Many of our wetland and water resources are under stress. In urban communities, population growth and densities cause particular kinds of stress on natural systems. Protection and restoration are the keys to improving the quality of these water resources. Communities must become better educated about ways to treat these resources. We must begin to view water resources and wetlands as integral to the well-being of our communities and our economies. Partnerships, collaboration, restoration, and watershed approaches are keys to resolving differences and bridging the public-private perception gap.

Planning provides a framework for all of the above to happen. From creating goals and vision, gathering and analyzing information, to developing alternatives, to making a plan, to implementing the plan, and to recycling as we leam more about ourselves and the environment can be exciting and positive. Doing this type of planning is not easy; it takes commitment and hard work.

The West Eugene Wetlands Special Area Study was initially started as an attempt to address wetland issues in west Eugene, Oregon, in 1989. By 1992, when the plan was adopted locally, the wetland planning effort had become a multi-objective approach for addressing land use and water resource issues within the area. Today, the plan is being implemented to achieve wetlands protection, floodplain management, wildlife habitat protection and restoration, stormwater quality treatment, recreation, education and research, as well as sound urban watershed development. This successful effort has been praised by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Association of State Wetland Managers and used as a model for other urban wetland situations.

The purpose of this case study is to provide an overview of the west Eugene wetlands planning process, and to share the lessons learned through this process. Many of the situations faced are similar to those found in other communities where a system of wetlands requires more intensive study than can be achieved through the individual wetland permitting process. Based on the development of the plan, general and specific hints are provided, including: working at the local, state and federal level; developing a conceptual plan; considering implementation and financing; and treating wetlands as an asset by fitting them into a multiple-objective natural resources, public facilities, and public enjoyment framework.

In this case study you'll learn about how we dealt with wetland science from inventory to analysis. You'll also learn about the process we went through which involved a myriad of stakeholders. One rule of thumb that we've used in our natural resources planning is to spend about 25% of our effort and budget on science and about 75% on process. The process part of the study involves dealing with people - from helping them understand the science to coming to grips with the inventory, to developing alternative solutions, to analyzing alternatives and to reaching political compromise on agreed upon direction. The real challenge in developing a wetland plan is to integrate the scientific aspects with human processes, so that sound decisions can be made about the wetland resources.

If you have major wetlands problems in your community, this case study may be helpful to you-whether you are a local official, planner, or interested citizen. With the West Eugene Wetlands Plan, the City of Eugene has been successful in solving a myriad of issues. It has been done here - and it can be done in your community as well.