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The
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Lane County and the cities
of Eugene and Springfield have begun a multi-year study
of the function and health of waterways in the greater
metropolitan area. The study will help identify problems
and determine the feasibility of specific projects to improve
flood protection and drainage management, conservation
and restoration of wildlife and aquatic habitats, water
quality, and recreation and other uses of these open spaces.
Two
locations have been selected for immediate study: Amazon
Creek in the Eugene area and Cedar
Creek in the Springfield area.
Study
Goals and Needs
Well-managed waterways provide flood protection, fish
 and wildlife habitat, clean drinking water, recreation
and other public uses, and safe and aesthetically pleasing
areas for community development.
Certain
human activities and some natural disasters can diminish
the performance of these functions, resulting in problems
such as  flooding, erosion and bank failure, diminished
water quality, and loss of natural habitat.
A
wide range of federal, state and local laws and policies
address these problems. The metro waterways study will
help local jurisdictions respond to these requirements
by identifying cost-effective and environmentally sensitive
methods for reducing flood risks and damages, restoring
habitats, improving water quality, providing high-quality
places for public uses and community development, and making
other improvements to metro area waterways.
Funding
The multi-year study is estimated to cost $3.4 million. Half of the funding
will come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the remaining 50%
will come from the local partners from existing funds and in-kind services.
No additional taxes or fee increases are proposed to fund the study.
The
Study Area
The study encompasses approximately 240,000 acres and
includes portions of four watersheds: Long Tom River, Coast
Fork of the Willamette River, Middle Fork of the Willamette
River, the McKenzie River, and all the natural streams, ditches,
mill races, islands, backwaters and sloughs, ponds, wetlands,
and other aquatic features in the study area.
Eight
local communities are within or adjacent to the study area:
Veneta, Junction City, Coburg, Marcola-Mohawk, Creswell,
Goshen, Springfield, and Eugene.
Priority
Planning Corridors
The metro waterways study is being conducted at two levels:
- Watershed – the
entire complex of rural and urban waterways, ranging
from small headwater streams to the mainstem Willamette
and McKenzie rivers.
- Priority
planning areas – waterways identified
and prioritized for more immediate detailed analysis
with a goal to formulate specific plans for resolving
specific corridor problems. Amazon Creek and Cedar
Creek (including a portion of the McKenzie River) have
been selected as the first two priority planning corridors.
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© 2004-08 Lane Council of Governments
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