The public is encouraged to review and comment on the recommendations. A survey/questionnaire will be available at the workshop and at L-COG offices that asks the public to respond to each component of the preliminary staff recommendations. Please take time to complete and return the questionnaire by June 15, 1990, 5:00 p.m., Lane Council of Governments, 125 East 8th Avenue, Eugene, OR, 97401.

Results of the public's response to the recommendations will be compiled, evaluated and made available for review. Results will be used to prepare a staff recommendation for inclusion into the Draft WEWSAS, due to be released in late summer, 1990.

The preliminary staff recommendations both describe and quantify the effects of the recommendations. The Concept Statement and the list of Goals and Objectives provide an overall perspective of the type of wetland system proposed. The statement responds to the public's preference to provide economic development opportunities in lower value wetlands where public infrastructure exists or can be readily extended. It also incorporates the public's desire for enhancing and maintaining a sustainable, connected wetland system that supports a variety of wetland types, a diversity of wildlife and plant species, provides increased flood storage, and opportunities for educational and recreational activities.

The recommendations for individual wetland sites results in the following acreages for protection and development:

PROTECT (acres)				DEVELOP (acres)
WETLAND TYPEO	In UGB	Out UGB	Total	In UGB	Out UGB	Total
Ash Forest	163.6	6.0	169.6	10.0	0.0	v10.0
Scrub-Shrub	250.8	5.5	250.8	63.6	0.0	63.6
Wet Prairie	140.0	0.0	140.0	78.7	0.0	78.7
Open Water	5.0	0.0	5.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Cattail	1.7	0.2	1.9	0.0	0.0	0.0
Agr/Disturbed	298.5	193.0	491.5	114.4	99.9	214.3
TOTAL	859.6	204.7	1,063.8	266.7	99.9	366.6

The preliminary staff recommendations were developed using the following process:

The best available information was collected regarding the location, quantity and quality of existing wetland resources. The SRI report for the WEWSAS and the 1988 Lev report, Preliminary Inventory of Eugene & Springfield Wetland, Riparian & Upland Areas for Wildlife Habitat Value , provides this information.

The content of the report was reviewed for completeness and accuracy by the WEWSAS Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), City of Eugene and L-COG staffs and the general public. Where appropriate adjustments to the report were made.

The legislative requirements of federal and state wetland law were identified and used as the basic framework for analysis.

The basic framework of federal and state law was supplemented with local input. During a series of four public workshops, local input for wetland goals, objectives, criteria for evaluating individual wetland sites and management scenarios was collected utilizing a variety of techniques including bean jar surveys, questionnaire/surveys, group discussions and written comments.

Other known and anticipated constraints were identified and included in the analysis, such as the need to provide adequate amounts of urban industrial and commercial land for future growth and the new storm water quality discharge standards required through the federal clean water act.

Through a series of interagency team meetings, the results of the input from the public and the TAC were evaluated and a package of preliminary staff recommendations was developed consisting of a concept plan, list of goals and objectives, criteria and recommendations for development and protection of individual wetland sites.

Future process includes the review and comment of the preliminary staff recommendations by the general public and the TAC. Comments will be reviewed and adjustments made and contained in the Draft WEWSAS due to be released in late summer 1990.

A. CONCEPT STATEMENT.
This statement is intended to help gain a sense of the vision which underlies the recommendations presented below. To facilitate that vision, imagine living in the year 2010 - twenty years in the future! From that perspective, reflect upon what has come to pass in west Eugene as a consequence of decisions made in 1990 about protecting wetlands while providing for the development needs of the community.

West Eugene Wetlands - Reflection

The City of Eugene recently celebrated the 20 year anniversary of the adoption of the West Eugene Wetlands Plan. Since its adoption, most of the Plan's recommendations have been completed resulting in a national award for Community Development where wetland resources have played a major role in improving the area's natural resources, economic diversity and meeting some of its utility needs.

West Eugene waterways are once again connected by a functioning and sustainable system of protected, enhanced, and restored wetlands. Ash and cottonwood forests, prairie grasslands, and shallow ponds provide a diversity of wetland types. Natural functions, such as flood control, water purification, rare plant and fish and wildlife habitats have been restored and are now important components of the community's urban form. Inside the city, people can watch beaver, red fox, ring-necked pheasants, and great blue herons. At the wetlands interpretive center, children delight in finding tadpoles, frogs, dragonflies, and turtles. Residents and visitors enjoy the wetlands as they fish, bicycle, canoe, and study nature along a system of paths, trails and viewpoints. The Amazon Bike Path is complete, providing a connection from Downtown through the wetlands to Fern Ridge Reservoir.

Economic development has moved forward in west Eugene. A new trend was established where new development incorporates wetlands as both an amenity and utility. New business parks use natural and enhanced wetlands as an integrated system of open space, water quality treatment and flood protection. Employees enjoy the wetlands and the natural settings project a positive image for customers. The West Eugene Wetlands Interpretive Center is now a major tourist attraction for visitors traveling to this region. Educational benefits have been great! The new middle school purposefully located next to Willow Creek Natural Area and has incorporated wetland ecology as a major component of its curriculum. And, both of Oregon's major Universities have graduate level studies of national renown taking place in the region's wetlands.

In her remarks accepting the award, the mayor noted that the community should take pride in the accomplishments of the last twenty years. Eugene has protected the liveability of the area with the cooperation of political and business leaders, environmental groups, property owners, and an involved citizenry. She also indicated that the treatment of wetlands in west Eugene was proving to have a very positive effect on the local economy in terms of business attitude and community image. Special recognition was given to the non-profit group, "Friends of the Amazon", whose volunteer efforts helped make the west Eugene Wetlands Plan another success story for Oregon.


 

B. Recommended GOALS and OBJECTIVES.
These are draft goal and objective statements based mostly on comments received from citizen workshop numbers 1-4. Goals and Objectives provide the basic direction that the plan is intended to pursue. They will be used to help formulate public policy from which future decisions are based regarding wetland related issues.

Environmental and Social

- Provide a system of wetlands which meet multiple community environmental and human values

- Protect existing functions and values of higher quality wetlands

- Protect rare, endangered and threatened plants and animals and their habitats

- Preserve the natural and human waterway systems contributing to the wetland resource

- Promote an interconnected system of wetlands linked to the waterways

- Encourage wetlands recreation, education, and research

- Protect and restore a variety of wetland types to achieve diversity

- Promote the restoration and enhancement of disturbed wetlands

- Allow lower value wetlands to be developed according to a wetland management plan

- Promote sustainable, ecological wetland units

- Improve water quality levels through use of wetland resources

- Increase flood protection capacity

Development

- Identify wetland areas that are to be developed

- Streamline and shorten the wetland permitting process

- Increase certainty in the development process

- Pool federal, state, local and private resources to fund the protected and restored wetland systems

- Create wetlands in advance of mitigation need in a wetland bank or store

- Restore historic wetland types and types identified as desirable by the community for meeting local needs

- Buffer wetlands from surrounding incompatible uses

b

- Develop a wetland management plan which sets a national precedent in meeting federal and state requirements.

- Develop a wetland management plan which meets community desires

C. Recommended CRITERIA:

Recommendations for protection or development of individual wetland sites were based on the following criteria. Most of the criteria were developed using the survey results of Workshop No. 4 and the comments from the TAC.

PROTECT:

> Rare Plants

> Existing Metro Plan Natural Resource Designation

> Within 100 Year Floodway

> Proximity to Waterway

> Interconnected units of wetlands and waterways

> High habitat diversity

> Furthered attainment of Goals and Objectives

DEVELOP:

> Approved permit from regulatory agency

> Isolated, disconnected from system

> Presence of public infrastructure (streets and roads, sanitary sewers, water)

> Proximity to existing development

> Proximity to major highways - frontage

D. Individual Wetland Sites. Refer to Exhibits "A", "B" and "C", attached.

The following describes the basis for staff recommendations of individual wetland sites. Sites were evaluated against the recommended Goals and Objectives, the Proposed Concept Plan and Criteria described above. Descriptions are listed in alphabetical/numerical order; however, where descriptions are common to more than one wetland site, each applicable wetland is referenced and grouped as a whole.

To locate a specific wetland site, refer to the attached wetland site map, Exhibit "A." The map corresponds to the reference system below. The first letter of the numbering system refers to an assessment area, such as "A"; the following number refers to the specific wetland site. When a small letter follows the number, that means there is more than one wetland site associated with a specific hydrologic unit, such as A1a and A1b.

The use of the term WET (Wetland Evaluation Technique) refers to a software program that was used to assess the functions and values of each wetland. WET provides a general assessment of the existing performance of a wetland and its potential performance for each function and value. Functions and values are given a rating of either High, Medium or Low. To provide a measure of how well each wetland is performing against all other wetlands in the study area, the mean WET score was determined. For sites scoring at or greater than the mean, a Protection point was awarded; for all other sites, a Development point was awarded.

A similar assessment process was used for Wildlife Habitat rating. The Lev Report provided the basis for wildlife habitat scores. The mean was determined at, again, those sites that scored at or greater than the mean, a Protection point was awarded and conversely, a Development point was awarded for lower scoring sites.

For a complete explanation of the evaluation process, refer to the WEWSAS packet prepared for Workshop No. 4, February 24. 1990. Copies may be purchased at the offices of Lane Council of Governments, 125 East 8th Avenue, Eugene, Or.

WET LAND SITE(S) DESCRIPTIONS

A1a, FULLY PROTECT: Wildlife Habitat Rating greater than MEAN; not

A1b served by existing urban infrastructure facilities; connected to a larger wetland site; size and shape not conducive to development; high cost to provide infrastructure due to distance from existing facilities.

A2a, DEVELOP: These sites disturbed by past fill activities,

A2b, disconnected, small, WET rating less than MEAN, within corridor of

A2c, future West Eugene Parkway.

A2d,

A2e

A3a PROTECT/DEVELOP: Protect westerly half due to presence of rare
plants, Wet Prairie Grassland, WET rating greater than MEAN, pres-
ence of water feature. Develop easterly half due to high degree
of disturbance and frontage along major arterial highway.

A3b FULLY PROTECT: Adjacent to waterway, provides corridor connection, A9,

WET rating at MEAN.

A3c DEVELOP: Small, disconnected, frontage along highway. B3,

A4a PROTECT/DEVELOP: Protect majority of site due to presence of B9,
rare plants, waterway flows through site, provides corridor connec-
tion, WET rating greater than MEAN, wildlife rating at MEAN,
contains Wet Prairie Grassland Plant Community. Develop those
portions of the site that have frontage along adjacent highway but Cl
not in location of rare plants.

A4b, DEVELOP: Sites are small, disconnected and isolated from main body C2
A4c, of wetland.

A4g

A4d, PROTECT/DEVELOP: Protect southerly portion due to high WET and C3a
A4e, wildlife ratings, proximity to waterway, proximity to nearby
A4f wetlands, presence of Wet Prairie Grassland Plant Community.
Develop northerly portion to accommodate future West Eugene Parkway
Corridor.

A4h DEVELOP: Site drainage has been altered, wetland disturbed, cur-
rently in agricultural use; served by sanitary sewers. Recommend
incorporating mitigation on-site via Site Plan Review Process.

A5 PROTECT/DEVELOP: Protect entire site except for portion where
future West Eugene Parkway Corridor will be located. Protection
due to location of site: outside urban growth boundary, distance
from public infrastructure.

A6, DEVELOP: Sites have been disturbed, in agricultural use, low WET

A7, A8, and wildlife habitat rating.
A9, A10

B1, B2, PROTECT: Sites are not easily served due to proximity to existing
B3, B4 infrastructure and presence of railroad levy. Sites form the
B5, B6 largest intact grouping of wetlands in study area; four water
B7, B8 features flow through area; sites provide excellent opportunity for
B9, B10 increasing flood storage capacity and possible water quality
improvement ponds; excellent location for restoration and inclusion
in a mitigation bank concept.

C1 DEVELOP: Site has been disturbed, disconnected from system, WET
rating less than MEAN, served by public infrastructure.

C2 PROTECT: High wildlife rating, WET rating greater than MEAN,
Adjacent to Amazon Channel, provides corridor connection, Presence
of Wet Prairie Grassland Plant Community.

C3a PROTECT/DEVELOP: Protect most of site due to high wildlife rating,
WET rating greater than MEAN, Adjacent to Amazon, Diverse Habitat:
Wet Prairie - Ash Forest. Develop portion along West Eugene
Parkway Corridor and expansion area of Spectra-Physics where
permit has been issued.

WET LAND

SITE(S) DESCRIPTIONS

C3b DEVELOP: Site is disconnected from other wetlands with little
opportunity for future connection, adjoins alignment of West
Eugene Parkway Corridor, previously platted subdivision, served
with public infrastructure.

C4 PROTECT: Connected to Amazon, WET rating greater than MEAN, Pres-
ence of Wet Prairie Grassland, moderate wildlife rating, public
ownership.

CS PROTECT/DEVELOP: Protect portion along Amazon Channel to maintain
connected wetland corridor. Develop portion that has frontage
along both highways due to previous disturbance, WET rating less
than MEAN, Low wildlife rating and high visibility.

C6a, DEVELOP: Disturbed wetland, isolated, not connected, surrounding
C6b, area developed as industrial, low wildlife rating, WET rating less
C6c, than MEAN.
C6f,

C6g

C7 DEVELOP: Disconnected to wetland system, isolated, small, low
wildlife habitat rating, WET rating less than MEAN, adjoins two
major highways.

Dl PROTECT: Connected to A3 Channel, moderate wildlife rating, WET
rating greater than MEAN, flood storage capacity, public owner-
ship.

D2a, DEVELOP: Isolated, low connective possibility, disturbed, served
D2b with public infrastructure.

WETLAND

SITE(S) DESCRIPTIONS

E1a, DEVELOP: Disturbed agricultural rea, low wildlife rating,
E1b frontage along two major highways. Possible on-site mitigation to
connect with Bertelsen Slough to the north.

E2a PROTECT: High wildlife rating, WET rating greater than MEAN,
connected to A3 Channel, Natural Resource Designation on Metro
Plan, one of two open water wetland types in study area.

E2b, PROTECT: Either is connected or has high potential to connect with
E2c, A3 Channel, WET rating greater than MEAN, high wildlife rating,
E2d, Ash forest.

E2e

F2, F2 DEVELOP: Isolated, highly disturbed, small, little opportunity for
connection to overall system, low wildlife rating.

G1 DEVELOP: Isolated, disturbed, little potential for connection, low
wildlife rating, WET rating less than MEAN.

H1 PROTECT: High wildlife rating, WET rating greater than MEAN,
little disturbance, high diversity, intact.

H2 PROTECT/DEVELOP: Protect that portion along Willow Creek to main-
tain corridor connection to Amazon Channel. Develop remaining
portion due to high disturbance, served by infrastructure, future
corridor of Beltline extension.

H3 PROTECT/DEVELOP: Presence of rare plants, presence of wet prairie
grassland, connection to Willow Creek and Amazon Channel, WET
rating greater than MEAN. Develop portion to north where develop-
ment has already encroached.

V. IMPACTS OF RECOMMENDATIONS

A. METRO PLAN LAND USE DESIGNATIONS

Exhibit "C" reflects the staff recommendations for individual wetland sites and the acreage effect on Metro Plan Land Use Designations. The following is a summary of Exhibit "C":

PLAN DESIGNATION	PROTECT		DEVELOP		TOTAL
	In UGB	Out UGB	In UGB	Out UGB
Light Medium Industrial	358.4	0.0	173.2	0.0	531.6 ac
Special Light Industrial	192.0	0.0	77.2	0.0	269.2 ac
Heavy Industrial	5.0	0.0	11.2	0.0 16.2 ac
Community Commercial	25.8	0.0	15.7	0.0	41.5 ac
Low Density Residential	82.8	0.0	0.0	0.0	82.8 ac
Natural Resource	174.0	0.0	0.0	0.0 174.0 ac
Agricultural	0.0	188.3	0.0	15.0	203.3 ac
Agr/Rural Residential	5.0	106.3	0.5	0.0	111.8 ac
TOTAL	843.0 ac	294.6 ac	277.8 ac	15.0	1,430.3 ac

8. INDUSTRIAL LAND SUPPLY. The following information is taken from the Draft Industrial Lands Survey being prepared by the City of Eugene with assistance from Lane Council of Governments. Preliminary information reflects the following effects of the WEWSAS wetland inventory to the industrial land supply within the west Eugene Wetlands Study Boundary:

Total Land Designated Industrial in WEWSAS boundary 1,811.92 ac Amount Wetland according to WEWSAS inventory - 711.00 ac Amount Industrial Not affected by WEWSAS 1100.92 ac