Report15
November,
1989
PUBLIC PREFERENCE SURVEY: WEST EUGENE
WETLANDS SPECIAL AREA STUDY
PURPOSE: The
results of this survey will be used to assist in the
evaluation and assessment of existing wetlands in West
Eugene, and to develop an overall plan to protect, enhance
and, if necessary, create wetlands. Please complete the
following questionnaire and return to: Lane Council of
Governments, 125 East 8th Avenue, Eugene, Or, 97401, by
December 1, 1989. With any questions, please contact Tim
Bingham, 687-4283.
1.
WHAT IS
YOUR BASIC INTEREST IN THE WEST EUGENE WETLANDS
STUDY? (Please select only one option):
_____ a)
Property Owner in West Eugene Wetlands Study Area Representative of a Special Interest Group:
_____ b)
Development Community
_____ c)
Environmental Community
_____ d)
Other, please specify:
_____ e)
Concerned Citizen
_____ f)
Public Official
_____ g)
Other, please specify:
2.
HAVE YOU
PERSONALLY VISITED ANY OF THE WETLAND SITES IN WEST
EUGENE? Please select only one.
_____ a)
Yes. I have visited the following sites:
_____ b)
No, but I have visited wetlands in other areas.
_____ c)
No, I have never visited a wetland, anywhere.
3.
THE
TYPE(s) OF WETLANDS I PREFER TO VISIT ARE: (use the
following scale to rank in order of preference: 1 =
Most Prefer; 4 = Least Prefer. Please provide a
response for all selections, except "Other" is
optional):
_____ a)
Marsh with year-round water, cattails, lillies, sedges.
_____ b)
Forested wetland with ash, willow and cottonwood trees.
_____ c)
Native Willamette Prairie Grassland.
_____ d)
Other - please specify:
4.
WHILE
VISITING WETLAND SITES, THE ACTIVITIES I LIKE TO DO
ARE (Please rank all selections according to
preference: 1 = Most, 9 = least):
_____ a)
Walking, enjoying scenery
_____ b)
Fishing
_____ c)
Teaching students, scouts, others
_____ d)
Boating
_____ e)
Wildlife, bird, nature observation
_____ f)
Hunting
_____ g)
Collecting berries, flowers
_____ h)
Evaluating land for development potential
_____ I)
Other, please specify: ___________________________
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5. |
SOME WETLANDS CAN PROVIDE CERTAIN BENEFITS. PLEASE INDICATE THE LEVEL OF IMPORTANCE OF EACH OF THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS THAT ARE OCCURRING IN WEST EUGENE. (Please rank order all selections: 1 = most important, 12 least important): |
_____ a)
Habitat for Waterfowl, Birds, Other Wildlife.
_____ b)
Habitat for Rare & Endangered Plant Species
_____ c)
Flood Control - Protecting Downstream Properties from Flooding
_____ d)
Water Quality Improvement
_____ e)
Ground Water Recharge
_____ f)
Education & Research
Recreation:
_____ g)
Bird Watching _____ h) Plant Identification
_____ i)
Hunting _____ j) Nature Study _____ k) Fishing
_____ l)
Open Space/Aesthetic
6.
THE
FOLLOWING ARE DESCRIPTIONS OF HYPOTHETICAL WETLANDS
IN WEST EUGENE. DECISIONS WILL BE MADE AS TO THE
PRIORITY FOR THEIR PROTECTION. (Please rank order
each of the following selections according to your
preference for protection priority: 1 = High
Priority, 7 = No Protection):
_____ 1)
Wetland #1: this is one of the best wetlands in West Eugene for maintaining and improving water quality.
_____ 2)
Wetland #2: this is one of the best wetlands in West Eugene for replenishing local ground water.
_____ 3)
Wetland #3: this is one of the best wetlands in West Eugene for protecting downstream areas from flooding.
_____ 4)
Wetland #4: this is one of the best wetlands in West Eugene for seeing birds and other wildlife.
_____ 5)
Wetland #5: this is one of the best wetlands in West Eugene for walking and enjoying the scenery and open space.
_____ 6)
Wetland #6: this is one of the best wetlands in West Eugene for observing and finding rare plants.
_____ 7)
Wetland #7: this is one of the best wetlands in West Eugene for hunting/fishing.
7.
WHICH
STATEMENT DO YOU THINK BEST CHARACTERIZES WEST
EUGENE'S REMAINING
WETLANDS, OVERALL (Select
only one):
_____ a)
Mostly undisturbed by humans and functioning naturally.
_____ b)
Somewhat disturbed by humans, but still supports several natural functions to a high degree.
_____ c)
Somewhat disturbed by humans, and support few natural functions to a high degree.
_____ d)
Severely disturbed, and support few functions.
NOTE: The
following questions relate to the concept of wetland
"mitigation", which is a federal and
state regulatory process that evaluates the impact of a
development proposal on a wetland site and determines under
what conditions, if any, the development can occur. This
process includes regulatory policies that guide decisions on
how mitigation may occur. Some of the following questions
relate to these policies. While it is not the intent of this
survey to change policy, the response to these questions may
be useful in preparing an overall mitigation plan.
|
8. |
DO YOU FAVOR A PROGRAM THAT WOULD ALLOW SOME WETLANDS TO BE DEVELOPED PROVIDED THE LOST WETLANDS ARE REPLACED ACCORDING TO AN OVERALL PLAN (WETLAND MITIGATION)? Please select only one option. |
_____ a)
Yes, but only when: 1) there are no other options, (2) the replacements are likely to be self-sustaining over the long term, (3) the functions (benefits) of the replacements are the same or better than the lost wetlands, and (4) mitigations is in the best interest of the public.
_____ b)
Yes, mitigation is an opportunity to enhance and create a better wetlands system.
_____ c)
Yes, mitigation is important to facilitate economic development.
_____ d)
No, natural wetlands should not be developed under any circumstance.
_____ e)
Other, please specify: ___________________________
9.
IF SOME
OF THE WETLANDS ARE TO BE DEVELOPED IN EXCHANGE FOR
MITIGATION, WHAT TYPE(s) OF
MITIGATION WOULD YOU PREFER?
(Please rank order according to the following
scale: 1 = 1st Choice, 2 = 2nd Choice, 3 = 3rd
Choice):
_____ a)
Enhance existing wetlands to improve their benefits.
_____ b)
Restore "historic" wetlands in agricultural areas, e.g., allowing them to be seasonally flooded again.
_____ c)
Construct new wetlands.
10.
IF A
WETLAND MITIGATION PROGRAM WERE ESTABLISHED, ON
WHICH FUNCTIONS AND
VALUES SHOULD THE
PROGRAM CONCENTRATE? (Please rank order each of the
following selections according to preference: 1 =
1st Choice, 12 = last Choice):
_____ a)
Whatever functions are being lost in the altered wetlands.
Replacing or enhancing the following functions:
_____ b)
Habitat for Waterfowl, Birds, Other Wildlife
_____ c)
Habitat for Rare & Endangered Plant Species
_____ d)
Protection of Downstream Properties from Flooding
_____ e)
Water Quality Improvement
_____ f)
Ground Water Recharge
_____ g)
Education & Research
Recreation:
_____ h) Bird Watching _____ i) Plant Identification
_____ j) Hunting _____ k) Nature Study _____ 1) Fishing
_____ m)
Open Space/Aesthetic
_____ n)
Whatever is decided upon by the property owner and the regulatory agencies at the time mitigation is required.
|
11. |
IF A PROGRAM WERE ESTABLISHED THAT ALLOWED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW WETLANDS, WHERE SHOULD THE WETLANDS BE LOCATED? (Please rank order each of the following selections according to preference: 1 = most preferred, 5 = least preferred): |
_____ a)
Construct new wetlands as geographically close as possible to the wetland being altered.
_____ b)
Construct new wetlands wherever wetland benefits to society can best be maintained or enhanced.
_____ c)
Construct new wetlands wherever the new wetland is most likely to resemble the wetland that was lost.
_____ d)
Construct new wetlands so they are connected to the existing wetlands and waterways (e.g., Amazon Canal, Willow Creek, Fern Ridge, and the A-3 Drain).
_____ e)
Other, please specify: ___________________________
12.
IF A
PROGRAM WERE ESTABLISHED THAT ALLOWED FOR THE
CONSTRUCTION OF NEW WETLANDS, WHAT TYPE OF WETLANDS
SHOULD BE CONSTRUCTED? (Please rank order the
following selections according to preference: 1 =
most preferred, 4 least preferred)
:
_____ a)
Construct new wetlands so they become marshes (cattails, lillies, sedges)
_____ b)
Construct new wetlands so they become forested (ash, willow, cottonwood trees).
_____ c)
Construct new wetlands so the become native Willamette Prairie Grassland.
_____ d)
Other, please specify: __________________________
13.
IF A
MITIGATION PROGRAM WERE ESTABLISHED, WHICH OF THE
FOLLOWING POLICIES WOULD YOU FAVOR?
(Please rank order each of the following selections
according to preference: 1 = most preferred, 2 =
preferred, 3 = least preferred):
____ _a)
Each time an existing wetland is lost, another wetland of at least the same size and function is constructed or restored.
_____ b)
A mitigation "bank" is established that saves up mitigation requirements so that a large wetland system can be created with a size equal to the sum of the lost wetlands.
_____ c)
A mitigation "store" is established whereby a wetland system is created in advance of wetland loss, and any new mitigation requirement must "buy" mitigation credit from the store.
14.
One idea
for an overall mitigation plan is to create a
multiple purpose -
natural resource corridor along one of the
major waterways in West Eugene. Multiple uses could
include: flood control facilities; wildlife
habitat; recreation: bike trail-nature study;
education/research; and water quality enhancement,
or other combination of uses. IF A
MITIGATION PROGRAM WERE ESTABLISHED, WOULD YOU
FAVOR A PLAN TO DEVELOP A MULTIPLE PURPOSE/NATURAL
RESOURCE CORRIDOR? Please select only one.
_____ a)
Yes, if access and use were limited to avoid disrupting wildlife and preserve other ecological functions.
_____ b)
Yes, if access and public use were allowed without restriction
_____ c)
No, mitigation should only concentrate on replacing the functions and values lost as a result of development.
15.
IF A
MITIGATION PROGRAM WERE ESTABLISHED,
WHO SHOULD MANAGE
IT? (indicate
preference by checking only one):
_____ a)
Public Agency, such as City of Eugene, Lane County, state & federal government
_____ b)
Private Entity
_____ c)
Private - Nonprofit Agency
_____ d)
Public - Private Partnership
_____ e)
Other, please specify: ___________________________
16.
IF
WETLANDS WERE NOT REGULATED BY THE FEDERAL AND
STATE GOVERNMENT, WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING WOULD
BEST REPRESENT
YOUR POSITION ON HOW WETLANDS SHOULD BE USED?
(indicate
preference by checking only one option that best
represents your position.):
_____ a)
All wetlands are valuable, natural resources that are at risk of being eliminated. Every effort should be made to protect and preserve the wetlands, regardless of cost.
_____ b)
Some wetlands are valuable and should be preserved and protected; other wetlands are less valuable and should be allowed to be developed for their highest and best use, provided they are replaced according to an overall mitigation plan.
_____ c)
Some wetlands are valuable and should be preserved and protected; other wetlands are less valuable and should be allowed to be developed for their highest and best use, without compensation (mitigation).
_____ d)
While wetlands are important, economic development and growth are also important. Preservation of wetlands should be the decision of the property owner; otherwise every effort should be made to maximize the economic development potential of the land, even if it means eliminating all of the wetlands.
17.
THERE ARE
COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH WETLAND PROTECTION AND
PRESERVATION, SUCH AS RESOURCE ACQUISITION,
MONITORING, MAINTENANCE AND ENFORCEMENT.
WHO SHOULD BEAR
THE COST OF PRESERVATION? (indicate
preference by selecting one of the following
options):
_____ a)
Affected property owner
_____ b)
Public, such as City, County, State & Federal Governments
_____ c)
Both a) & b)
_____ d)
Other, please specify: ___________________________
18.
DO YOU
HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, CONCERNS OR
IDEAS? Please
specify:
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Additional copies of this survey are available at:
Lane Council of Governments, 125 East 8th Ave, Eugene
Eugene Permit and Information Center, 244 E. Broadway, Eugene
** Surveys must be returned to Lane Council of Governments by December 1, 1989, 5:00 p.m.
THANK YOU!
