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Y <br /> Page 3 <br /> <br /> ~ March 8, 1 95 <br /> "Th January 1995 rain storm was the first real test of the effectiveness of the seven- <br /> year-cycle aintenance program," Hammitt said. "I am pleased to say the Amazon Creek <br /> performed agnificently during this storm." <br /> Alth ugh the community continues to depend on the Amazon as a flood control <br /> channel, th re is growing awareness of other important uses of the creek. It provides habitat <br /> for wildlife and plants, and it offers recreational opportunities for local residents. Its <br /> downstrea sections provide an important connection to the west Eugene wetland system. <br /> These other uses affect the maintenance program, particularly vegetation management. The <br /> practice of eriodically scraping the banks to remove all vegetation has been discontinued in <br /> response to environmental concerns. Instead, brush is controlled by mowing and, in some <br /> cases, by h d-clearing. Volunteers are an important element in this portion of the program. <br /> Whi e these labor-intensive methods are environmentally sensitive, they take longer <br /> and do not emove as much brush. "Some sections of the Amazon Creek have fallen a couple <br /> of years be ind the seven-year maintenance cycle due to environmental concerns," Hammitt <br /> said. "We eed to continue to explore methods for an active maintenance program that allow <br /> us to achie a environmental goals as well." <br /> Ove all, Hammitt gave the city's storm drainage system high marks. "I am sure that <br /> significant amage to public and private structures would have occurred had these proactive <br /> maintenanc programs not been implemented in the 1980s," he said. "Persistence will be <br /> important t ensure the continuation of these programs." <br /> <br />