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CITY BEAT Continued from Page 1C offer a special expertise or an extra including Oregon's state bird, the have been built along and across personal touch that we can't pro- western meadowlark. the Northwest's rivers. vide with existing staff resources." "Since it's been in agricultural To that end, the city is hosting a Today they get their time in the use, we'll want to do restoration in salmon protection workshop sun— more specifically, the sunset virtually the whole area," says Eric Tuesday to present and seek public — when the city recognizes its vol- Wold, the city's wetlands supervi- input on a list of 10 proposed strate- unteers and their families in an sor. "It will be a nice addition." gies to protect salmon as they pass invitation-only evening of food, mu- The new property — north of through Eugene in the Willamette sic and swimming at Amazon Park Royal Avenue and east of Greenhill River and its tributaries. and Aquatic Center. The event be- Road— is seen as a complement to One proposal is to create a gins at 6 p.m. a 400-acre section of the West "salmon habitat protection zone" Hundreds of volunteers serve on Eugene Wetlands that lies just along the river to protect vegetation the city's 40-plus boards, commis- south of Royal. The Fern Ridge that provides food and nutrients, sions and committees — each with Multi-Use Path, under construction, creates hiding and resting places a typical membership of a half- will run through the existing por- for salmon and naturally filters dozen to a dozen. Then there are tion and will provide access to the stormwater pollutants as they flow those who help with park design, new acreage. Interpretive signs, toward the river. The protection maintenance and planting work; noting the wetlands' ecological and zone would include a 75-foot setback who serve as hosts at the Hult Cen- cultural value, are planned along on each riverbank, bordered by a ter and other city facilities or the path. 45-foot transition area. events; and who work in various The purchases from a pair of Other draft strategies include police department programs, from farmers were made with a $500,000 adopting a list of invasive, nonna- Neighborhood Watch to graffiti grant from the Oregon Watershed tive plants and prohibiting their tracking to public speaking. Enhancement Board, a $530,000 use in landscaping such as that "I'm delighted that we are hon- grant through the North American around parking lots that must‘trisp, oring these volunteers for the tre- Wetlands Conservation Act, $680,000 approved by the city;reviewing city mendous value they provide to the from the Eugene district of the fed- practices in the application of citizens of Eugene," Mayor Jim eral Bureau of Land Management chemical pesticides; and reviewing Torrey says. and $250,000 from the city's storm- the list of privately owned proper buys future wetlands water management fund. ties within the Willamette's flood- Cityy The property will be managed by way for possible purchases from The West Eugene Wetlands grew the West Eugene Wetlands Partner- willing sellers. by 75 acres to a total of about 2,500 ship — which includes representa- The drop-in workshop, from 4 acres last week when the city used tives from the city, the Nature Con- p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Campbell a combination of grants and other servancy, the Oregon Youth Conser- Senior Center, 155 High St., will in- special funding totaling almost $2 vation Corps and the U.S. Bureau of elude videos, hourly presentations, million to buy two parcels of former Land Management, Army Corps of displays and opportunities for pub- 'farmland that lie between two chan- Engineers and Fish & Wildlife lic comment. ;mels of Amazon Creek. Service. • The land, which has been used Worksho to address salmon to grow grass seed and hay, will p Reporter Joe Mosley can be eventually be restored as prairie Urban salmon habitat? Yes in- reached at 338-2384 or by e-mail at wetlands — home to species deed, in cities such as Eugene that jmosley@guardnet.com SEPTEMBER 8, 2002 "Volunteers get well-earned thanks, party" p.1 C continued to "City beat" p.2C