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MWMC FACILITIES PLAN Wildlife habitat along or near the Willamette River and its tributaries includes riparian habitat and wetland areas. Riparian Habitat Riparian areas are transitional between aquatic and upland habitat and, as such, support elements of both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems (Lev, 1990). A 1987-1988 survey by Lev (Lev, 1990) describes vegetation and wildlife species common in riparian habitat in the Eugene-Springfield metropolitan area. Riparian vegetation within the metropolitan area is characterized by herbaceous ground cover, understory shrubs, and deciduous (hardwood) trees. Plant species common in riparian habitat in the Eugene-Springfield area include black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa), willow (Salbc spp.), Oregon white ash, creek dogwood (Cornus stolinifera), snowberry ( Symphoricarpos albus), Himalayan blackberry (Rubus discolor), rush species (]uncus spp.), sedge species (Carex spp.), and reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinaceae). Other plant species found in area riparian habitat include English hawthorne (Crataegus monogyna) and cattail (Typha latifolia). Riparian areas in the Eugene metropolitan area provide habitat for a variety of wildlife. Mammals common in the these riparian areas include raccoon (Procyon lotor), beaver (Castor canadensis), nutria (Myocastor coypus), and bats. Willamette River habitat supports as many as 173 species of birds (Roesler, 2004), including wading birds (e.g., great blue heron [Ardea herodias], waterfowl (e.g., mallard ducks [Anas platyrhynchos]), shorebirds, raptors (e.g., osprey [Pandion haliaetus], red-tailed hawks [Buteo jamaicensis], and bald eagles [Haliaeetus leucocephalus]), kingfishers (Ceryle alcyon), and a variety of passerine birds (e.g., warblers and swallows) (Lev, 1990; CH2M HILL, 2001). In addition to birds and mammals, as many as 14 species of amphibians and reptiles, such as the western pond turtle (Clemmys marmorata) use Willamette River riparian habitat (Roesler, year). The riparian corridors serve as travel routes for wildlife between wetland and upland areas and as stopover sites for migrating birds (Lev, 1990). The Willamette River and its tributaries are the primary riparian features in the vicinity of the WPCF. Following primary treatment (scum and solid removal), secondary treatment (bacterial digestion), and final processing (chlorination followed by addition of sulfur dioxide to dechlorinate), effluent is discharged into the Willamette River (City of Eugene Public Works Department, 2003). Wetland Habitat The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) defines wetlands as follows (USFWS, 2004): · Lands transitional between terrestrial and aquatic systems where the water table is usually at or near the surface or the land is covered by shallow water. Additionally, wetlands have one or more of the following attributes: - At least periodically, the land supports predominantly hydrophytes - The substrate is predominantly undrained hydric soil - The substrate is nonsoil and is saturated with water or covered by shallow water at some time during the growing season of each year Wetlands in the Eugene-Springfield metropolitan area are characterized by plant species such as willow, Douglas spirea (Spirea douglasii), least spikerush (Eleocharis acicularis), reed 2-24 MWMC_2.0_REV23.DOC