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Eugene Weekly : 12.18.03 Page 8 of 8 <br /> 41110 building site, and U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio is seeking$20 million in federal funding <br /> specifically for the waterway in the Water Resources bill now before Congress. <br /> What would such an canal be like? "Try to set aside the present urban drear and call up a <br /> vision of a rich, local blend of historic millrace and San Antonio Riverwalk," says <br /> Diethelm. "Imagine a 35-to 40-foot waterway with broad promenades on both sides <br /> meandering beneath native trees within an urban garden. Put yourself into one of the water <br /> taxis,canoes and paddle boats as they pass under mirrored bridges and past urban <br /> townhouses,restaurant terraces, shops,parks and just pleasant places to sit and marvel at <br /> the magic of light on water." <br /> Diethelm's fanciful vision may be optimistic,but he says, "I think$20 million would buy <br /> the major elements necessary for a return to the river: a significant underpass under 6th <br /> and the railroad right-of-way,the basic water'plumbing,'excavation and construction <br /> needed, some important public plazas,walkways,plantings and places, and some attractive <br /> waterworks along the way." <br /> He says the larger and longer-range public works "adjustments" to the urban watershed <br /> will take more time and money. "I'm talking about filtering and cleaning the water before it <br /> goes into the Millrace, returning it to the time earlier in this century when it was not the <br /> area's storm sewer." <br /> The canal link would allow fresh water to be brought from the Willamette into the Millrace <br /> at Eugene, transported via the Emerald Canal to the Amazon, and carried past the <br /> ® Fairgrounds to Fern Ridge Lake. It would then flow over the dam into the Long Tom River <br /> and rejoin the Willamette north of Monroe. "A relatively short in-town connection would <br /> create a very large waterway circuit that has contributions for the community everywhere <br /> along its course," says Dielhelm. — Ted Taylor <br /> Table of Contents I News I Views I Calendar' Film I Music I Culture I Classifieds I Personals <br /> Contact I EW Archive <br /> S <br /> http://www.eugeneweekly.com/archive/12_18_03/coverstory.html 1/6/04 <br />