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Pecleral Priorities 2007 Naturall2esources , <br />_._1, <br />~ ...~ <br />.completion by September 2007. It is unclear whether or not the terms of that. grant will permit. <br />~ an extension. More importantly, as time has passed the continued degradation of the entry 1 <br />.: point to the Mill Race has created serious concerns for two major employers who depend <br />upon the Mill Racer <br />• McKenzie Forest Products, a now thriving specialty wood products firm employing over <br />200 individuals at family wage jobs, depends upon the Mill Race for fire suppression. On <br />more than one occasion in the past two years the plant has come close to the point of <br />closure because of inadequacy of the water supply in the Mill Race. <br />i <br />• Morse Bros., who operates the Springfield Quarry, depends upon withdrawal of Mill Race <br />water to apply to outgoing loads for both compaction and dust .suppression. The ~ <br />Springfield Quarry, which they operate, is among the largest in the Northwest with over a <br />century supply. of aggregate for construction. Loss of Mill Race water, if if were to force <br />closure. of the quarry, would not only put at risk the quarry jobs but also the massive <br />{ construction projects that are underway throughout the Northwest. It is not simply local j <br />j projects that would be placed at risk. <br />?o avoid these potentially disastrous results to both 'the Springfield and the regional <br />economy, the City .continues to expend up to $40,000 annually on temporary pumping 1 <br />solutions. These temporary solutions are not viable over the long term.. Unless prompt <br />~ progress. is .made to implement the permanent solution represented by the Corps project, it <br />will only be a short time until there is no viable way to temporarily support Mill Race flow. , <br />~ Delta Ponds. Construction work began in October 2005 with the installation of a weir, and l <br />additional excavation and grading work, to improve water connection between the ponds and <br />the Willamette River. Construction continued in 2006, and major work on connecting culverts <br />under roadways is scheduled for 2007. -There have already been some exciting and <br />promising developments with the Winter 2006 appearance of several new species, including <br />young Chinook salmon. The City of Eugene seeks continued support to program Corps <br />~~ funds to continue restoration and construction in fiscal years 2007 and 2008. <br />The Corps Portland District has the capacity to construct gated culverts and.. other <br />.improvements for $1 million in fiscal year 2008. The City has programmed its. cost-share ` <br />.matching funds. , <br />r-__, <br />i <br />,. <br />~~ <br />1, <br />,, <br />,: <br />\. <br />,- <br />;_ <br />Delfa Ponds <br />~. <br />41 ~; <br />~, <br />__ _ _ _ <br />