Bush Administration Includes Funding to Protect South Eugene Hills Habitat in FY 2007 Budget

New Search

02/ 6/06 THU 14 16 FAX 541 682 488E EtiGENE PW 1HNTNC & POS PW ADMIN ~ 001 E U E N E Par s and opg space N E ~N S R E ~ E A S E .ci.eugene. r.usJparks F bruary 15, 200 i Fl'~R IMMEDIATE LEASE I Contact: P ilip Richardson, 541-682-4906 or philip.s.richardson at7ci.eugene.or.us f 6~?sh Administratio Includes Funding to Protect South Eugene Hills Habitat in FY 2007 Budget T e Bush Administ anon has included funding to purchase habitat in South Eugene Hills in their proposed Forest L gacy Program 2007 budget. The Forest Legacy Progrom is a partnership between the United States Forest S rvice (USFS~, sta a and local governments, and private landowners, which identifies and protects ecologically i portant forest h bitat threatened by possible development or unsustainable practices. Program objectives are et through land cquisition or the use of conservation easements, which protect working forests while meeting i portant Conserv Lion goals. T e City of Eugen submitted a request to the Forest legacy Program asking for $460,000 in federal funds to be I veraged with loc I funds in order to purchase a 24 acre parcel in the South Eugene Hills that has both high r creational and bitat value. If the budget is approved, the resulting funding will help conserve a mosaic of h bitats including remnants of imperiled upland prairie and oak savannah. The project will also protect scenic v ws, provide for safe trailhead access point and better connectivity between the Ridgeline and West Eugene etlands, and as ist in the Cify's efforts to mare effectively manage oak dominant parklands. S nce its inception in 1992, the Forest Legary Progrom has conserved over one million acres Across 33 states and t rritories. This pr gram has also provided excellent leverage of the forest conservation federal investment by otecting over $ 80 million of land value with a Federal investment of $245 million. I 2002 the City f Eugene was awarded over one million dollars from the same program, but that year the regon State Leg stature declined to approve Oregon`s participation in the program and Eugene was not able to r ceive the award d funds. Last year, the State Legislature approved Oregon's participation in the program but dded some signi icant restrictions on how the funds could be spent. Along with applauding the Bush dministration for including funding for the South Eugene Hills Project, the City of Eugene Parks & Open Space ivision also corn ends District 8 State Representative Paul Holvey far his efforts to pass legislation allowing regon to partici ate in the Forest Legacy Program. epresentative H Ivey had this to say about the announcement. "I'm pleased to hove worked with the Eugene City off to pass this I gislation and appreciate their hard work. This legislation finally allows Oregon to participate in t e federal Forest Legacy program which provides federal dallors to protect valuable forestlands for both nvironmental an economic purposes. Next session I will work to remove the restrictions that limit the use of this rogram. I'm re lly excited that Eugene will likely have the first property in Oregon to participate in the Forest egacy program. Congratulations Eugene, for implementing this program to benefit our community. " the final congres Tonal budget will be approved in the Foll of 2006.