Volunteer Efforts Aimed at Restoring Views from Skinner Butte

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08/26/02 THIJ 15:52 FA% 541 682 4882 EtTGENE PW MNTNC & POS PVP ADMIN ~J041 - 1 ~ ~ i i O September 26, 2002 CONTACT: • Chris Girard, Coordinator, Volunteers in Parks Coordinator, 682-4845 • Robin Hostick, Parks and Open Space Planner, 682-4915 • Therese M. Picado, Public Information Specialist, Parks and Open Space, 682-4 14 or 682- 4800, therese.m.picado[cr~,ci.euaene,or.us FOR IMMEDIATE REf,EASE VOLUNTEER EFFORTS AIMED A7 RESTORING VIEWS FROM SKINNER TTE In October, City of Eugene Parks and Open Space Division staff, in conjunctio with volunteers from the Eugene Rotary Club, will spend a day restoring views and habitat n Skinner Butte. Work will focus on restoring the native upland prairie habitat and views from the eastern ~ s viewpoints of the butte by removing nonnative trees and planting smaller, native trees If time permits, club volunteers are also hoping to restore views from the western viewpoint n ar the historic "Big E," placed on the butte in 1915, by selectively removing brush and several trees i that area as well. Since 1996, the Eugene Rotary Club has sponsored several significant volunteer rehabilitation and beautification projects on Skinner Butte, including the Veteran's Memorial overioo and flag. Recent rehabilitation efforts have been guided by the Skinner Butte Park Mast r Plan, adopted this year following 18 months of research and extensive public involvement. he plan calls for restoration and long-term preservation of popular, historically significant views fro the summit of Skinner Butte. Originally, Skinner Butte was largely covered with open grasslands the offered views in almost every direction. Since settlers first arrived in Eugene over 150 years ago, h wever, large r trees have grown on the butte and are now beginning to block some of the fast remai ing views. Public input gathered showed that views from Skinner Butte are very important for th identity of the community, but that a balanced approach should be taken to restore and protect the .The plan outlines a unique, objective strategy for documenting views and setting clear guidelin s for restoratio while protecting forested areas. The plan also calls for the protection and restoration of native upland prairie h bitat, which once covered nearly all of Skinner Butte. Native prairie is now a highly endangered h bitat type in the Willamette Valley, with less than one percent of the original habitat remaining. O Sklnner Butte, most upland prairie has been lost to the encroachment of forest and invasive plants ties, like i Himalayan blackberry. Since the few, small areas of prairie habitat remaining on the utte are precisely the areas where views are still present, the objectives of view restoretion a d habitat restoration can be combined. For more information, call 682-4915 or go to www ci eugene.onus/PW/PARKS/SBP/sbomalan.htm to see the master plan.