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<br /> 10/ 1/03 FRI 16 30 FAX 541 682 4882 EUGENE PW MNTNC & POS PW ADMIN f~J003 <br /> ,I~ v ,a i <br /> October 31, 2003 <br /> CONTACT: <br /> • Robi Hostick, Parks and Open Space Planner, 682-4915 <br /> ¦ Troy Kreger, Volunteers in Parks Coordinator, 682-4845 <br /> ¦ Ther se Picado, Parks and Open Space Public Information Specialist, 682-4814 or 682- <br /> 480 <br /> FOR IMME IATE RELEASE <br /> Volu tear Efforts Aimed at Restoring Habitat, Views and Trails on Skinner Butte <br /> i <br /> ~ On ovember 1, from 8 a.m. to noon, City of Eugene Parks and Open Space Division <br /> staff, in conj notion with volunteers from the Eugene Rotary Club, will restore native upland <br /> prairie habit ton the west slope of the butte, recover views from the butte summit by removing <br /> several tree ,and repair a large segment of the summit loop trail to improve accessibility. The <br /> effort is guid d by the Skinner Butte Park Master Plan adopted in 2002. The park's master plan <br /> calls for the estoration and long-term preservation of popular, historically significant views from <br /> i <br /> the summit f Skinner Butte, native upland prairie habitat that once covered nearly all of Skinner <br /> i <br /> ~ Butte, and ils. <br /> Publi input gathered during the development of the master plan showed that views from <br /> Skinner Butt are important for the identity of the community, but that a balanced approach <br /> should be to en to restore and protect them. The plan outlines a unique, objective strategy for <br /> documenting views and setting Gear guidelines for restoring views while protecting forested <br /> areas. <br /> Nativ prairie is now a highly endangered habitat type in the Willamette Valley, with less <br /> than one per nt of the original habitat remaining. On Skinner Butte, most upland prairie has <br /> been lost tot a encroachment of trees and invasive plant species, like Himalayan blackberry. <br /> ~ Since the fe ,small areas of prairie habitat remaining on the butte are located where views are <br /> still present, he objectives of view restoration and habitat restoration can be combined. <br /> Trail storation efforts are also a high priority ident~ed by the master plan. Rotary <br /> (more) ~ <br /> i <br /> <br />