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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br />EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER <br /> <br />September 8, 2011 <br /> <br /> <br />City of Eugene <br /> 777 Pearl Street, Room 105 <br /> Eugene, Oregon 97401-2793 <br /> (541) 682-5010 <br /> (541) 682-5414 (FAX) <br /> <br /> www.eugene-or.gov <br /> <br />IN THIS EDITION <br /> <br />CONTROLLED ECOLOGICAL BURNS HELP NATIVE FIRE-DEPENDENT SPECIES THRIVE <br />FACILITIES USES TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE FOR CLEANING PRODUCTS <br />PARKING SERVICES TAKES LEADERSHIP ROLE IN REGIONAL ORGANIZATION <br />CITY TO HOST FREE FINANCIAL PLANNING DAY ON OCTOBER 22 <br />NEW SERIES FOCUSES ON HOSPICE CARE <br />ENERGY EFFICIENCY PAYS OFF <br />SUMMER READING SUCCESS AT EUGENE PUBLIC LIBRARY <br />CITY AWARDED EUGENE WATER & ELECTRIC BOARD SMART ENERGY REBATES <br /> <br />AROUND THE CITY <br /> <br />Controlled Ecological Burns Help Native Fire-Dependent Species Thrive <br />This fall, the Rivers to Ridges partners will be undertaking controlled ecological burns at several West Eugene <br />Wetlands sites. The City of Eugene’s Natural Resources Team, with the assistance of the Eugene Fire and EMS <br />Department (EFD), has planned a small controlled <br />ecological burn at the Willow Corner site. The burn <br />planned on this six-acre City-owned land, at the corner of <br />th <br />West 18 Avenue and Bertelsen Road, is part of a much <br />larger controlled ecological burn planned in collaboration <br />with the West Eugene Wetland partner organizations, <br />including The Nature Conservancy and the U.S. Bureau of <br />Land Management. <br /> <br />The Rivers to Ridges Partnership (formerly known as the <br />West Eugene Wetlands Partnership) relies on controlled <br />ecological burning as a restoration tool to protect valuable <br />biological diversity in prairie and savanna ecosystems. <br />Removal of standing dead vegetation also benefits the <br />community by decreasing the chances of an uncontrolled <br />wildfire at the wildland-urban interface. City staff works <br />hard to make sure the community is protected from <br />City of Eugene and Oregon Department of Forestry crews <br />potential negative impacts of fire. EFD and the City’s <br />monitor a controlled ecological burn. <br />Natural Resources staff carefully assess weather <br />conditions and burn only on days when the wind will blow smoke away from residential areas. The Lane Regional Air <br />Protection Agency reviews the controlled burn plans each year, issuing a permit and conditions under which burns <br />may proceed. City crews mow fuel breaks around the perimeter of each burn unit to prevent fire from traveling <br />outside the planned burn area. Finally, controlled ecological burns are managed by experienced and highly trained <br />fire crews, including the Eugene Fire Department, who are working from detailed burn plans. These plans provide <br />extensive prescriptions describing how to conduct the burn to provide the maximum protection for the community. <br /> <br />Additional controlled ecological burns may be performed by Rivers to Ridges partner agencies on lands elsewhere in <br />the wetlands, including on lands owned by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, The Nature Conservancy, and the <br />U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Together these efforts will result in the enhancement and protection of many of the <br />important natural areas enjoyed by the community. For more information, contact Natural Area Restoration <br />Supervisor Trevor Taylor at trevor.h.taylor@ci.eugene.or.us or 541-682-4888. <br /> <br />EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1 <br />September 8, 2011 <br /> <br />