Item 1: PH on Ordinance Amending Metro Plan (Delta Sand and Gravel)

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In response to a question from Ms. Nichols regarding whether the wetlands permits arid mitigation plans for the wetland were done when the housing development nearby was constructed, Mr. Perkins said it was always advisable to have them since the law required that wetlands not be diminished in size or value. He said a good developer would have looked at those things but said he did not know if the particular developer had followed through with permits and biological assessments. . Mr. Sullivan said he had concerns.that there had been very little agency input regarding riparian corridors, wetlands and wildlife habitat. He questioned whether Mr. Perkins thought that if the Department of State Lands and Oregon Department ofFish and Wildlife investigated the site their assessments would agree with his own. Mr. Perkins said he thought the agencies would agree with him but acknowledged that he had not walked on the ~ite and collected specific information and had only presented a general analysis. In response to a question from Mr. Sullivan regarding whether in his opinion the agencies should be requested to ~ake those inquiries, Mr. Perkins said the request should be made to determine that the wetland boundary mentioned in the application was accurate and to look at possible effects to nearby wetlands. In response to a question from Mr. Sullivan regarding whether he had been on the property at all, Mr. Perkins . reiterated that he had not been on the land but had rendered an opinion based on the information in the. application. Mr. Belcher asked for a map of the wetlands along the boundary of the ap.plication to be provided. Malia Kupillas, President of Pacific Hydro Geology, said she was registered geologist with a specialty in hydro geology. She said she had reviewed the reports that were prepared as part of the application as well as the computer model. She said after reviewing both of the reports she said there had not been enough information given to show that ground water would not be affected. She noted that information was missing. She said the applicant had stated that ground water and su~ace water were separate bodies and stressed that this was not true. She stressed that ground water and surface water were connected and impacts to one would also impact the other. She said ground water would go where it was easiest to flow. If the easiest was to go up because the soil was more permeable then it would go up. She said the computer model submitted by the applicant failed to show what would really happen. She said her biggest question was about the low permeability barrier. She said the computer model showed two scenarios. The fIrst was a dam that enclosed the new area and another scenario around the entire operation. She said both scenarios would have an impact on ground water. She said what the applicant had not shown was that a coffer dam like barrier could not be built as described in the application because a full circle barrier was not planned to be constructed. She said there was no map that showed .where the barrier was supposed to be constructed. She remarked that excavating for the barrier would mean excavating wetlands. Ms. Kupillas noted that the Santa Clara area was developed with the current ground water levels which were lower because of the current mining activities. She said there had been no analysis of what could happen if the low permeability barrier were constructed and the natural ground water returned. She remarked that the residential developments had been constructed under the assumption of current ground water levels and their .concerns over flooding were valid. She said the only difference between ground water and surface water was the ground level. She said if ground water levels were raised to a certain point then there would be surface flooding. She said the water in the oxbow lake was filled by ground water exposed to the surface. . MINUTES"-Lane County Planning Commission Eugene Planning Commission . 'January 17, 2006 .11