Ordinance No. 20208 - Laserfiche WebLink

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the environmental and social values of the wetlands. The West Eugene Wetlands Plan acknowledges that higher quality wetlands and more rare habitat types are more difficult to replace through mitigation. This acknowledgment is shown in the mitigation replacement ratios, in which wet prairie has the highest replacement ratio. The West Eugene Wetlands Plan has also placed a priority on protecting wet prairie habitat, under the premise that protection is the most effective way to prevent loss of the values associated with this rare habitat type. The wetland designations for this site are aimed at protecting and expanding wet prairie habitat. This, along with the requirement to replace through compensatory mitigation those wetlands designated for Development, is consistent with this goal. Goal 3.7 "Protect an interconnected system of wetlands within a sustainable, ecologically sound system, with a high likelihood of long-term survival." The designated Protection/Restoration corridor is hydrologically and geographically connected to Willow Creek and the Willow Creek Natural Area to the south, and is geographically connected to protected wetland site H3. Together these sites form a large block of wetland habitat linked by an important waterway. The large size and contiguity of these sites make management easier and provide for large interior areas that are not next to development. These factors favor long-term survival of the interconnected wetland system. Since the corridor designated for Protection/Restoration along Willow Creek would contribute to both interconnectedness and sustainability of the wetland system, we conclude that the wetland designations for this site are consistent with Goal 3.7. Goal 4.3 "Achieve compliance with federal and state wetland law, policies and guidelines. " The WEWP amendment process is consistent with state and federal wetland law, policies and guidelines. The West Eugene Wetlands Technical Advisory Committee has reviewed the proposed amendments several times and provided comments. The T AC consists of staff representatives from DSL, DEQ, the Army Corps of Engineers, US Fish and Wildlife, and EP A. T AC member agencies have also submitted written testimony into the record. We find nothing in the wetland designations for the Speedway site that are inconsistent with state or federal laws, policies or guidelines. Therefore, the wetland designations for the Speedway site are consistent with Goal 4.3 . Goal 4.4 "Increase certainty in the development process." The WEWP increases certainty for developers by providing clear direction about where wetlands exist and where and how development of wetlands can take place. With the wetlands on the site mapped, the designation of the Speedway site, once given final approval, will clarify which areas can be developed and which cannot. We find this Speedway Site Ordinance, Exhibit C (Refinement Plan Amendment Findings) Page 22