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i <br /> ~ ~ ~ ~ <br /> j September, 23, 2005 <br /> ~ CONTACT', Michelle Cahill, City of Eugene Principal Engineer, 541-682-6855 <br /> ~ ' Heidi Helwig, Public Affairs, Corps of Engineers, 503-808-4510 <br /> From Public Information Section, 682-5523 or 954-2938 <br /> MEDIA BRIEFING/PHOTO OPPORTUNITY <br /> Media Briefing September 27 on Important Environmental Restoration Project <br /> A mjedia briefing will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27, to mark the start of a project <br /> j to restore wind enhance water quality and aquatic habitat in the Delta Ponds in Eugene. The <br /> j media briefing will be held near the northern end of the Valley River Center parking lot on the <br /> west side q'f shopping center. For more information, contact Eric Jones, public affairs manager <br /> for the Public Works Department, at 682-5523 or 541-954-2938. <br /> I <br /> Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy will be joined by representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of <br /> Engineers,',area congressional offices, and the state of Oregon to speak about the vision for <br /> i <br /> j Delta Ponds and the significance of the work about to begin. <br /> The, Corps of Engineers hired Veraz Construction, Inc., of Tualatin to construct a weir to <br /> <br /> ~ establish s~asonal flows from the Willamette River directly into the southernmost pond in the <br /> ~ Delta Pondt; system and to make channel improvements to improve water circulation in the first <br /> ,pond area. Future phases will improve seasonal water circulation in the remaining areas of the <br /> i Delta Ponds system, enhance aquatic and riparian habitat, and improve recreational facilities, <br /> including new bicycle-pedestrian paths in the Delta Ponds area. <br /> Whi,Me the initial project is fairly small -about $100,000 and several weeks work - it is <br /> I <br /> significant f~Or several reasons. It moves the Corps of Engineers into the construction phase of a <br /> ~ $6.3 million project that up to now has been in the planning phase. Secondly, it is the first <br /> project in the Delta Ponds area that alters the hydrology of the ponds. Numerous habitat <br /> projects and some recreation projects have been undertaken in the ponds area over the past <br /> several yeajrs, including work done by volunteer groups and work funded by the state of Oregon <br /> and the fedjeral Bureau of Land Management. The Corps' project will actually affect the flow of <br /> j water through the ponds. <br /> Note to Editors: Construction is scheduled to begin next Tuesday morning. We <br /> anticipate this will give you visual opportunities in the immediate vicinity of the press <br /> conference. <br /> Public Works • Administration • City of Eugene • 858 Pearl Street • Eugene, OR 97401 <br /> Phone: (541) 682-5262 • FAX: (541) 682-6826 • www.ci.eugene.or.us <br /> <br />