br />The headwaters of Amazon Creek originate from springs on the slopes of Spencer Butte in South <br />Eugene. The Creek begins at Martin Street at Frank Kinney Park and flows in a northern <br />direction, bounded by East and West Amazon Drive. The creek goes through a pipe under Fox <br />Hollow toward Hilyard Street. After the creek passes through a pipe under Hilyard, it runs <br />parallel to Hilyard along the west side of the street. This reach passes the bridge at 29 Avenue <br />and flows toward Amazon Park. The creek meanders through the Park and then goes into a <br />concrete channel at 24 Avenue. <br />There is a bark running trail along the entire Upper Amazon Creek. On the south end, the trail is <br />on both sides of the creek. <br />Geology/ Landform — Geomorphology/ Stream Shape <br />The headwaters drain steeply to the Amazon basin. Two branches of Amazon Creek come <br />together at Martin Street in Frank Kinney Park. The eastern part of the creek flows through a <br />storm sewer channel directing it to a western branch, where it becomes perennial in Frank <br />Kinney Park. However, by the end of the dry season, the flow is very low. <br />From Martin Street to Fox Hollow, the reach has riffle and pool structures with rocks, gravel/ <br />sand bars, logs and woody debris. The creek is almost straight, with only a few meanders. There <br />is visible evidence of down cutting and stream incision in some areas. <br />The next segment, to 30 Avenue, is straighter and has fewer in- stream structures. The bank <br />slopes are approximately 5:1. The soils are typically hydric and are capable of supporting <br />wetland vegetation. <br />The last section of the Upper Amazon Creek flows through Amazon Park from 30 Avenue to <br />24 Avenue. Bank slopes average approximately 4:1. This segment is straight and flat, with few <br />riffle and pool structures. It has typically hydric soil capable of supporting wetland vegetation. <br />Human Activities <br />The quantity and rate of runoff into the Amazon Creek has been significantly increased due to <br />development throughout Eugene and the increase in impervious surfaces. Also, there were many <br />human activities in the upper part of this creek. Early settlers in the region may have deepened <br />the first segment from Martin to Snell; however, it has not been significantly channelized. The <br />downstream sections were straightened and deepened by the Army Corps of Engineers in the <br />1950's to reduce flooding risks in Eugene. <br />31 <br />