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1'ro'ect adds life to Delta Ponds. ~Ita: Wildlife is ex ected
<br /> J p
<br /> . - benefit from better water (~ualit
<br /> Enlarging the inlet from the Willamette is oing,w ~ .flow 1 J
<br /> one more step in transforming old gravel pits - ~ , continued from Page Dl
<br /> ~r~} ` improve the water. flow among Louis Kroeck, Eugene's re-
<br /> P 5,~ ~ ~ Nq f ~
<br /> ~ ` the ponds. The total. cost is es- tired principal landscape ar-
<br /> BxEnwaxD Russo q~s~(~' ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ the U.S. Army Corps of Engi- timated at $6.3 million, most of chitect, who attended the news
<br /> The Register-Guard JJ , ~ ~ neers and the city, started it from the federal govern- conference, was credited for
<br /> ~ ~ ' y E~1geP~ ~1~ Tuesday. ment. It could take a decade or hel in to ersuade the Corps
<br /> Cue the geese. 4 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ During the next month, ,a more to coin lete. in 998 to p
<br /> During Tuesday's announcement of an improvement ~ ~ ? ~,r Corps-hired contractor will Officials admit their ambi- Officials want thelarea to be
<br /> io Delta Ponds, five honking Canada geese glided down ~ ~ ~ 1>!~~ ' I! widen and deepen the inlet that " tious plans will depend on con- easier for the putilic
<br />to use.
<br />
<br /> ' rom the sky and landed on a pond, to the delight of the - , r leads from the Willamette Riv-
<br /> e ~ i Delta Pondi~, sn.<<~F gressional.appropriations. In the past year or so, the
<br /> ;athered officials and residents. ~ . ~ ~ Pa r ~ ~ n, er "into the southernmost pond, But this fall's construction Rotary and "other service clubs
<br /> The well-timed appearance of the waterfowl under- i`j;' west of the office buildings work "opens the door for more built a hiking path off Good-
<br /> e'' ~ Inlet fb be
<br /> scored the aim of the work, which is to enhance wildlife ~~V, ~ f near Valley River Center. The construction, so I am optimis- pasture Island Road. A $250,000
<br /> t ~ enldrg~d;
<br /> habitat in north Eugene's Delta Ponds. ~ y ~ increasing larger inlet will allow more tic that in the next decade we state grant helped pay for an
<br /> "This is just one of the most wonderful projects that rainy season flows from the will see the lan that we Great- a •acent trailhead and parking
<br /> ~ ~ _ v^dater flow P dJ
<br /> lust keeps growing and growing,' Mayor Kitty Piercy , t Q; i into Delta ~ river into the ponds, improv- ed with the Corps," said lot.
<br /> said. `t ~ ' : F I Porids ing the water quality of the Michelle Cahill, principal civil Also, Congress earlier this
<br /> The first pax•t of the project, a collaboration between dozen .pits that make up Delta engineer in the city's Public year appropriated $2.9 million
<br /> Ponds. That should help fish, Works department. for ahiker-biker path to be
<br /> ' Please turn to DELTA, Page D2 sTBrxnrns Bwnnow /The Register-Guard birds and other wildlife, offs- The work is the latest en- built under Delta Highway
<br />that
<br /> • " ~ cials said. hancement to the ponds, which would allow people from the
<br /> Improved water quality in are interspersed through a 150- Cal Young and WillagiIlespie
<br /> ~ ,the ponds is expected to help acre area that's bisected by neighborhoods east of Delta
<br /> - threatened or sensitive species, busy Delta Highway and Good- Highway to more easily reach
<br /> such as the Chinook sahnon
<br /> ~'"i~n~f~ ` pasture Island Road. Also un- the ponds. That path is in the
<br /> and western pond turtles, plus der way is the removal of early planning stage.
<br /> ~ such migratory birds as the blackberry, Scotch broom, En- Valley River Village resi-
<br /> ~ r yellow warbler and willow fly- gush ivy and other nuisance dent Anna Gillilan on Tuesday
<br /> > catcher, officials said. plants from 28 acres around morning was walking with two
<br /> The ponds are former grav- the onds,
<br /> %
<br /> _w p paid for with a friends on the east bank trail
<br /> ~ ~ ~ ter- ~ -f el pits that are filled with the $389,000 grant from the U.S. through the ponds, when she
<br /> 1 ry ~ :r,~Y water that travels under- Bureau of Land Management. heard about the plans to im-
<br /> ` ~ ground along the Willamette It's difficult to prevent inva- prove the ponds' water.
<br /> ~ • ' ~f, River. During the dry summer slue plants from reappearing. "I think it's going to be
<br /> i ~ .=A ~ R months, the water can become However; the city will use beautiful," she said. "We are
<br /> - , stagnant and dirty; officials some of the grant to replant going to get rid of this scum
<br /> . said. the area with native trees and that comes when the weather
<br /> The-first phase of the work shrubs, such as Oregon ash, turns warm. It will be delight-
<br /> will cost $100,000. The total cottonwood and red osier dog- ful. When we have visitors
<br /> • project, eight years in the plan- wood, said Lauri Mullen, the come to Eugene they. can't be-
<br /> Biunx Dnv~s /The Register-Guars rimg, will include the construe- ponds' vegetation and ' en- lieve we have this (the ponds)
<br /> tion of culverts and channels to hancement coordinator. right in town."
<br /> The Delta Ponds have been the site of a series of
<br /> projects to improve habitat. In addition to
<br /> plans for improving water circulation, crews have been clearing non-native vegetation. - - ~ "
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