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SECTION 5 Stormwater Related Natural Resources - 1999 aerial photography of the River Road Santa Clara Basin. • Site visits to collect and verify GIS information about select portions of the waterway system including location, size, condition, and function. For the site visits that were conducted, functions were evaluated using a modified version of the Oregon Freshwater Assessment Methodology (OFWAM). This method was modified to focus on the stormwater related benefits of natural resources. • Eugene Public Works Department engineering and maintenance staff were interviewed as to their knowledge of the system. • Property owners provided site specific information at public workshops and through other contacts. • Policy plans were reviewed to determine where and how waterways were protected in the River Road Santa Clara Basin. • Other City of Eugene and Metro area staff were consulted to identify other on -going efforts which may ultimately provide protection for waterways consistent with stormwater program objectives. Results of the evaluation The results are provided below in terms of both existing conditions and expected future conditions. Existing Waterway System Conditions: • Urbanization within the River Road Santa Clara basin has caused significant changes to the open waterway systems. • There are about 48 miles of remaining open waterways in the basin, the majority of which are now protected through either FEMA Floodway restrictions, the City's Water Resources Conservation Overlay Zone (adopted in November 2005), or the City's Water Quality Overlay Zone (adopted in March 2009). • While some of the remaining waterways are large conveyance channels characterized by a trapezoidal shape with moderate riparian functions, three of the basins waterways (Flat Creek, Spring Creek and the East Santa Clara Waterway) are somewhat more naturally configured with meanders and riparian vegetation. • Significant channels include the Highway 99 Roadside Channel, Al Channel, A2 Channel, North Beltline Floodway, Spring Creek, Flat Creek and the East Santa Clara Waterway. • Efforts to protect, rehabilitate and /or restore the East Santa Clara waterway and its floodplain functions have occurred in the northern portion of the basin. Expected Future Waterway System Conditions: • Future conditions for some "privately owned and maintained" waterways would be expected to deteriorate without specific waterway protection policies and measures in this basin. • Future conditions of "publicly owned and /or maintained" waterways are expected to remain the same or improve over existing conditions due to the City's commitment to environmentally friendly maintenance practices and increasing level of responsibility for managing the open waterway systems. 0:\25695978 Eugene RR -SC Final Basin P1an\Master P1anTINAL 2- 2010\Master_Plan 3- 11- 10_FINAL_ Word _Version.doc 5 -2