Item 2: Ordinance on West Eugene Wetlands Burn Ban Exemption

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Ð«¾´·½ É±®µ Ð¿®µ ¿²¼ Ñ°»² Í°¿½» Ü·ª··±² Ý·¬§ ±º Û«¹»²» ïèîð Î±±»ª»´¬ Þ±«´»ª¿®¼ Ó Û«¹»²»ô Ñ®»¹±² çéìðî ÛÓÑÎßÒÜËÓ øëìï÷ êèîóìèðð øëìï÷ êèîóìèèî ÚßÈ ©©©ò»«¹»²»ó±®ò¹±ªñ°¿®µ Date: May 6, 2011 To: Mayor Piercy andCity Council From: Trevor Taylor, Natural Areas Restoration Supervisor, 682-4888 Subject: Exception to Open Burning Ordinance for Controlled Ecological Burns in West Eugene 1. Introduction Controlled ecological burns represent the use of fire, an important natural process, under carefully managed conditions and circumstances. Controlled ecological burns have been conducted in West Eugene, under a City Council exemption from the prohibition of open burning, since 1986. The purpose of this memo is to provide specific information regarding the proposed application of ecological burns in West Eugene over the next five years. Background information regarding the justification and need for ecological burning is provided in the attached paper, Use of Controlled Ecological Burns in Willamette Valley Native 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 controlled ecological burns on a maximum of 250 acres within the City limits annually, and a maximum of 75 acres outside City limits but within the urban growth boundary annually. Ordinance Exhibit A shows the areas that are proposed for ecological 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. Controlled 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 result in 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 developed at typical rural residential densities, so the number of residents or property owners that might be affected is relatively low. Special precautions will be taken for burns at sites that are adjacent to manufacturing facilities where smoke is a special concern. A number of the burn sites are adjacent to existing