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Fec~era~ Priorities 2007 Natura~ Resources <br />Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan <br />Waterways Study <br />This study is a model for cooperative urban waterways restoration and enhancement. It <br />views multiple water resources values in a meaningful partnership among local, state, and <br />federal agencies. <br />Requests <br />The Cities of Eugene and Springfield and Lane County request $500,000 for the U.S. Army <br />Corps of Engineers' share of the continuing General Investigation Study for federal fiscal <br />year 2008. This project is known as the "Amazon Creek, Oregon, General Investigation <br />Feasibility Study." This amount will be matched by the above-sponsoring agencies and the <br />Eugene Water & Electric Board for the local 50 percent share. Local matching funds and in- <br />kind services have been secured and currently exceed the pace of Corps contributions. <br />This request for continued Corps funding was supported in 2003 by the signing of a feasibility <br />cost-share agreement (FCSA) by all three local sponsors with the Corps of Engineers. The <br />first phase of this multi-year study is examining restoration potential along Amazon and <br />Cedar Creeks. The first phase also includes improved floodplain mapping along Cedar <br />Creek and the McKenzie River. Other waterways may be identified for future projects later in <br />the study (refer to study area map), as outlined in the Corps' "Eugene-Springfield, Oregon, <br />Metropolitan Waterways Project, Section 905(b) Analysis," October 2002. <br />The policy and technical cooperative study teams have been formed and meet regularly. <br />The work program has been adopted. Successful citizen workshops were conducted in 2005 <br />and 2006. A newsletter was distributed to households in the metropolitan region and a <br />citizen survey was compiled in 2005. A website was constructed and is accessible to <br />interested citizens (www.metrowaterways.org). The Draft 2006 "Without-project Conditions <br />Report" has been completed. Alternative project concepts have been developed for both <br />Amazon and Cedar Creeks. Work is scheduled to begin in 2007 on the Cedar <br />Creek/McKenzie River floodplain study. Also scheduled in 2007 is Corps evaluation of <br />project costs and incremental cost analysis of the alternatives. Following completion of this <br />step, the Corps will begin its environmental analysis in FY 2008. Also in 2008, we anticipate <br />that Phase II will begin with focus on the Willamette River from the Coast Fork/Middle Fork <br />confluence to Green Island, the historic confluence of the Willamette and McKenzie Rivers. <br />This civil works project can be viewed as an urban watershed capital improvement program; <br />it will facilitate local governments with preservation of the unique, multiple-value <br />characteristics of local water resources for future generations. Identification and <br />implementation of a long-range series of projects for the restoration and improvement of local <br />rivers, streams, wetlands, and other water features is the anticipated product of this Corps <br />project. The expected outcome from this study is a comprehensive list of capital <br />improvements, which will be funded over a 10- to 20-year period. <br />47 <br />