CONCLUDING REMARKS

The planning process is organic and on-going. Though the plan has been adopted, in some ways much of the work is just beginning. The plan itself will need to be implemented. Financing strategies will be persued. Each mitigation prolect will require review and monitoring. In addition, factors outside the plan are constantly in flux as well. New information affecting the plan may become available through other metropolitan planning activities. To date there are are already a number of key studies which are ongoing and will continue during the next one to two years that have some relationship to the plan:

• The ACOE received $300,000 in Congressional Appropriations to conduct a reconnaissance study of the Amazon Channel to determine whether environmental values (and other Corps related values such as flood control) can be improved on the Amazon. This study began in May 1992. The Corps has already awarded $75,000 in study funds associated with designation of west Eugene as a national research area for prairie wetland restoration.

• Completion and adoption of the Draft Natural Resources Special Study.

• Adoption of Eugene's Comprehensive Stormwater Management Plan (CSWMP) (see Chapter 3, Multiple Plan Objectives section).

• The EPA began administration of a $100,000 Congressional Appropriation to the Lane Council of Governments. This money went to develop materials from the west Eugene wetlands experience to provide a model and assistance to other communities about comprehensive wetland planning. This case study, a separate case study on the citizen involvement program, and a video about Eugene's experience, were all funded by this appropriation.

• The Nature Conservancy has conducted studies on one federally listed threatened plant and two candidate plant species, three listed Oregon sensitive plant species, as well as a rare butterfly, Fender's Little Blue. TNC remains interested in the remnant Willamette Valley prairie grassland plant community and associated upland plant communities as part of the Willamette Valley ecosystems. It has cooperated with the ACOE, ODFW and BLM on studies at nearby Fern Ridge Reservoir are plant sites. The Conservancy is working with the Bonneville Power Administration on possible purchase of another 125 acres adjacent to its existing 200 acre natural area reserve at Willow Creek.

• The City of Eugene and L-COG are working with several state and federal agencies in conducting more detailed wetland delineations of development sites and rare plant inventories.

• Two proposed state highway projects in the west Eugene wetlands study area have resulted in a study of western pond turtles near those project sites. The Oregon Department of Transportation has contracted with two consultants, Fishman Environmental Services and CH4M Hill. The research will be given to the USFWS as preliminary data on implications of highway projects on the turtles. Recommendations will be made for conservation measures.

Though the sphere of influence is large and complex, the plan is well positioned to stay at the forefront of wetlands planning for the area. This is due largely to the well thought out, comprehensive approach. Striking a balance between environmental protection and sound urban development was one of the main goals of the West Eugene Wetlands Plan. The plan succeeded in finding solutions based on established criteria and a rational decision-making process. Integral to that success was the ability to involve broad segments of the community. All key players, including state and federal agencies, citizens, planning commissions and elected officials, agreed to work towards this goal through the planning process. Critical to achieving the balance was involving the Technical Advisory Committee, which enabled the plan to meet the intent and letter of state and federal law.

Though there can be a tendency for various groups to polarize when addressing environmental issues, it's important to keep a clear perspective. There are many developers and business people that care about the environment. If we live, work and shop in a community, we have benefited from business and development. The key to developing livable communities and sustainable development is to find a balance between future development and environmental protection. Furthermore, the governments' wetland interests are an expression of broad public policy. Too often we try to define public interest as separate from private interest. Through the wetland plan, public interest in protecting wetlands can be accomplished and still respect private property rights. Another key point is to find ways to reach compromises that reflect the broader community interest. When this is done, developer, environmentalist, public and private sectors interests will be balanced for the overall good of the community.

The process has shown that there is room within wetlands law to find a compromise which can be acceptable to the community as a whole. By providing a balance between wetland protection and development, different sectors of the community found aspects of the plan they could support. By creating a sound planning method for wetlands protection, development and mitigation, the West Eugene Wetlands Plan turned a crisis into an opportunity and certainty for all stakeholders in the community.