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SECTION 2 Study Area Characteristics <br />This section provides background information regarding the existing physical characteristics of <br />the River Road Santa Clara basin. This information was used to assess opportunities and <br />constraints for meeting the multiple- objective goals of this study. Specifically this section <br />includes the following information for the River Road Santa Clara Basin: location and area; <br />climate; land use and surface cover; land form; topography and slopes; surface water features <br />and drainage system; water quality; rare, threatened and endangered plants, animals and <br />communities; soils; groundwater; and recreational and educational facilities. <br />2.1 Location and Area <br />2.1.1 Regional Drainage Context <br />Eugene is located in the western third of the Upper Willamette Drainage Basin as shown on <br />Figure 2 -1. Drainage in the southern Willamette Valley is a combination of natural and built <br />systems that have evolved over time. The natural system is composed of rivers, waterways, and <br />a series of interconnected ponds and wetlands. Historically, the natural system had an extensive <br />floodplain that typically experienced over -bank flooding every 1 -2 years. The built drainage <br />system includes a series of dams, pipes, and waterways that were built to contain over -bank <br />flooding, and to retain water for recreational and irrigation purposes. The primary drainage <br />features of the Upper Willamette Drainage Basin are: Main Stem of the Willamette River, <br />Middle Fork of the Willamette River, Coast Fork of the Willamette River, McKenzie River, <br />Amazon Creek, Coyote Creek, and the Long Tom River. From 1940 to 1960, the U.S. Army <br />Corps of Engineers built nine dams on this system. <br />The cities of Cottage Grove, Creswell, and Springfield are all upstream from the City of Eugene <br />and contribute urban runoff to the regional drainage system. Runoff from Cottage Grove, <br />Creswell, and South Springfield flows through Eugene via the Willamette River. Approximately <br />4,800 acres of west Springfield's drainage area, as shown on Figure 2 -2, discharges urban runoff <br />into the Q Street Floodway, which is within Eugene's public drainage system. Eugene's public <br />drainage system refers to the system of stormwater facilities (i.e., pipes, ditches, open <br />waterways) that Eugene is responsible for operating and maintaining. <br />2.1.2 City of Eugene <br />The City of Eugene is currently responsible for managing the stormwater quantity, quality, and <br />related natural resources for the drainage area within its city limits. The area outside of the City <br />limits but within the urban growth boundary (UGB) is expected to be annexed into the city as <br />urban development occurs. Therefore, this basin plan study includes both the current city limits <br />and the Lane County area within the UGB. The Eugene- Springfield Metro Area General Plan <br />(Metro Plan) boundary covers the city limits, the UGB and, in some cases, areas beyond the <br />UGB. For the purposes of characterizing the study area in this chapter, the area covered includes <br />the Metro Plan boundary. <br />0: 25695978 Eugene RR -SC Final Basin P1an\Master P1anTINAL 2- 2010\Master_Plan 3- 11- 10_FINAL_ Word _Version.doc 2-1 <br />