Item 3: PH on Ordinance Prescribed Wetland Management Burning

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ATTACHMENT D Public Works Parks and Open Space Division City of Eugene 1820 Roosevelt Boulevard Memorandum Eugene, Oregon 97402 (541) 682-4800 (541) 682-4882 FAX www.eugene-or.gov/parks Date: May 22, 2006 To: Mayor Piercy and City Council From: Sarah Medary, Natural Resources Manager Subject: Ordinance to Renew Five Year Exception to the Application of Eugene Code 6.000 (Open Burning) for Prescribed Wetland Management Burning 1. Introduction Prescribed burns represent the use of fire, an important natural process, under closely controlled conditions and circumstances. Prescribed burns have been conducted in west Eugene, under City Council exemptions from the prohibition of open burning, since 1986. The purpose of this memo is to provide specific information regarding the proposed application of prescribed burns in west Eugene over the next five years. Background information regarding the justification and need for prescribed burning is provided in the attached paper, "Justification for Fire Management of Willamette Valley Prairies" by Ed Alverson of The Nature Conservancy. 2. Description of acreage and locations to be burned Over the next five years, agencies responsible for managing protected wetland sites in west Eugene propose prescribed burns for a maximum of 110 acres within the City Limits annually, and a maximum of 70 acres outside City Limits but within the UGB annually. Ordinance Exhibits A and B show the areas that are proposed for prescribed burning within the next five years. 3. Description of Potential impacts to Adjacent Properties Potential impacts to adjacent properties would depend upon the location of the property relative to the prevailing wind direction at the time of the burn. Prescribed burns in west Eugene would be conducted only under conditions where the prevailing wind is coming from the north or northeast. Thus, impacts to properties to the north or northeast of the burn site would generally be negligible, as smoke is dispersed to the south and southwest. Burns would also be conducted under atmospheric conditions that allow optimal lifting and dispersion of smoke. The smoke column would be visible overhead from properties within a half mile downwind of the burn sites. Some slight ash fall might also be experienced (most ash-fall would be within 500 feet downwind of the burn site). Note also that the areas downwind from the burn sites are currently mostly vacant land or currently developed at typical rural residential densities, so the number of residents or property owners that might be affected is relatively low. Page 1