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- o ~ ~ ~ ~ <br /> January 10, 008 <br /> CONTACT: Therese Walch, Project Manager, 541-682-8647 <br /> ~ From Public I formation Section, 682-5523 or 954-2938 <br /> FOR IMMED ATE RELEASE <br /> Planning C mmission to Consider Water Quality Protected Waterways Proposal <br /> I <br /> A pub is hearing on a proposal to protect water quality in certain local waterways will be <br /> held by the E gene Planning Commission on Tuesday, January 15. The hearing begins at 6 p.m. <br /> in the Atrium Building (Bloat Room), 99 West 10th Avenue, in downtown Eugene. <br /> The h aring is on a proposal to establish a water quality overlay zone and apply the <br /> I'~ overlay to pr perties within Eugene city limits that contain or are adjacent to waterways identified <br /> as important o protect for their water quality functions, and are otherwise unprotected. The <br /> proposal als identifies properties located outside the Eugene city limits but inside the urban <br /> growth boun ary that would be rezoned to apply the water quality overlay at such time as the <br /> i owner choos s to annex to the city. <br /> ~I, At th heart of the effort is the recognition that waterways provide significant benefits and <br /> that land de lopment practices can have water quality impacts. Eugene also is required to <br /> comply with tate and federal regulations aimed at cleaning up "water quality impaired" <br /> waterways, hich include Willamette River, Amazon Creek, the Amazon Diversion Channel, the <br /> A3 Channel nd Willow Creek. Local plans and policies also seek to protect waterways for their <br /> I <br /> water quality benefits including treatment capabilities. <br /> The urrent proposal is a revision to one initially presented in June 2006. The current <br /> proposal wo Id apply Water Quality Waterway protections only to the original waterways of <br /> concern that are not otherwise protected by Goal 5 natural resource protections. Proposed <br /> setback widt s for water quality have been adjusted to be comparable to existing Goal 5 natural <br /> resource set ack widths. The outcome of the Water Quality Protected Waterways proposal would <br /> be a system of waterways that are protected from further water quality degradation caused by <br /> uses and de elopment activities within and adjacent to them. <br /> The tanning Commission will make recommendations to the City Council, which <br /> tentatively h s scheduled a public hearing on the issue on April 21. <br /> For ore information, visit City's Web site at www.euaene-or.gov/wQpw or contact <br /> <br /> _u Therese WaMch, project manager, at 682-8647. <br /> Eugene Public Works • www.eugene-or.gov/pw <br /> 858 Pearl Street, Eugene, Oregon 97501 • 541-682-5523 • fax 541-682-6826 • e-mail pwadmin@ci.eugene.or.us <br /> <br />