WEC Analysis Committee/Enhance natural watershed
From Eugene Neighbors
Contents |
[edit] Overview
This is one of eight integrated design issue clusters being developed by the WEC Analysis Committee starting mid-June, 2008.
Eight draft clusters... Intensify Development, Relocate Land Uses, Increase Public Transit, Enhance Pedestrian and Bikeways, Connections to Natural Resources, Enhance Natural Resources, Natural Watershed, Transportation Network
[edit] Description
The WEC focus area contains Amazon Creek and its various tributaries, of which Willow Creek is the largest. They handle stormwater, act as wildlife corridors, feed wetlands, etc. This cluster collects ideas for protection and enhance of watershed function.
[edit] Key Parameters and Rules of Thumb
- Increasing area of impervious surfaces throughout the Amazon Creek watershed, due to ongoing development, tends to increase peak flows and hence potential flooding. This is likely to be further increased by more frequent and heavier downpours due to climate change. [1]
Amazon Creek near flood at West 11th and Danebo, winter 2006
- Each of the of the major creeks are fed by numerous secondary waterways and drainage channels. All of the riparian areas throughout the basin are important wildlife corridors.
- Amazon Creek is paralleled for its entire length through the focus area by West Eugene's primary bicycle and pedestrian path.
- Land along Amazon Creek has been set aside as public open space for passive recreation and as a wildlife refuge and corridor.
- Willow Creek flows though the Willow Creek Natural Area, a private held conservation reserve.
- All of the Amazon tributaries are an integral part of the stormwater drainage system that serves West Eugene.
- The A-3 Channel is one of the most polluted waterways in Oregon. Pollutants contain heavy metals.
- The Amazon is the legal jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers in cooperation with the City of Eugene.
- The Amazon is the focus of a major restoration effort by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Land Management, local governments and partners. The study provides an integrated, comprehensive, and long-range plan for enhancing and maintaining the waterway system within this area for multiple objectives. The waterway enhancements proposed are intended to improve in-stream and adjacent habitats; repair waterways with degraded physical conditions; address water quality issues; reduce flood risks and damages; and provide quality places for public use and community development. The Metro Waterways draft EA is due to be released for public comment summer, 2008. Map of Metro Waterways Amazon Creek projects, Map of Reach 6, Map of Reach 7, Map of Reach 8, Map of Reach 5-Chambers to Bailey Hill
- The Metro Waterways project has identified about $100M of priority projects for re-naturalizing Amazon Creek, from headwaters through to the West Eugene wetlands
[edit] Community Design Implications
Our community design process should include the following broad goals for protection of waterways:
- Engineer transportation corridors that cross a waterway or a tributary channel to preserve and/or enhance the use of the waterway and its riparian zone as wildlife habitat and corridors.
- Transportation infrastructure and other development that disturbs the underlying soils must not alter or impede the underground water flow that feeds these waterways.
- Land uses that abut a waterway should be compatible with the existing uses and/or enhancement of the waterway corridor.
- Within appropriate setback areas, maintain and enhance habitat and prohibit development.
- Encourage land uses that abut these waterways to treat the waterways as amenities and require (through setbacks, appropriate plantings, etc.) enhancement of the transition area.
[edit] Implementation Process Comments
[edit] Key Questions
- To what level should recreation be encouraged along or near the watershed?
- What is the width of appropriate setback areas along various different waterways, biologically and for other factors?
