Item 6: Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board Grant Application

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A: As illustrated on the attached map, three of the four properties are directly on the ridgeline trail corridor as shown in the PROS Comprehensive Plan. All four of the properties are also directly adjacent to or nearly adjacent to other Parks and Open Space property holdings. Although the Meisen property is not on the proposed alignment, it is a significant property for the Ridgeline Trail system for several reasons. Besides the site being well documented for its significant natural resource value for its oak habitat and the presence of one federally listed endangered and two rare plant species, this property provides for an alternate connection from Willamette Street to Lorane Highway. This is an area where there are significant challenges in the connectivity of the Ridgeline Trail corridor due to the amount of development that has already occurred and large property holdings held by one owner that may or may not work with us. The Meisen property would also provide a connection from Willamette Street to Blanton Road. Q5. The state legislature enabled using Forest Legacy outside the UGB but I don’t remember that the PROS bond measure applied outside the UGB. I understand a match is required but I don’t think voters thought they were paying to acquire land outside the city; didn’t they assume they were paying for city parkland? Was there a line item in the measure to make these acquisitions outside the UGB and basically inaccessible to Eugeneans for the foreseeable future? Aren’t there higher priorities for the more than 1 million match? A: The Parks and Open Space Bond Measure (20-110, also attached to the email) includes funding for the purchase of land “for the preservation of natural open spaces near the Ridgeline Trail” corridor. This is made clear both in the ballot measure language and in the informational tabloid (also attached to the email) that was mailed to all city residents. Additionally, although most of the Ridgeline Trail corridor lies outside Eugene's UGB, it is considered city parkland by the Parks and Open Space Division who provides maintenance and management of the property for the use and enjoyment of the citizens of Eugene. All of these properties provide a significant step towards realizing the long-term vision of a connected Ridgeline Trail system as set out in the PROS Comprehensive Plan, and the regional open space planning document, Rivers to Ridges. Q6. Are there other sources of funds that can be used for the match besides PROS? A: In addition to Parks and Open Space bond funds, a portion of the purchase price can be paid with System Development Charge funds. Q7. Have any of the parcels been logged? Clear-cut? How long since? Will they be logged if acquired and to what extent? A: All four sites, including the DAG Trust property, have existing or potential high quality oak habitat according to mapping work by The Nature Conservancy. All sites have probably been logged to some extent, but not recently. It has been over 50 years since the Meisen property was logged, and it's been managed solely for conservation for over a decade. The Gaudia and Reynolds properties have probably been logged more recently, but the oaks have been retained. If acquired, no logging of the site is planned but there may be some thinning of existing fir trees to facilitate continued restoration of the oak habitat.