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• Because I love the ducks and it's their home <br /> • Kids play in it (concern for their health -it's great that they can play in it). I see foam in it -possibly from <br /> detergent or other pollutant <br /> • Healthy waterways are very important to all life <br /> • We are all only as healthy as our water and our air <br /> • The water is not clean -but we don't drink it or swim in it so we don't have much contact with it <br /> • I just think that it is important for the environment <br /> • Animal habitat and human health <br /> • Quality of life for myself, other people in community, and ecosystem and creatures that use Amazon Creek <br /> • Because healthy waterways are part of a healthy ecosystem <br /> • Riparian areas are the most important ecological areas for a wide variety of species <br /> • I enjoy a good waterway <br /> • "Circle of Life" <br /> • The Amazon is highly degraded; I want to see it restored and the water quality improve <br /> • Aesthetics, city design quality, design with nature, learn from nature, flood control <br /> • Over the years I've noticed a decrease in wildlife: fewer ducks, nutria, birds, raccoons I used to enjoy <br /> watching them, but they are disappearing! O <br /> • The health of the waterways affects animals and humans <br /> • I am concerned that the ecosystems of the waterways are at high risk. Indicators of Water Quality: Fresh, <br /> clean appearance. Diverse, thriving plant and animal life. Lack of measured pollutants. Efforts to Improve EQ: <br /> Too little Obstacles to Restoration: Lack of political will to make environmental restoration a higher priority <br /> • They're the lifeblood of the local ecosystem. Indicators of Water turbidity. Efforts to Improve EQ About right <br /> Obstacles to Restoration <br /> • I am concerned about sustainable land use and restoring what we can to a naturally functioning state. <br /> Indicators of Water Quality: native vegetation insect life. wildlife use; vitality of a natural waterway; Efforts to <br /> Improve EQ: Too little Obstacles to Restoration: people are uninformed, not interested, not willing to admit the <br /> huge role they play in overall WQ through their own daily actions; We are .not separate from the natural world ' <br /> but we choose to live like we are <br /> • a healthy environment is pleasing and allows me to have a more active lifestyle without going out of town <br /> • Quality of waterways and natural areas are a good indicator of the quality of life in our community. Indicators <br /> of Water Quality: The health of the flora and fauna which live in and around the body of water. The diversity <br /> of life supported by the flow <br /> • It concerns me because of the ongoing degradation that I observe and the continued discharge of pollutants <br /> including sediment to Amazon Creek <br /> • The quality of the waterways is a metric of our health well being and a reflection of the footprint of our society; <br /> Indicators of Water Quality: temperature, low turbidity, presence of native fish and wildlife, prominent native <br /> vegetation, stable slopes and stream banks, connectivity with adjacent wetlands, channel complexity Efforts <br /> to Improve EQ: Too little Obstacles to Restoration: more effort to grow local small business in conjunction with <br /> promotion of landscape stewardship and sustainability <br /> • They are part of the water cleansing and purification system and provide habitat for young fish, invertebrates <br /> and other birds and wildlife Indicators of Water Quality: Purity, stream movement, fish and other wildlife are <br /> living in and around the body of water <br /> • It concerns me because of the ongoing degradation that I observe and the continued discharge of pollutants <br /> including sediment to Amazon Creek <br /> • Organizational Issues: Mid and upper-level city managers do not provide support for the goals of the <br /> stormwater program related to water quality, riparian areas, and habitat; Indeed, I don't believe that many <br /> of them even believe in the concept; This is not so much a criticism as much as relates to the fact that their <br /> backgrounds and rolls are more traditionally related to city services; This split has led to frustration at the <br /> operational level in the stormwater program. The "city" often seems to believe that it is too far on the cutting <br /> edge of the stormwater issue. This is reinforced by the business community, and the continued media <br /> coverage of the fact that Eugene is not open for business; In fact, many cities have surpassed us long ago in <br /> protecting riparian habitat and water quality; I do support regulation, but do not believe that it is viable in the <br /> current political climate <br /> • With the onset of the budget problems besetting all public entities, the city stormwater budget has been seen <br /> as a way to provide funding for programs if any relation to stormwater can be made <br /> • There is a major disconnect between city departments when implementing the stormwater program. A <br /> good example is the recent construction at Kinney Park on upper Amazon. The city stormwater program <br /> <br /> 14 Metro Waterways Study -Citizen Involvement Summary Report -March 2005 <br /> <br />