This summer, Hart-Crowser, an environmental engineering firm from Lake Oswego, released its first annual monitoring report on the wetland mitigation site in west Eugene. Some techniques applied in the first phase of mitigation proved to be very successful for re-establishing the wet prairie plants. Earlier in the year, this 40 acre site was purchased from Spectra-Physics by the City of Eugene, although Spectra-Physics is responsible for fulfilling the wetland mitigation and monitoring in accordance with its U.S. Army Corps and Oregon Division of State Lands wetland permit conditions. In May, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Waterways Experiment Station in Vicksburg, Mississippi, selected west Eugene and the Spectra-Physics mitigation site as one of a small number of national demonstration models for studying the scientific approaches and economics of restoration of the wet prairie type wetlands. Fishman Environmental Services, a wetland consulting firm from Portland, along with two other scientists, is expected to receive a grant from the Corps to conduct studies under the Corps' national wetland restoration study program.

This winter and early spring, at the request of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, studies of wintering water birds, reptiles, and amphibians were conducted in west Eugene. These studies were conducted for the City and the Lane Council of Governments by Fishman and Associates and its subcontractor, John Applegarth, consulting biologist. The study indicated habitats used by selected species of water birds and what habitats they prefer. It also indicated where populations of reptiles (lizards, snakes, and turtles) and amphibians (frogs and salamanders) live and what habitats they prefer. Copies of this study can be reviewed at L-COG and Eugene Planning and Public Works Engineering Offices.

In 1989, four federal agencies, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Corps of Engineers (Corps), Fish and Wildlife Service (USF&WS) and Soil Conservation Service (SCS) adopted a Wetland Manual which established field methods and criteria for determining whether an area is a wetland and how the boundaries of a wetland are established. For the first time, all four agencies agreed to a uniform Manual. The Oregon Division of State Lands also agreed to use this Manual.

There was an immediate negative public response to the 1989 Manual from certain interest groups, including some states and municipalities, farmers, the petroleum industry, and developers. Among the controversies were: how "wet"does the soil have to be before it is a wetland?, and when is a farmed area still considered a wetland in the absence of wetland plants? These farmed areas are known as "disturbed agricultural wetlands".

Following hearings around the nation in 1990, the White House proposed changes to the Manual and released them for public comment in August. In the meantime, Congress passed legislation forbidding the Corps from using the 1989 Manual (resulting in the Corps' use of a 1987 Manual). Oregon Division of State Lands has decided to continue to use the 1989 Manual. The 60 day comment period on the draft 1989 Manual changes was to end October 15, but has been extended another 60 days for further comment. Reasons given for the extension include, the number of comments received to date, the fact that the four agencies have not concluded field testing of the proposed Manual, and because the National Academy of Sciences has asked the President to allow it to conduct independent review of the Manual.

In short, chaos reigns for those making wetland decisions, including agencies, consultants, local governments, developers, and property owners. It is not anticipated that the issue will be resolved for a number of months. Local staffs recommend that the West Eugene Wetlands Plan recognize that inventories and the Plan may require review and revision once the state and federal governrnents again agree on a common approach to wetlands definitions and criteria. The consequences during this interim period are that the disturbed agricultural wetlands are still included in the West Eugene Wetlands Plan under the 1989 Manual criteria.

On August 20th, Mayor Jeff Miller and County Commission Chair, Jack Roberts, along with other local officials and interest group representatives welcomed Rep. Peter DeFazio on a tour of West Eugene's wetlands. Joining Rep. DeFazio was Sean Halloren of Senator Hatfield's staff and two of Congressman DeFazio's staff members, Bob Hennessey and Bob Warren. The Congressman enjoyed his visit and stated his continued support for the City of Eugene's wetland efforts. He indicated support for a community driven solution that protects significant wetlands and allows sound economic development to proceed without harm ing the environment. He lauded the model approach taken with strong citizen involvement which should result in a "win-win" situation for the community.

The Willow Creek Natural Area, located on the south side of West 18th Avenue between Bertelsen and Willow Creek Roads, supports an important remnant of undeveloped Willamette Valley habitat. The natural area's wet prairie, upland prairie, ash woodlands, and riparian wetlands support an unusual variety of wildlife and plants, especially for an area located within Eugene's city limits. Willow Creek provides habitats for 6 species of rare plants, including the federally listed Bradshaws lomatium, as well as a rare species of butterfly.

The Nature Conservancy has been working to protect Willow Creek for over a decade, and has been managing the critical wetland habitats since 1982 under lease agreements with private land owners. Recently, The Nature Conservancy has proceeded to purchase these properties as they come on the market. The Nature Conservancy has submitted a proposal to fund these acquisitions through the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) under its wildlife mitigation program. This program, established under the Northwest Power Planning Act, mitigates for wildlife habitat lost as a result of hydroelectric power development on the Columbia River and its tributaries. The funds from BPA will pay for acquisition, management, and restoration of about 300 acres of habitat in the Willow Creek area. The Nature Conservancy's proposal ranked very high in the BPA's project review process and will likely be approved for funding later this fall. Though separate from the actions necessary to implement the West Eugene Wetlands Special Area Study, these efforts are complementary with other ongoing efforts in west Eugene.

A major factor in BPA's ranking process to date was the draft West Eugene Wetlands Plan, the support from the City of Eugene and the Oregon Department of Wildlife for the Conservancy's proposal, and the partnerships which are forming to implement the West Eugene Wetlands Plan and other planning efforts in west Eugene.