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PART 1: BACKGROUND . <br /> I. Project Title: East Alton Baker Park Habitat Restoration Plan ~ <br /> 2. Applicant: City of Eugene, Parks and Open Space Division ' " <br /> 1820 Roosevelt Blvd. . <br /> Eugene, OR 97402 ~ ~ ' <br /> aker Park Citizen Planning Committee <br /> Co A licant: East Alton B b <br /> PP <br /> 3. Contact: Carolyn J. Weiss, Park Planner, (PI-~ 541-682-4914, (FAX) 541-682-4882 <br /> Carolyn.i.weiss~n,ci.euaene.or.us <br /> 4. Fiscal Agent: Carolyn J. Weiss (see above) <br /> S. Funding Request: $70,950. Projected total project costs $133.240. /W~~T~-~'= ~'Z~Z~~ <br /> PART 2: PROJECT NARRATIVE <br /> 1. Project need: East Alton Baker Park (EABP) encompasses the eastern portion of Alton Baker Park, <br /> Eugene's largest metropolitan park. Comprised of approximately 237 acres along the Willamette River, the <br /> park is dedicated to passive recreation and habitat preservation. Eugene and Springfield residents cherish this <br /> <br /> ' urge open space area in the hurt of the City, providing individuals with ready access to hiking, biking,fishing, <br /> wildlife viewing and nature study. The area is also a heavily used bicycle recreation and commuter route <br /> between Eugene and Springfield. <br /> finis project focuses on restoring grid enhancing the vast and severely degraded prairie habitat and the adjacent <br /> and nearly absent riparian forest areas of the park. These ecotypes represent the two dominant terrestrial habitat <br /> types found in EABP, however, historic land uses at this~location, including agriculture, gravel mining,. and <br /> especially solid waste disposal, have resulted in a severely altered and damaged landscape. <br /> " <br /> The upland areas of the park are largely dominated by exotic grasses interspersed with dense stands of <br /> Armenian blackberry and other exotic species. The upland prairie area is substantial in size and could easily <br /> support a wide variety of prairie species. However, the current lack of diverse native shelter and food sources <br /> _ limits the value of the prairie. Furthermore, protected grasslands of this size are becoming increasingly <br /> uncommon in the Willamette Valley. Conservative estimates.suQgest that over 99°/d ofthe prairies and white <br /> oak savannas of the Willamette Valley have been lost, and (hose that rerl~ain are predominately in private <br /> ownership. Many prairie dependent species, including ground nesting birds, have become increasingly <br /> uncommon. This project offers a unique opportunity to enhance a substantial prairie area.iri public ownership <br /> with benefits to multiple pia.irie dependent wildlife species. <br /> s One of the largest hurdles to upland prairie habitat restoration has been the limited availability of plant material. <br /> While wetland and riparian plant material has become increasingly available {due in part to mitigation <br /> requirements associated with the Clean Water Act), "sources of upland prairie species are almost non-existent. <br /> This project will. involve collection of seed from locally found native prairie species performed in tandem with a <br /> grow-out program geared toward bulking out these small quantities of seed. Increasing the availability of these <br /> species will be critical to support the large scale prairie restoration planned under this project, as well as other <br /> upland restoration projects in the region. - ' <br /> ----Alang_the_riv~rfront, most of the riparian~forest_has been removed through historic land-use practices.. The _ _ _ <br /> existing width of riparian vegetation ranges from 0 to 30 feet along this 0.7 mile reach of the Willamette River. <br /> The majority of the "riparian area is dominated bynon-native invasive species including Armenian blackberry, <br /> ..Scotch broom, English ivy, and field grasses: This reach of the Willamette provides important habitat for a <br /> declining population of endangered Spring Chinook Salmon. Adult salmon pass this park on their way to " <br /> spawning grounds upstream. Perhaps more importantly, juvenile salmon seek food and shelter for~much of their <br /> freshwater life in rearing areas along this reach. Upstream, downstream and immediately across from this site <br /> o ion ~ Page I <br /> ODFW Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Program Applicat <br /> City of Eugene, East Alton Baker Park Habitat Restoration Plan September 7, 2001 <br /> <br /> ''i P~ <br /> <br />