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C,KAPT.~.K I{ U UIZ <br /> DEVELOPMENT AND MITIGATION <br /> IN`T'RODUC`T'ION <br /> <br /> This element of the Plan acknowledges conditions where the communicy's need for economic develop- <br /> mentoutweighs the benefits to protect certain wetland sites by making them available for development <br /> according to the mitigation provisions of this Plan. The Plan views the mitigation process as an <br /> opportunity to restore and enhance wetland functions and values of the Amazon Creek basin, while <br /> allowing limited development on isolated, lower quality. wetlands and meeting the requirements of state <br /> and federal wetland law. <br /> The288 wetland acres proposed for development were determined through a process that evaluated each <br /> wetland against a set of criteria which had the effect of identifying those wetlands that are isolated, low <br /> quality and of limited functional value. The criteria used in evaluating sites for possible development <br /> are contained in Appendix B. - <br /> In addition to evaluation by local experts, resource agencies and community members, tl~e relative <br /> quality of the west Eugene wetlands was determined by the Wetland Evaluation "technique (WET) <br /> program, designed by Paul Adamus of the Environmental Protection' Agency. The results of this. <br /> evaluation are contained in the Technical Report. <br /> n ro oses to use the miti ation rocess to achieve compliance with federal and state wetland • <br /> The Pla p p g P <br /> law, and to provide a vision and program for incorporating all of the elements of this plan with other . <br /> related community objectives (flood control, water quality and wildlife habitat enhancement, recreation <br /> and education programs) so that a broader goal is achieved -the restoration of the Amazon Creek basin <br /> into a community asset. <br /> The basic concepts of the mitigation program are: <br /> • Avoid and minimize impact to all wetland sites that meet the protection criteria contained in <br /> Appendix B. <br /> • Where impact is unavoidable, compensate for losses commensurate with the level of impact <br /> giving. priority to establishing the basic physical wetland parameters (water, topography, <br /> connectedness) that eventually results in full .functioning and diverse wetland habitats. <br /> Establish a management entity that will monitor, maintain'and enforce.the requirements of ~ftie <br /> mitigation program. <br /> • Where full functioning wetlands are to be impacted, in-kind replacement of significant functions <br /> and values will be required. The overall mitigation program, however, will be guided by the <br /> ecological characteristics ofthe regional landscape and not necessarily by specific case-by-case <br /> impacts. For disturbed agricultural wetlands, mitigation requirements will be determined using <br /> historic wetland types presumed to have existed prior to disturbance and the desired mix by the <br /> public. [ncentives will be provided to mitigate in advance of impact in the form of replacement <br /> ratios which arc less than the ratios for compensating at the time of impact. <br /> Page 1 -Appendix Q <br /> MOA For Wcst Eagcnc Wetlands Mitigation Wanking Program <br /> <br />