Metro Waterways: A Study of the Eugene-Springfield Metro Region
Background Cedar Creek Amazon Creek Maps Provide Input

Amazon Creek Priority Planning Area

Amazon Creek is Eugene’s second-largest waterway (the Willamette River being the largest) and is one of several focus areas in Eugene, including Willamette Greenway improvements on the Coast Fork and Middle Fork rivers, and Willamette River native fish habitat restoration.

Amazon Creek and its tributaries were selected as an initial priority planning corridor because of the many vital functions they provide:

  • Flood protection
  • Water quality preservation
  • Recreation opportunities
  • Bicycle and pedestrian paths
  • Wildlife protection

Amazon Creek starts in the southeast hills above Martin Street, travels north to 18th Avenue, then turns westward near High Street and flows to the edge of town, eventually emptying into Fern Ridge Reservoir. Along the way it changes in character, reflecting the surrounding land uses and different ideas in water management throughout history. For example, some portions of the creek were placed in concrete-lined channels in the 1950s while in other areas the creek more recently has been widened, creating hundreds of acres of wetlands and floodplains.

Through the metro waterways study, problems and opportunities will be identified throughout the Amazon Creek system, and a list of projects and recommendations will result. These action items will be reviewed and prioritized for possible implementation dependent on a variety of factors including funding resources.

Key Observations

The PDF file below contains key observations that have been drawn from the preliminary draft of the Metro Waterways Study Without-Project Condition Report (February 2006) and are meant to be a summary of the most important points from this report. This list will be updated as additional information becomes available and the Without-Project Condition Report is updated. The key observations are sorted by the following topic areas: physical conditions; land use and population; biological resources; water resources; and parks, open space, and recreation.

Amazon Creek Key Observations (45 kb PDF)*
Waterway Assessments - Amazon Creek Planning Area (3.9 mb PDF PDF)*
Waterway Assessment Map - Amazon East (565 kb PDF PDF)*
Waterway Assessment Map - Amazon West (755 kb PDF PDF)*
Appendix H: Amazon Creek Planning Area Restoration Options (34 mb PDF PDF)*

A draft Feasibility Report with Integrated Programmatic Environmental Assessment is currently being prepared and will be posted on this web site in 2011.

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