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Golden Gardens Ponds <br />Project Description and Method <br />Within the last year, the Golden Gardens Ponds improvements have risen to a top priority <br />project. This is largely due to two tragic deaths of local children who have drowned in the ponds <br />in the last few years. A local neighborhood group was formed (Friends of Golden Gardens <br />Ponds) to bring change to the existing conditions. This group, working with City staff and City <br />council members have influenced the implementation of the project and pu`shed funding of the <br />projectto enable its move forward. City council firs.t approved funding for phase 1 <br />implementation then approved an inclusion in the recent parks bonding measure that provides <br />specific funding for future development of a regional park at this site. This regional park will <br />eventually included natural resource and habitat elements as well as passive and active <br />recreational use. Phase 1 of this endeavor is focused on the implementation of safety and natural <br />resource enhancements directly to the ponds and adjoining riparian areas. <br />History: <br />The 150 acres around the existing ponds have historically been used for sorne type of grain <br />pro.duction. Even today they are farmed for hay and straw. Golden Gardens ponds were created <br />from a gravel extraction process in the late 1960's to be used in roadway consfizction. The ponds <br />were owned by Lane County and then turned over to the City of Eugene. While the properties <br />still lie outside of city limits and the UGB, they remain in ownership of the City. Over the years <br />at least 4 deaths have been attributed to the ponds from accidental drowning. Currently two very <br />recent drowning have occurred which has been a catalyst to the current project. <br />Prior to the gravel extraction, braids of surface drainage flowed overland in a North West <br />direction (see 1936 aerial map).Urban development has pushed in from the South and East (see <br />current aerial map). Only the urban growth boundary has kept these lands from further <br />development. Flood and irrigation drainage was developed in this. area and several channels <br />were constructed for this purpose. The channel called A-2 was constructed in this area and serves <br />as a feeder and relief stream for Uoth the south pond as well as the main pond when it overtops <br />the low lying land between the two. The North pond is relieved only by overtoppirig and flowing <br />into the main pond. Currently the hydrologic influence is by ground water, surface runoff and <br />flows from the A-2 Channel. Another drainage ditch also flows into the South pond along the <br />south boundary of the property (See map): This is from an urban Stormwater system from the <br />south. The North pond seasonally receives flows from a surface swale flowing west from <br />agricultural fields and developed properties along Beltline Rd. <br />Public / Staff / Expert input: <br />Design Elements: <br />Enhancements to Golden Gardens Ponds are aimed at two primary goals. One is to make the site <br />a safer place for children and adults to visit. Another goal is to improve habitat for the wildlife <br />that attracts people to the ponds. Herons, waterfowl, f sh, otters and turtles are some of the <br />wildlife present in the ponds. Certain habitat enhancements for these creatures also provide safer <br />conditions for humans. By reducing the slopes along the edges of the pond, we create a better <br />"escape" from the water should someone be in the water trying to get out. This slope reduction <br />also provides better nesting and rearing habitat for wildlife. Increasing native plantings can have <br />Page 9 <br />