Volunteer Efforts Aimed at Restoring Habitat, Views and Trails on Skinner Butte

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10Y27/03 MON 18:37 FAX 541 682 4882 EUGENE PW MNTNC & POS PW ADMIN C~J003 r r r October 2 , 2003 CONTAC • Ro in Hostick Parks and O en S ace Planner 682-4915 P p • Tro Kreger, Volunteers in Parks Coordinator, 682-4845 • Th ese Picado, Parks and Open Space Public Information Specialist, 682-4814 or 682- 1 480 FOR IMME LATE RELEASE Vol nteer Efforts Aimed at Restoring Habitat, Views and Trails on Skinner Butte On ovember 1, from 8 a.m. to noon, City of Eu ene Parks and O n Space Division g Pe III, staff, in con unction with volunteers from the Eugene Rotary Club, will restore native upland prairie habi ton the west slope of the butte, recover views from the butte summit by removing several tree ,and repair a large segment of the summit loop trail to improve accessibility. The II effort is gui ed by the Skinner Butte Park Master Plan adopted in 2002. The park's master plan calls for the estoration and long-term preservation of popular, historically sign cant views from the summit f Skinner Butte, native upland prairie habitat that once covered nearly all of Skinner ICI Butte, and ils. Publi input gathered during the development of the master plan showed that views from Skinner Butt are important for the identity of the community, but that a balanced approach should be to en to restore and protect them. The plan outlines a unique, objective strategy for documentin views and setting clear guidelines for restoring views while protecting forested areas. II Nativ prairie is now a highly endangered habitat type in the WlNamette Valley, with less than one per nt of the original habitat remaining. On Skinner Butte, most upland prairie has been lost tot a encroachment of trees and invasive plant species, like Himalayan blackberry. Since the fe ,small areas of prairie habitat remaining on the butte are located where views are i still present, t e objectives of view restoration and habitat restoration can be combined. Trail r storation efforts are also a high priority identified the master plan. Rotary (more)