Item A: Green Infrastructure and Low-Impact Development

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administratively adopted design standards, but rather is decided based upon feasibility, cost, and preference. There is also nothing in the proposed ordinance, existing City Code or administratively adopted design standards that prohibits the use of natural drainage systems for stormwater, however the use of more natural systems such as roadside ditches or swales is often not chosen due to the: ? lack of a continuous roadside ditch or swale system to reliably convey stormwater runoff; ? lack of grade and/or capacity in an existing roadside ditch or swale; and ? advantages of curbs/gutters including physical stability for the street, a barrier from vehicles for pedestrian protection, efficient stormwater conveyance, and an edge to assist with street sweeping. Given the unique nature of the River Road - Santa Clara basin and the prevalence of existing roadside ditches/swales, this issue could be addressed in the context of the River Road - Santa Clara basin planning and follow-up implementation. The River Road - Santa Clara Basin Plan would be an appropriate venue for analyzing this as an element of an integrated stormwater management strategy for flood control and water quality. The earlier basin planning efforts identified the preservation of waterways as another element of the stormwater management strategies for implementing CSWMP and responding to Clean Water Act regulations. In October 2006, Council will consider whether to adopt protection measures (i.e. setbacks and prohibitions on piping/filling) for Eugene’s waterways that are not meeting state water quality standards, and their tributaries. Waterways that meet criteria for potential protection in the River Road - Santa Clara area include Flat Creek, Spring Creek, the East Santa Clara Waterway, and the A1 Channel and their direct tributaries. Preservation of waterways city-wide is being accomplished in other ways as well. In November 2005, the City Council adopted Goal 5 natural resource protection measures along certain waterways including Flat Creek, Spring Creek, the East Santa Clara Waterway, and the A1 Channel in the River Road - Santa Clara area. In January 2006, Council approved a rate increase to fund an enhanced stream corridor acquisition program. The acquisition program has purchased over 40 acres of stream corridors to date including a portion of the East Santa Clara Waterway corridor through what is now called Wendover Park. For More Information Please contact Therese Walch at 682-8647 or therese.walch@ci.eugene.or.us for any additional information. Attachment Stormwater Basin Map