HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Newsletter - 05/18/06
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
May 18, 2006
City of Eugene
777 Pearl Street, Room 105
Eugene, Oregon 97401-2793
(541) 682-5010
(541) 682-5414 (FAX)
www.eugene-or.gov
IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION
SOUTH RIDGELINE HABITAT STUDY INVENTORY WORK BEGINS
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON HONORS RAQUEL WELLS
SHOW AND TELL: LIBRARY SEEKS DISPLAY PROPOSALS
MODEL OAK SAVANNA RESTORATION PROJECT BEGINS
UPPER AMAZON CREEK RESTORATION PROJECT SLATED
AMAZON POOL OPENS FOR LAP SWIMS
AROUND THE CITY
South Ridgeline Habitat Study Inventory Work Begins
The first phase of the South Ridgeline Habitat Study (SRHS) began in early May 2006. Salix Associates,
a team of consulting wildlife scientists and botanists, has been hired to prepare an inventory and
evaluation of native plant communities, such as oak savanna, potential habitats for rare plants, such as
the threatened wayside aster, and potential habitat for state-designated sensitive wildlife species, such
as the red-legged frog. Approximately 1,900 property owners in the South Ridgeline area and interested
parties were invited to attend an informational public workshop in early May. Approximately 75 people
attended. At the workshop, staff presented a slide show on the project, including information on project
goals, timelines, and types of habitats, plants and wildlife to be studied. Attendees were introduced to
the consulting team, and given an opportunity to ask questions.
The SRHS will evaluate approximately 2,000 acres around Eugene's South Ridgeline to determine where
important upland habitat (versus stream and wetland habitat) areas exist. The field inventory is expected
to be completed in July 2006. An additional public workshop will be held in Fall 2006, upon completion
of the draft inventory and report. The inventory will be the basis of future recommendations on possible
conservation measures or conservation incentive programs for important South Ridgeline habitats. For
more information, contact Neil Björklund at 682-5507.
University of Oregon Honors Raquel Wells
Raquel Wells, a recreation program supervisor at Petersen Barn Community Center, recently received
the University of Oregon’s Gerlinger Cup Award. This annual award is presented to the most outstanding
woman in the junior class in recognition of her achievement in scholarship, leadership, and service to the
community.
Raquel is seeking a bachelor’s degree in Family and Human Services to complement her position with
the Recreation Division’s Youth and Family Recreation Services. Raquel organizes the very popular
summer Fun For All Program, which offers free recreational experiences to youth and families at eight
park sites in Eugene. She also organizes the RecZone after-school programs in middle schools in west
and north Eugene, and provides many other recreational opportunities throughout the year.
Those who work closely with Raquel know the award is well-deserved. She is tireless in her efforts to
provide quality services to youth and families from all corners of the city, especially those who have
barriers to accessing recreation services. Raquel is an advocate of diversifying City services and
reaching out to underserved communities. For more information, contact Recreation Manager Craig
Smith at 682-6340.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1
May 18, 2006
Show and Tell: Library Seeks Display Proposals
Individuals or non-profit organizations with something interesting, informative, or cool-looking to show the
community can share their work, art, or issue with the thousands of patrons who visit Eugene Public
Library (EPL) each week.
The Library features professional display cases in the Children's Center and on both adult floors.
Exhibitors have included community groups, service agencies, charities, awareness campaigns, clubs,
schools, university departments, and individuals. These two-month displays have spanned a wide
diversity of topics—from calligraphy to civil rights and geology to genealogy.
Display proposals are evaluated based on their alignment with the Library’s mission: to support an
informed community, lifelong learning, and the love of reading by providing access for all City residents
to the universe of ideas and information. More specifically, EPL seeks displays that encourage the love
of reading and the use of library materials and services, reach a variety of age groups, respond to a
variety of educational, cultural, intellectual, and civic interests, promote cultural diversity, create a warm
and welcoming space, foster artistic appreciation, and advance community relationship building.
Additional goals in the Children’s Center are to reflect playfulness and youthfulness, and to value and
honor children’s and teens’ efforts and accomplishments.
Display proposal forms are available at the Downtown 2nd Floor Reference Desk or Children’s Center, or
for more information, contact Library staff at 682-5450.
Model Oak Savanna Restoration Project Begins
The City of Eugene has an opportunity to preserve
one of the city’s remaining oak savanna habitats.
The13-acre Mariposa Woodland site consists of a
large grove of Oregon white oak, California black
oak, and surrounding grasslands. In preparation
for the project, Parks and Open Space staff has
been conducting onsite briefings for regional
experts, neighbors, and park users in order to get
their input. Over the past six months, 24 people
have toured the area, including representatives
from the Oregon Department of Forestry,
McKenzie River Trust, The Nature Conservancy,
Long Tom Watershed Council, Eugene Tree
Foundation, Native Plant Society of Oregon, and
project area neighbors. In addition, the University
of Oregon is studying the effects of oak
restoration regionally and has collected baseline data at the site in order to compare pre- and post-
project conditions.
Before the introduction of modern agriculture, savanna was one of the most predominate habitats in
much of the United States. Unlike a forest, which has a closed canopy, the ground layer of a savanna
receives dappled sun and shade, which permits the growth of a wide diversity of grasses and flowering
plants. In the Northwest, much of the remaining oak savanna has been overrun by fast-growing Douglas
Fir forests. According to a 1995 U.S. Geological Survey report, the Oregon white oak is among the 21
most endangered ecosystems in the United States. Less than one percent of the habitat remains in the
Willamette Valley, and 98 percent of this remaining acreage is in private ownership. As many as 200
species have been reported to depend wholly or partially on Willamette Valley oak habitat or upland
prairie, including 45 species designated as at-risk by USFWS or the State of Oregon.
Beginning this July, Parks and Open Space staff will selectively remove encroaching trees from the
project area, create wildlife habitat through snag and small woodpile creation, collect seed from the site
and purchase additional seed to restore disturbed areas, monitor project impacts and adaptively manage
the post-project site. This project will serve as a model for other savanna restoration projects taking
place in the region and throughout the United States. For more information contact Trevor Taylor at 682-
4880 or trevor.h.taylor@ci.eugene.or.us.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2
May 18, 2006
Upper Amazon Creek Restoration Project Slated
The City of Eugene is moving forward on a project to restore flow into the middle fork of Upper Amazon
Creek in south Eugene. The project serves multiple objectives, including providing natural
enhancements within the confines of a publicly owned park facility. The Upper Amazon stream
restoration project “daylights” a segment of failing pipe that would need to be replaced and instead
creates an additional open channel and riparian habitat within the same corridor as the historic channel.
Project funding is from stormwater funds collected through monthly user fees.
The primary goal of the project is to restore flows to the middle fork of the Amazon Creek and stabilize
areas along the main channel that have been degraded by existing hydrology. Other project goals
include:
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Restore flows to the historic channel and reduce flows in the upper main channel.
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Reduce ongoing destabilization of the Upper Amazon.
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Enhance and create riparian areas of the Upper Amazon.
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Enhance native vegetation within this location.
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Create and enhance native habitat for aquatic and other wildlife.
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Create and enhance a natural resource within the community that can provide aesthetic value to
the community, including an education and an interactive component.
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Provide the opportunity for natural biological functions to help improve water quality.
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Provide flow detention during larger runoff events.
The list of goals is long, and this project will not satisfy or immediately address all of them. Through time,
ongoing maintenance, and community effort, however, many of the goals can be met. This project will
complement existing improvements to Frank Kinney Park and to the natural areas of the site. These
improvements have been identified in a number of long-term plans, including the Upper Amazon Creek
Enhancement Study (LCOG 2000), the City of Eugene CIP, and the City of Eugene Stormwater Basin
Master Plan. The project is scheduled to move to construction this year. Construction could begin as
early as mid-July. For more information please contact Project Manager Terry Colvin at 682-5398.
Amazon Pool Opens for Lap Swims
Amazon Pool opens on Monday, May 22, for lap swimmers and swim teams --
a sure sign that summer is almost here. Pool hours will be:
Monday - Friday 5:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
5:15 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Every day: Noon to 1:50 p.m.
The pool opens for family and recreation swims on June 19. In fiscal year
2005, attendance at Amazon Pool totaled 115,656; for all three City pools,
attendance was 242,957. The summer of 2006 is shaping up to be another
busy season at Eugene area pools.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3
May 18, 2006