07/16/15 - City Council Newsletter

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The three new bicycle-pedestrian bridges will give path users more convenient ways to reach businesses and the new EmX stations that will be placed on West 11 Avenue. Total cost of the three bridges is $5.8 million, with $2.9 million th coming from a ConnectOregon grant and the balance coming from federal EmX funds and City matching funds. Those who wish to receive West Eugene EmX project updates can visit weemx.ltd.org or email weemx@ltd.org. For more information, contact Lee Shoemaker, the City’s bicycle-pedestrian coordinator, at 541-682-5471. Oak Savanna and Conifer Woodland Restoration to Begin at Murray Hill Work is slated to get under way in late July on a project to restore and enhance habitat conditions at Murray Hill Park. The work is being funded under an Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) grant for $123,500 awarded to the Parks and Open Space Division and the Long Tom Watershed Council. The project will restore the site’s oak savannas, oak woodlands, and conifer woodland, with the objectives of improving conditions for wildlife, reducing wildfire risk, enhancing forest health, and providing native ecosystems for enjoyment by the community. The target ecosystem, oak woodland and savanna, are regionally rare and are used by over 200 Willamette Valley species including western bluebirds, western gray squirrels, many native plants and associated pollinators. Protecting and restoring these habitats has been identified by many organizations and planning efforts as a conservation priority in Oregon, with some of the best remaining oak habitat found in and around Eugene. The project also offers the opportunity to enhance the quality of Murray Hill’s conifer forest areas. When complete, the work will release large, legacy savanna oaks from shading and competition, and the conifer forest health will be improved, promoting development of old-growth Douglas fir. The project will also reduce fuel loads throughout the southern half of the park reducing the vulnerability of the area to the hazards of wildfire. Project activities are planned for late July through the end of August. A small forestry crew will remove overstocked and encroaching trees, primarily Douglas fir, from conifer woodland and oak habitats using restoration forestry practices. Although there are no official trailheads or trails at Murray Hill, the site will be closed for the duration of the project for the public’s safety. For more information, please contact Ecologist Emily Steel at emily.c.steel@ci.eugene.or.us, or call 541-682-4874. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3 July 16, 2015