Rivers to Ridges Annual Report 2017

Section 1: Rivers to Ridges Partnership Background and Overview .............................................1 1.1 The Rivers to Ridges Partnership ............................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1.1 Vision Statement ........................................................................................................................................................ 1 1.1.2VisionRefinements ..................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Rivers to Ridges Annual Report ............................................................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Rivers to Ridges Online ............................................................................................................................................................ 2

Section 2: Land Protection ..........................................................................................................3 2.1LandProtectionin2017 .......................................................................................................................................................... 3 2.1.1 Townsend Woods ....................................................................................................................................................... 3 2.1.2WillametteRiverfrontProperty ..................................................................................................................................3 2.1.3 Rob Adams Annex....................................................................................................................................................... 3 2.1.4 Bloomberg Annex ....................................................................................................................................................... 3 2.2SummaryofOverallPartnershipAcreagesintheRiverstoRidgesPlanningArea...................................................................3

Section 3: Habitat Restoration and Management ........................................................................5 3.1 Controlled Ecological Burns ..................................................................................................................................................... 5 3.2NativePlantMaterials ............................................................................................................................................................. 6 3.2.1WestEugeneWetlandPlantMaterialsPartnership....................................................................................................6 3.2.2FriendsofBufordPark&MountPisgahNativePlantNursery ...................................................................................6 3.2.3WillowCreekNursery ................................................................................................................................................. 6 3.3HabitatRestorationandManagement ....................................................................................................................................7 3.3.1EconomicBenefitsoftheWillametteRiverConfluenceProject .................................................................................7 3.1.2WillametteConfluencePlantingEffort .......................................................................................................................7 3.3.3DorrisRanchOakandPrairieRestorationandEnhancement ....................................................................................7 3.3.4CoyoteCreekSouthPhaseI ........................................................................................................................................8 3.3.5StaleyCreekFloodplainRestorationProject ..............................................................................................................8 3.3.6CoyoteSpencerWetland ........................................................................................................................................... 8 3.3.7QuamashPrairieRestorationWorkContinues ...........................................................................................................9 3.3.8OakHabitatRestorationandHazardousFuelsReductionProject ..............................................................................9 3.3.9SmithCreekFishPassageEnhancementProject ........................................................................................................9 3.3.10GreenIslandSwaleConnectionProject....................................................................................................................9 3.3.11PrairieRestorationEffortsContinueatFernRidgeLake ...........................................................................................9

Section 4: Recreation, Education, and Events ............................................................................10 4.1RecreationalImprovements ..................................................................................................................................................10 4.1.1SkinnerButteWestSlopeTrail ..................................................................................................................................10 4.1.2BufordParkTrail5RepairProject .............................................................................................................................10 4.1.3ThurstonHillsTrailandTrailheadParkingCompleted ..............................................................................................10 4.1.4FernRidgeWildlifeAreaInformationKiosks ............................................................................................................10 4.1.5HowardBufordRecreationAreaTrail4RepairProject .............................................................................................10 4.1.6MountainBikeTrailsatThurstonHillsNaturalArea .................................................................................................11 4.1.7InterpretivePanelsatStewartPondDiscGolfCourse ..............................................................................................11 4.2CelebrationsandEvents ........................................................................................................................................................ 11 4.2.1SolarEclipseViewedfromPartnerLandsAcrosstheValley .....................................................................................11 4.2.2DavidB.MarshallHonoredbyUSFWSandPartners ................................................................................................11 4.2.3 Pisgah Heritage Cider Released ................................................................................................................................12 4.2.4WalktheLandDayatGreenIsland...........................................................................................................................12 4.2.5PlayintheRainDay .................................................................................................................................................. 12 4.3Education .............................................................................................................................................................................. 12 4.3.1 Watershed Stewards................................................................................................................................................. 12 4.32MiddleForkVolunteerPlantingCelebration ............................................................................................................13 4.3.3WRENEducationProgram ........................................................................................................................................13 4.3.4LajaRiverWatershedTwinningExchangeProgram ..................................................................................................13 4.3.5CoastForkSciencePub .............................................................................................................................................13 4.3.6DorrisRanchOakSciencePubandTour ...................................................................................................................14 4.3.7StaleyCreekFishSalvage ..........................................................................................................................................14 4.3.8MiddleForkPaddle&Pull ........................................................................................................................................14 4.3.9MRTCommunityToursandVolunteerEvents ..........................................................................................................14 4.3.10RowRiverNatureParkWesternPondTurtleHabitat .............................................................................................15 4.3.11RestorationatBakeStewartParkandDorenaEastWildlifeArea ..........................................................................15

Section 5: Planning and Publications.........................................................................................16 5.1ThurstonHillsNaturalAreaManagementPlan .....................................................................................................................16 5.2WillametteValleyConservationStudy ..................................................................................................................................16 5.3 Long Term on the Long Tom ..................................................................................................................................................17 5.4EugeneParksareSalmon-Safe! .............................................................................................................................................17 5.5OPRDNaturalResourceAssessmentandStrategicActionPlanfortheWillametteBasin ....................................................17 5.6RiverstoRidgesVisionMapUpdated ....................................................................................................................................17 5.7TrustforPublicLandSupportfortheEugeneParksandRecreationSystemPlan .................................................................17

Section 6: Administrative Structure ..........................................................................................18 6.1SummaryofActivities ............................................................................................................................................................ 18

Rivers to RidgesAnnual Report 2017

Cover Photos:LowerCoyoteCreek(JeffKrueger)

SpottedTowhee(CaryKerst)HowardBufordRecreationArea(EdAlverson)

StudentTourofSpencerButteTrail(JeffKrueger)

AnnualReportProducedByTheCityofEugeneand

JeffKruegerEnvironments

Open Space Vision and Action Plan

Willamette River

October 2010

An Open Space Vision for the Willamette River in and around Eugene-Springfield, Oregon

R2R Partnership Organizations•CityofEugene

•CoastForkWillametteWatershedCouncil•FriendsofBufordPark&MountPisgah•LaneCountyPublicWorksDepartment

• Long Tom Watershed Council•McKenzieRiverTrust

•McKenzieWatershedCouncil•MiddleForkWillametteWatershedCouncil•OregonDepartmentofFish&Wildlife

•OregonParksandRecreationDepartment•TheNatureConservancy•TheTrustforPublicLand

•U.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers•U.S.BureauofLandManagement

•U.S.Fish&WildlifeService•WillamalaneParkandRecreationDistrict

•WillametteResourcesandEducationalNetwork

1 Rivers to Ridges Partnership Background and Overview

page 1

1.1 The Rivers to Ridges Partnership

The Rivers to Ridges Partnershipisavoluntaryassociationofseventeenorganizationsworkingcollaborativelytoadvancetheprotection,restoration,management,andpublicuseofopenspaceresourcesinthesouthernWillametteValley.ThenameRiverstoRidges(R2R)emanatesfromaregionalopenspacevisiondocumentwhichwasendorsedbymanyorgani-zationsandunanimouslybylocalelectedofficialsfromtheEugene-Springfieldareain2003.

1.1.1 Vision Statement

ThevisionfortheRiverstoRidgesPartnership,asdefinedintheR2RStatementofPartnershipis:

To improve the quality of life of residents in the upper Willamette Valley by working together to protect and enhance the region’s land and water resources and their ecosystem functions and values, and to provide environmental educa-tion and compatible outdoor recreation opportunities as outlined in the Rivers to Ridges Metropolitan Regional Parks and Open Space Study - Vision and Strategies document (2003).

1.1.2 Vision Refinements

The2003visionwasfurtherrefinedbyR2RpartnersinsubsequentyearsandincludestheRidgeline Vision and Action Plan (2008)andtheWillamette River Vision and Action Plan (2010).TheRiverstoRidgespartnershipwasformalizedin2010throughaStatementofPartnership(SOP),signedbyallpartnerorganizations.TheSOPoutlinestheadministrativestruc-tureofthepartnershipandemphasizesthecommitmenttoworkcollaborativelytowardimplementationofthevision.

The R2R Partnership mission is to advance implementation of the vision outlined in the Rivers to Ridges Metropolitan Regional Parks and Open Space Study – Vision and Strategies document.

Ridgeline Area

February 2008

Open Space Vision and Action Plan

Rivers to RidgesMetropolitan Regional Parks and Open Space Study

Vision and Strategies

June 2003

WelcomeMcKenzie Watershed Council!With the unanimous vote of the R2R Executive Team, the McKenzie Watershed Council (MWC)

was formally added to the Rivers to Ridges Partnership in December. Although new to the

R2R Partnership, the MWC has been active in our area since 1993, working with private landowners to conserve and restore riparian and aquatic habitat, monitor and maintain

water quality, and provide a monthly forum for addressing important issues.

page 2

1.2 Rivers to Ridges Annual Report

ThisisthefifthAnnualReportpro-ducedbythepartnership.Thepur-poseofthereportistodocumentkeydecisionsandactivitiesfortheyearandtoprovideanoverviewofadministrativestructureoftheR2R partnership. The annual report provides the partners with an op-portunitytohighlighttheirownachievementsfromtheyearthathavesupportedtheimplementationofthesharedR2Rvision.

1.3 Rivers to Ridges Online

The R2R Partnership maintains a web site at www.rivers2ridges.orgwherevisiondocuments,maps,annualreports,andinformationaboutR2RPartnershiporganizationscanbeaccessed.

4,235acres

2017 by the Numbers

15,000Loads

6,241acres

Total acres treated through controlled ecological burns on R2R Partner lands since 1986

Acres of additional land protected by R2R Partners since 2003

The equivalent number of semi-truck loads of sand, gravel, and dirt moved during the Willamette Confluence Project

Rivers to Ridges Annual Report 2013 Rivers to Ridges Annual Report 2014

Click to Open Recent Annual Reports

Rivers to Ridges Annual Report 2015

Trail camera photos of an elk herd and a mountain lion captured at the Thurston

Hills Natural Area in 2017

Photo credit: Willamalane Photo credit: Willamalane

page 3

2 Land Protection

2.1 Land Protection in 2017

In2017,theCityofEugene and WillamalaneParkandRecreationDistrictconservedanadditional51acresofland,allthroughfeetitleacquisition.ThisbringsthetotalpartnerlandbasewithintheR2Rplanningareatoanestimated23,968acres.The2017acquisitionsandeasementsarelistedbelowandshownontheRiverstoRidgesmaponpage4.

2.1.1 Townsend Woods

The CityofEugeneacceptedadonationof33.9acresintheareajusttothewestofGreenhillRoad.Thislocationisiden-tifiedintheEugeneTrailsPlanasbeingattheintersectionoftwodesiredtrailcorridors.Thelandownerhadinitiallycontacted McKenzieRiverTrust andTheNatureConservancy aboutadonation,andduetothelocationandsiteconditions,theownerwasreferredtotheCity.ThisisgreatexampleoftheR2RPartnersworkingtogether.

2.1.2 Willamette Riverfront Property

The CityofEugenepurchaseda7-acrepropertywithover1,000feetoffrontagealongthewestbankoftheWillametteRiverin2017.Thesite,whichislocatedjusttothenorthofSantaClaraPark,hasyettobenamed.TheCityplanstousethe site to accommodate improved public access to the river andwillenhanceecologicalfunctionsovertime.

2.1.3 Rob Adams Annex

Willamalanecompletedacquisitionofa5-acrewetashwoodlandintheareaimmediatelyadjacenttoRobAdamsPark.Thesitewillberestoredovertimetosupportnativeplantspecies.

2.1.4 Bloomberg Annex

The CityofEugenecompletedthepurchaseofa4.4-acreadditiontotheRidgelineParksystemintheareajusttothesouthofBloombergPark.Theforestedsitewillprovideoptionsforfuturetrailconnectionsinthearea.

2.2 Summary of Overall Partnership Acreages in the Rivers to Ridges Planning Area

RiverstoRidgespartnerscurrentlyownorholdconservationeasementsonanestimated23,968acresoflandwithintheR2Rplanningarea(seetable)includingtheadditional51acresaddedin2017.SincetheRiverstoRidgesvisionwasen-dorsedin2003,theR2Rpartnershavecombinedtopreserveapproximately6,241acresofland,increasingtheconservedlandbasebynearlythirtypercentinjustoveradecade.

Newly acquired riverfront property

Photo credit: McKenzie River Trust

R2R Partner Ownership and Easements AcresBureauofLandManagement(WEW)* 1,305BureauofLandManagementEasement 22U.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers 3,870CityofEugene 4,531FriendsofBufordPark&MountPisgah 63LaneCounty 3,969McKenzieRiverTrust 1,600McKenzieRiverTrustEasements 1,131OregonDepartmentofFish&Wildlife 607OregonParksandRecreationDepartment** 1,943TheNatureConservancy 3,028WillamalaneParkandRecreationDistrict 1,622

Total: 23,968

* BLM owns and manages another 27,409 acres of land within the Rivers to Ridges planning area, mainly O&C land within the Coburg and Thurston Hills.

** Includes 120 acres of Oregon Department of State Land ownership.

R2R Partner Conserved Lands

Photo credit: City of Eugene

Rivers to Ridges Vision Map with Accomplishments and 2017 Acquisitions

ThemapaboveisacompilationoftheRiverstoRidgesvisionmapthatwasendorsedbylocalelectedofficialsin2003andanoverlayofmajoropenspaceacquisitionsthathaveoccurredsincethattime.2017acquisitionsareshowninred.

page 4

MWMC

Seavey Loop Rd.

Lowell

COYOTE-SPENCER

WETLANDS

COYOTECREEK

MEADOWS

COYOTE CREEK NE

COYOTEPRAIRIE

COYOTECREEK

SPENCERSWAMP

ANDREWREASONERWILDLIFEPRESERVE

GOLDENGARDENS

LOMATIUM PRAIRIE

COYOTEOAKS

COYOTESWAMP

DECKER

GREEN ISLAND

No Public Access

(MRT)

SOUTH EUGENE

MEADOWSSUZANNE

ARLIE PARK

CORYELLRIDGE

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WILLAMETTE CONFLUENCE

PRESERVE(TNC)

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MURRAYHILL

VIDERA

SKYVIEW

MELVINMILLER

HAWKINSHEIGHTS

WAYNE MORSEFAMILY FARM

CRESTHEIGHTS

LAFFERTY

BLANTONRIDGE

MOUNTBALDY

TUGMAN

KINCAID

BLOOMBERG

MOONMOUNTAIN

LAURELHILL

WASHINGTON

EASTGATEWOODLANDSMONROE

MAURIEJACOBS

PARKBLOCKS

RASOR

WALNUTGROVE

PETERSON

WENDOVERAWBREY

TERRALINDA

CREEKSIDE

STRIKERFIELD

WILLAKENZIE

OAKMONT

GILLESPIEBUTTE

SORRELPOND

BONDLANE

ARROWHEAD

FERNDALE

LONEOAK

WESTBANK

OWENROSE

GARDEN

EMERALD PARK

(RRPRD)

Dillard

Road

Willam

ette

QUAMASH PRAIRIE

ShortMountain

Landfill

MEADOWLARKPRAIRIE

MWMCBiocycle

Farm

Airport

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ELIJAHBRISTOW

STATE PARK

DEXTERSTATE PARK

JASPERSRS

BOBKEEFERCENTER

HARVESTLANDING

WEST D GREENWAY

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LCC

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LIVELY

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BOBARTZ

WILLAMALANE

Creek

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VICKERY

Mohawk

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View

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Mohaw

k

32nd

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Centennial

42nd

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Upper SpencerCreek Grassland and Oak/Prime Woodland

Long-TermReclama�on Opportuni�es

Rivers to Ridges

* Map Update: This vision map was revised in 2017 to include updated extent of conserved lands, trails, and paths along with a more detailed geographic base. The parks and open space vision shown is consistent with the concepts depicted on the original 2003 Rivers to Ridges vision map and subsequent refinements including the 2008 Ridgeline Area Open Space Vision and the 2010 Willamette River Open Space Vision. The Rivers to Ridge vision was endorsed by the Lane County Board of Commissioners (February 2003), The Eugene City Council (March 2003), the Willamalane Park and Recrea�on District Board (April 2003), and the Springfield City Council (May 2003), all by unanimous consent. The vision is intended to provide a framework for future open space planning efforts.

June 2003 Vision (Updated December 2017*)

Metropolitan Regional Parks and Open Space Vision Map

Legend Parks, Open Space, and Conserved Lands (Public)Other Conserved Lands (Land Trusts and Non-Profits)*Rivers and StreamsReservoirs (full pool)Exis�ng So�-Surfaced Recrea�onal TrailsExis�ng Hard-Surfaced Path

Scale

0 2 Miles1 Map produced by Jeff Krueger and the

R2R Partnership

Rivers to Ridges Vision ElementsKey Open Space Anchors (Exis�ng and Possible Future)Key Upland Corridors (Ridges)Key Water Based Corridors (Rivers and Streams)Key Agricultural Areas and Community BuffersProposed Future Regional Trails and Paths (Conceptual)Community Gateways

Vision with 2017 Conserved Lands

* Public access is typically not provided to these areas.

Major Accomplishments Since 2003Major Open Space Land Acquisi�ons and Conserva�on Easements

2017 Acquisi�ons and Easements

New Paths and Trail Segments

TOWNSENDWOODS

RIVER

BLOOMBERGANNEX

ROB ADAMSADDITION

page 5

3 Habitat Restoration and Management

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300

400

500

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Acres

Yearly Acreage Burned by Rivers to Ridges Partners (acres)

2017 Coyote Prairie burn underway

3.1 Controlled Ecological Burns

TheR2RPartnershipcompletedninecontrolledecologicalburnstotaling306acresin2017onU.S.BureauofLandMan-agement,TheNatureConservancy,CityofEugene,andU.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers(ACOE)administeredlands.Over900acreswereplannedforthissummerandfall,however,acreageremainedbelowthe348acrefive-yearaverageduetosmokeimpactsfromwildfiresacrossthePacificNorthwest,aswellasfiredangerlevelsremainingelevatedthroughthemonthofSeptemberwhenburningtypicallyoccurs.

AsummerburnwassuccessfullyconductedatTNC’sWillametteConfluencePreserveinuplandprairieandriparianareasinpreparationforseedingwithnativespecies.Aspartofacomprehensiverestorationplan,controlledburningwasimple-

mentedsafelywithunitssurroundedbylargeareasofbareearthcreatedthroughexcavationofformergravelpitsintheprocessofbeingreconnectedtotheriverfloodplain.

TheCenterforNaturalLandsManagementandJointBaseLewis-McChordpartneredwithTNCtocon-ductcontrolledecologicalburnsintheRiverstoRidgesPartnershipandthroughouttheWillametteVal-leyunderacooperativefiremanagementagreementforthefirsttimethisyear.BothentitiesconductburnsthroughoutthesummerinPugetSound’sprairiesforhabitatrestorationandconservationofrareand endangered species.

DroneswereusedtofilmburningatCoyotePrairie(photoleft),ownedandmanagedbytheCityofEugene,providingabird’seyeviewoftheuseoffireforhabitatmanagement.ThefirstentryoffireinrecenthistoryattheACOE’sEastWildlifeAreaonthenortheastshoreofDorenaLakewasalsocon-ductedtomaintainprairiehabitatstructure.BurningformaintenanceoffederallylistedFender’sbluebutterflyanditshostplantKincaid’slupine,wasalsocompletedin2017bytheBLMandpartnersnearFirButte.

Drone photos provided a unique perspective of the 2017 burn at Coyote Prairie

Photo credit: AJ Hudgik (ODF)

page 6

Clarikia amonia in production bed at Heritage Seedlings

3.2 Native Plant Materials

3.2.1 West Eugene Wetland Plant Materials Partnership

The U.S.BureauofLandManagement,CityofEugene,andTheNatureConservancy’splantmaterialspartnershipcontinuestoproducelocally-sourcednativeseedandplantsforrestorationandenhance-menteffortswithintheWestEugeneWetlandsandassociateduplandprairies.Inadditiontomorecom-monnativeannualsandperennials,theprogramisprovidingseedofslow-growingprairiespecies,suchascommoncamasandnarrow-leafmule’sear,thattakefiveormoreyearstoreachreproductivesizeandthusrequirealong-termproductioncommitment.ThePartnership’s0.1-acreCamasbeds,forex-ample,arenowproducingbetween40and75poundsofseedannually.

Forthe2017harvestyear,thePartnershiplostoneofitsthreevaluedproducers,thefederalCorval-lisPlantMaterialsCenter(PMC).ThePMCwasunabletocontinuetopropagate22nativespeciesforthePartnership,primarilyannualandvernalpoolspeciesthatarenototherwiseavailable.In2017,thepartnershipwasabletocontinuetosupplynativeseedofover70speciesforuseinlocalrestorationandenhancementprojects,byrelyingoninventoryforthosespeciespreviouslygrownbyPMC.ThePartnersareexploringoptionsforreplacingthePMCspecies.

AlthoughalmostallofthenativeseedusedinthepartnershipisproducedbyWillametteValleygrowers,thepartnershipcontinuestorelyonhandcollectionfromwildsitesforafew,locallycommonwetlandspeciesandtoaddgeneticdiversitytocultivatedspecies.Seasonalbotanistsandinternsworkingforthepartnershiphandcollectedseedof27nativespeciesin2017andsubmittedseedfromseveralofthese

collectionstothenationalSeedsofSuccessprogram,whichpartiallyfundsthenativeplantmaterialsprogramthroughtheBLM.Altogether,about850poundsoflocalnativeseedwasproducedandprocuredfortheplantmaterialsprogramin2017,withover700additionalpoundsusedfromseedinventory.Theprogramsuccessfullyprovidedseedforabout265acresofrestorationprojectsinover20locations.Inaddition,theprogramagainprovided72seedmixesforanongoingresearchprojectaddressingrecoveryofFender’sbluebutterflyandprairierestoration.

3.2.2 Friends of Buford Park & Mt. Pisgah Native Plant Nursery

The FriendsofBufordPark&MountPisgah(Friends)managesanativeplantmaterialsprogramwithatwo-acrenurseryfacilityatitscore.Thenursery,locatedinLaneCounty’sBufordPark,propagatesplantmaterialsforuseinhabitatprojectsinthegreaterMountPisgaharea.ThenurseryalsoprovidessurplusseedandplantstootherrestorationentitiesforhabitatprojectselsewhereintheWillametteValley.Staffandsupervisedvolunteerscollectcuttings,divisions,andseedsfromdiversenativeplantpopulationsfoundatMountPisgah,andthenpropagatetheminthenursery.Thenurseryproducedplantmaterialsfrom150nativespecies,includinggrasses,wildflowers,shrubs,andtrees.MuchofthismaterialisbeingutilizedforthenearbyConfluenceFloodplainRestorationProject.

3.2.3 Willow Creek Nursery

TheNatureConservancy’sWillowCreekNurserycontinuestoproducesmallquantitiesofBradshaw’slomatium,Willamettedaisy,andKincaid’slupineseedforuseinlocalrestorationprojects,mostlyattheWillowCreekPreserve.

Friends Nursery Native Plant Open House

page 7

Photo credit: Jeff Krueger

3.3 Habitat Restoration and Management

ListedbelowisasamplingofmajorhabitatrestorationandmanagementprojectsimplementedbyR2Rpartnersin2017.

3.3.1 Economic Benefits of the Willamette Confluence Restoration Project

Aftersevenyearsandmovingenoughsand,gravel,anddirttofill15,000semi-trucks,sixmilesoftheWil-lametteRiverhavebeenreconnectedtohistoricfloodplainhabitat.Notonlyisthisprojectresultinginma-jorhabitatimprovements,it’salsopayingdividendstothelocaleconomy.

“Onthenationallevel,it’sreportedthat$2.2to$3.4millionintotaleconomicoutputand13to32jobsarecreatedforevery$1millioninvestedinecosystemrestoration,”saidBCIContractingOwnerDanPorter.“InOregon,it’sestimatedthat24jobsarecreatedper$1,000,000invested,and80percentofthemoneyspentonrestorationprojectsstayswithinthecountywheretheprojectislocated.”Throughlocalsupport,private,Stateandfederalgrants,nearly$7millionwillhavebeeninvestedinthisprojectduringthelastdecade.Thatequatesto168jobsand$5.6millioninvestedinLaneCounty.ThisisthelargestfloodplainrestorationprojectevertotakeplaceontheWillametteRiver,andthebenefitsitprovidestopeopleandnatureareseeminglyendless.Thistypeofhabitatconnectionontherivernotonlyprovidesaboosttothelocaleconomy,itcleansdrinkingwater,aidsinfloodcontrol,createsmorerecreationopportunitiesandprovidescriticalhabitatforfishspecies,includingthethreatenedChinooksalmon.“Inthecomingyear,

we’llenterthefinalphaseofthisprojectandplantmoretrees,shrubsandplants,”saidTheNatureConservancy’sWil-lametteRestorationManagerJasonNuckols.“We’relookingforwardtosharinglessonslearnedtoscalethisprojectwithinandbeyondOregon.”

3.3.2 Willamette Confluence Planting Effort

Afteryearsofplanningandinter-agencycollaboration,extensivesitepreparation,thenexcavating15channelsegmentstoconnect10historicgravelpondstotheWillamette,theFriendsofBufordPark&MountPisgah have completed a massive plantingefforttorestorefivedifferenthabitattypesonover60acresonthreeownerships.TheplantingprojectimproveddiversehabitatsonlandsownedbytheFriendsofBufordPark&MountPisgah(TurtleFlats),TheNatureConservancy(Wil-lametteConfluencePreserve),andtheOregonParksandRecreationDepartment(GlassBarAccess).TheplantingeffortcommencedinFall2016aftertherainsreturned,andcontinueduntilApril2017.

Friends’stewardshipstaffledvolunteersandvariedcontractcrews,whichincludedhelpfromOregonWoods,NorthwestYouthCorps,andWalamaRestoration.Inall,crewsplantedover62,000treesandshrubsandover31,000“plugs”ofgrass-esandwildflowers,andbroadcastover850poundsofnativeseed.Over113differentspeciestobenefitadiversityoffishandwildlifespecieshavebeenused.

3.3.3 Dorris Ranch Oak and Prairie Restoration and Enhancement

The MiddleForkWillametteWatershedCouncil and WillamalaneParkandRecreationDistrict partnered to restore 15 acres ofoakwoodlandand33acresofprairiehabitatatDorrisRanchinSpringfield.Historically,thiswoodlandwasdominatedbyOregonwhiteoak,butoverthepastcentury,Douglas-fir,bigleafmaple,Oregonash,andcherryhavetakenover.ThesetreeswereoutcompetingtheoaksforsunlightandotherimportantresourcesandreducingkeyhabitatforspeciesthatdependonoakssuchastheacornwoodpeckerandWesterngraysquirrel.Toremedythisproblem,theprojectfocusedon“releasing”theoaktreesbythinningthemajorityofthenon-desirabletrees.TheresultisamoreopenwoodlandthatwillallowtheOregonwhiteoaktothrive.Additionally,contractorshavebeenremovinginvasivespeciesfromtheprairiethroughout2016and2017.FundingforthisprojectcamefromtheOregonWatershedEnhancementBoardandWillama-lane.

Confluence Restoration Project area looking west (down river) with the 2017 levee removal

area shown on the left side of the photo.

Results of the 2016 planting effort at Turtle Flats

Photo credit: Friends

page 8

3.3.4 Coyote Creek South Phase I

Constructionandplantingatthe116-acrefirstphaseofCoyoteCreekSouthwascom-pletedthroughcollaborativepartnershipbetweentheLong Tom Watershed Council and OregonDepartmentofFishandWildlifewithadditionalassistanceprovidedbytheCityofEugene,U.S.Fish&WildlifeService,BonnevillePowerAdministration,andtheAmericanBirdConservancy.Withthegoalofrestoringnativewetprairiehabitats,thesiteispartoftheFernRidgeWildlifeArea(FRWA)andadjacenttotheCityofEugene’sCoyotePrai-riesite.ThroughanOregonWatershedEnhancementBoardgrant,theLTWCwasabletoprovidefundstoassistwithplanning,pre-projectmonitoring,planting,andpurchasingofseedfromsixtyspeciesofwetprairieplants.Therestorationprocessconsistedoftwoyearsofsitepreparationtoremovethenon-nativeseedbankthroughmowingandselec-tiveherbicidetreatments,followedbythecreationofshallowvernalpoolsandaseriesofbermstoretainwateronthesite.StafffromtheODFWHabitatProgramutilizedUSFWSequipmenttoperformtheearthwork.Overthecourseoffiveweeks,ODFWconstructedeighteen berms and seven vernal pools.

3.3.5 Staley Creek Floodplain Restoration Project

StaleyCreek,atributaryoftheUpperMiddleForkWillametteRiver,washistoricallystraightened,channelizedandbermed,resultinginadegradedstreamdisconnectedfromitsfloodplain.Toremedythat,inJulyandAugust2017,theMiddleForkWillamette

Watershed CouncilandtheU.S.ForestService(USFS)MiddleForkRangerDistrictimplementedalarge-scalefloodplainrestorationproject.Projectimplementationincludedpushingoverwholetreeswithrootwadsinuplandforeststocreategapsandtransportingthemtotherestorationsite;removinginvasivevegetationintheprojectarea;movingnearly50,000cubicyardsofmaterialtoremovebermsandraiseincisedchannels;andplacingapproximately600piecesoflargewoodacrossthefloodplain.Thefinalproductis46acresoffloodplainreconnectedoveronestreammile.ThiswasthelargestprojectthattheMFWWChasevertakenonanditcouldnothavehappenedwithoutourpartnershipwiththeUSFS,assis-tancefromOregonDepartmentofFishandWildlife,andtheexcellentcontractingservicesprovidedbyHaleyConstructionCompany.Weexpectthisnew,dynamiclandscapetodampenfloodevents,raisethewatertableandincreasefloodwaterstorage.Byrestoringthesehydrologicprocesses,habitatconditionswillimproveand,inturn,willbenefitfishandwildlife.FundingforthisprojectcamefromtheOregonWatershedEnhancementBoard,theUSFS,andtheWesternNativeTroutInitiative.

3.3.6 Coyote Spencer Wetland

In2017,theMcKenzieRiverTrustpartneredwiththeInstituteforAppliedEcology(IAE)toplant9,180nativeripariantrees,shrubs,andprairieplantsonthe190-acreCoyoteSpencerWetlandproperty.Workcontinueswithmowingandspraying30acresofprairiehabitat.MRTandIAEalsofinishedatwo-yearplotstudyresearchinglivestockgrazingeffectsonBradshaw’slomatiumaspartofanOWEB,Bradshaw’slomatiumHabitatManagementproject.Theproject’sgoalsaretostudyanddevelopgrazingtechniquesthatwillbenefitwetlandhabitatsandpositivelyimpactBradshaw’slomatiumpopulationsintheWillametteValley.

3.3.7 Quamash Prairie Restoration Work Continues

LaneCountyWasteManagementcontinuestoimplementwetlandrestorationactivitiesatQuamashPrairienearShortMountain.Restorationbeganin2003witha28-acrewetlanden-hancementthatmitigatedforwetlandlossassociatedwithexpansionoftheShortMountainLandfill.Currently86acresofwetlandsarebeingmanagedatthesitewiththehelpoflocalhighschools.Since2009,approximately600studentvisitseachyearhavecontributedtowet-land habitat improvements.

Coyote Creek South Phase (looking south)

Berm removal and large wood placement underway at Staley Creek in 2017

Photo credit: Tim Giraudier

page 9

3.3.8 Oak Habitat Restoration and Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project

Throughfundingpro-vided through the U.S.BureauofLandMan-agement’sCommunityAssistance Fund and additionalfundingre-ceived in partnership with the Long Tom Watershed Council,the CityofEugene completedprojectsmeetingmultiplegoalsincluding habitat resto-ration(oakandmixedwoodland)andhazard-ousfuelsreduction.Through these partner-ships,projectswereimplementedonSkinnerButte,SuzanneArlie,WildIrisRidge,andSouthEugeneMeadowsin2017.

3.3.9 Smith Creek Fish Passage Enhancement Project

Twounder-designedandunder-sizedculvertswerereplacedwithbridgesalongSmithCreek,atributarytotheCoastForkWillametteRiver.Aftercompletion,largewoodwasplacedinthecreektoimproveandrestorenativefishhabitat.TheprojectwascompletedinSeptember2017andopened3.5milesoffishspawninghabitat.ProjectpartnersincludeCoast

ForkWillametteWatershedCouncil,U.S.BureauofLandManagement,OregonDepartmentofFishandWild-life,andWeyerhaeuserCompany.

3.3.10 Green Island Swale Connection Project

The McKenzieRiverTrustcompletedanotherfloodplainenhancementprojectatGreenIslandin2017,withtheconnectionofafloodplainswaletoasidechanneloftheWillametteRiver.Theprojectincludedthere-movalofrevetmentstoconnectwhathadbeenanisolatedman-madefishingpondintothesidechannel.Beyondthepondisaswalethatwillnow,onaverage,beinundated14daysoftheyearnowthattherevet-menthasbeenremoved.Inall,350feetofleveeand12,200yardsofmaterialwasremoved,and47acresoffrequentlyinundatedswalesplantedintoriparianforest.ThisprojectwasmadepossiblebyanOWEBSpecialInvestmentProgramgrantawardwhichwasfundedbyOWEB,BonnevillePowerAdministration(BPA),andtheMeyerMemorialTrust.

3.3.11 Prairie Restoration Efforts Continue at Fern Ridge Lake

The U.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineerscompletedthetwentiethyearofprairierestoration,host,andnectarplantaugmentationintheFernRidgeLakeareatoimprovehabitatconditionsfortheFender’sbluebutterfly.Pre-scribedfireonportionsof3unitswithNorthwestOregonDistrictBLMfireshopwascompletedin2017,fol-lowedbyseedingandtransplantingwithstaffandLaneMetroYouthCorps.Butterflycountsareamongthehighestsincemonitoringbegan.TheCorpsalsoburned50acresofBradshaw’slomatiumandWillamettedaisyhabitatintheFisherButteunitoftheFernRidgeNaturalArea.UnburnedareawillserveascontrolsinanongoingdemographicstudyofthelargestremnantWillamettedaisypopulation.

Large wood placement on Smith Creek

Photo credit: CFWWC

Fuels reduction project a Skinner Butte Park

4 Recreation, Education, and Events

page 10

Photo credit: Willamalane

4.1 Recreational Improvements

4.1.1 Skinner Butte West Slope Trail

ToimproveaccessandsafetyintheareaaboveclimbingcolumnsonthewestsideofSkinnerButte,theCityofEugene con-structedanewquarter-miletrail.Thistrailincludesapproximately45woodensteps,gravelsurfacing,andcablehandrails.Thetrailwillprovideasingle,well-definedroutetothesummit,replacingmultipleusertrailsthathadformedovertime.Usersoftheseunauthorizedtrailswereunintentionallycausinghabitatimpactsandoftendislodgedrocksabovethispopu-larrock-climbingarea,causingsafetyconcerns.SinceitsopeninginDecember,thenewtrailhasbecomeapopularroutetothe summit.

4.1.2 Buford Park Trail 5 Repair Project

FriendsofBufordPark&MountPisgahstaffandVolunteerscollaboratedwithLaneCountyPublicWorksstafftorepairandexistingone-milesegmentoftrail5inBufordPark.Theimprovedtrailpro-videsyear-roundaccessandconnectivityfortrailusersandparkstaffalike.

4.1.3 Thurston Hills Trail and Trailhead Parking Completed

A new Willamalanetrailheadanda50-vehicleparkinglot,locatedalongMcKenzieHighway(Hwy.126),wasdesignedandconstructedinthesummerof2017toserveasthemaintrailheadfortheThurstonHillsNaturalArea.ThetrailheadservestheNorthAccessTrail,whichwilleventuallypro-videaccesstoanextensivenetworkofsoftsurfacetrailsopentohikersandmountainbikers.Inad-dition,approximatelythreemilesofnewtrailwereconstructedtoprovidethepublicwithaccesstothis natural area.

4.1.4 Fern Ridge Wildlife Area Information Kiosks

Threeinformationalkioskscompletewithnewinterpretivesignagewereconstructedbythe“FriendsofFernRidgeWildlifeAreaTuesdayVolun-teerCrew”attheCantrell,Fisher

Butte,andRoyalParkingLotswithassistancefromOregon DepartmentofFishandWildlife.Materialsfortheprojectwerepurchasedwithfundsreceivedfromwildlifeareaparkingpermits.

4.1.5 Wild Iris Ridge Trail Grand Opening

OnOctober24th,theCityofEugene held a grand opening oftheWildIrisRidgeSharedUsetrail.The1.3-milesectionprovideswonderfulviewsoftheWestEugeneWetlandsandmuchoftheRidgeline.ThisisnowthewesternmostsectionoftheRidgelineTrail.

Skinner Butte West Slope Trail

Photo credit: City of Eugene

page 11

4.1.6 Mountain Bike Trails at Thurston Hills Natural Area

OurlocalMountainBikeClub,theDisciplesofDirt,haspartneredwithWillamalaneParksandRecreationDis-trict toconstructanetworkofmountainbiketrailsintheThurstonHillsNaturalArea.Twowell-attendedworkpartieswereheldinthefallof2017whereapproximatelytwomilesoftrailwereconstructed.Additionalworkisplannedfor2018.

4.1.7 Interpretive Panels at Stewart Pond Disc Golf Course

WillametteResources&EducationalNetwork partnered with the CityofEugene,U.S.BureauofLandManagement,andtheEugeneDiscGolfClubaspartofthecreationofadiscgolfcourse,whichwascompletedin2015.WRENhadthespecifictaskofhelpingtocreateinterpretivepanelsateachholethathighlightthenaturalhistoryofwetlandecosystemsatStewartPonds.Thepanelsweredesignedandcompletedin2017andarecurrentlyintheprocessofbeinginstalledat Stewart Ponds.

4.2 Celebrations and Events

4.2.1 Solar Eclipse Viewed from Partner Lands Across the Valley

NoannualreportwouldbecompletewithoutmentioningtheamazingnaturalphenomenonthattrackedacrosstheWillametteValleyonAugust17,2017.Thetotalsolareclipsewasenjoyedbycloseto7,000visitorsacrosstheU.S.FishandWildlifeServiceRefugesintheWillametteValley!We’restillinawe.

4.2.2 David B. Marshall Honored by USFWS and Partners

OnSaturday,September23rd,theU.S.FishandWildlifeService honored David B.Marshallwhowasinstrumentalines-tablishingtheWillametteValleyRefuges.TogetherwiththeFriendsoftheWil-lametteValleyNationalWildlifeRefugeComplex,SalemAudubonSocietyandAudubonSocietyofPortland,theUSFWSdedicatedtheDavidB.MarshallStudySiteandfutureOutdoorClassroomatPeregrineMarshinhishonor.Hewasanamazingmanandleftanincrediblecon-servationlegacy.Thatsameday,AnkenyNationalWildlifeRefugehostedanOpenHousewithpartnersandvolunteersof-feringactivitiesatallofthefavoritepull-outsandoverlooks.

Northern Flicker

Northern Flickers are large, brown woodpeckers with black-scalloped plumage. Although it can climb up the trunks of trees and hammer on wood like other woodpeckers, the Northern Flicker prefers to find food on the ground. Flickers eat mainly ants and beetles, digging for them with their unusual, slightly curved bill.  Flickers can often be seen in the edges of  woodland openings or clearings. 

Photo courtesy of Greg Giesy

Disciples of Dirt work party at the Thurston Hills Natural Area

One of nineteen interpretive panelsthat were developed for installation at the Stewart Pond Disc Golf Course

Eclipse watchers at Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge

David B. Marshall Study Site dedication

page 12

4.2.3 Pisgah Heritage Cider Released

FriendsofBufordPark&MountPisgahgatheredattheNativePlantNurserytotasteandtoastthereleaseoftwobenefitcidersdevelopedincollaborationwithWildCraftCider-Works.ThePisgahHeritageCiderisanestatesourcedEnglishhawthornheirloomappleciderproducedfromfruitharvestedintheoldorchardslocatedintheNorthBottom-landsofBufordPark.Removalofthefruitfromthelandscapeisacorestrategytosup-pressthespreadofinvasivespecies.FriendscollaboratewithWildCrafttoutilizetheotherwisewastedresource.Revenuefromthesaleofthefruitaswellasthefinishedcidersupportmanagementofinvasivespecies.

4.2.4 Walk the Land Day at Green Island

McKenzieRiverTrusthelditsfourthconsecutivecelebrationatGreenIslandinJunewhereover1,000guestsenjoyedawarmearly-summerday.Visitorswentonguidedhikes,climbedtrees,floatedonkayaks,listentomusic,orquietlyexplorednature’sbeautyattheirleisurebyfootorbike.Numerouspartnershadeducationalboothsincluding OregonDepartmentofFishandWildlife,theMiddleForkWillametteWa-tershed Council,theCoastForkWillametteWatershedCouncil,andtheMcKenzieWatershed Council,justtonameafew.Thisfreeeventwasmadepossiblebyamulti-tudeofsponsorsandvolunteers.

4.2.5 Play in the Rain Day

ThetenthannualPlayintheRainDay,whichisintendedtoprovideopportunitiesforyouthtospendtimeinnature,washeldattheMountPisgahArboretuminNovember.Thisfree,fun,all-agesfamilyeventwaswellattendedandincludedtreeclimbing,campfirecookery,natureexploration,naturecrafts,hayrides,and scavenger hunts. The event isacollaborationofmultipleor-ganizationsincludingU.S.BureauofLandManagement,theCityofEugene,FriendsofBufordPark&MountPisgah,NearbyNature,NorthwestYouthCorps,MountPisgahArboretum,Willamalane ParkandRecreationDistrict,theU.S.ForestService,andWilla-metteResources&EducationalNetwork(WREN).

4.3 Education

4.3.1 Watershed Stewards

Duringthe2016/2017schoolyear,theMiddleForkWillametteWatershedCouncilsuccessfullylaunchedtheWatershedStewardsprograminpartnershipwithOakridgeHighSchool.Feedbackfromteachers,students,andcolleagues,plusex-tensiveresearchintocomparableoutdoorsciencecurricula,providedtheMFWWCEducationCoordinatorwithmyriadideasfortherevampprocess.Theresultingcurriculum,WatershedStewards2.0,takestheplace-basedwatershededu-cationfoundationoftheoriginalcurriculum,andexpandstheprogramtoincludeunitsonsalmon,waterquality,waterquantity,snowscience,invasivespecies,andawiderrangeofrestorationopportunities.Allunitshaveconciselessonplans

Guided hike at the Walk the Land Day

withhands-onclassroomactivitiesandopportunitiesforfieldstudies.Aspartofthiscurriculum,LowellHighSchoolstudentshavebeenmentoringLowellthirdgradersduringtheirsalmonfieldstudies.Italsoaimstobringstudentstotheupperwatershedthiswinterforasnowshoehiketocol-lectsnowpackmonitoringdata,followedbyservicelearningopportuni-tiesinrestorationandmonitoringinspring2018.

4.3.2 Middle Fork Volunteer Planting Celebration

InFebruary2017,MiddleForkWillametteWatershedCouncil hosted a volunteerplantingcelebrationatElijahBristowStateParkinpartnershipwith OregonParksandRecreationDepartment.Thirty-fivevolunteershelpedplantseveralhundrednativeshrubsandtreestohelprestoreLostCreek’sripariancorridorthencelebratedwithapotluckattheMFWWCoffice.

4.3.3 WREN Education Program

In2017,WillametteResourcesandEducationNetwork(WREN)heldato-talof35fieldtripsand18classroomprogramsthatsharetherichnaturalhistoryofrestoredwetlands,theirimportantecosystemservices,andthespecificplantsandanimalsthatlivehere.WRENalsoreachedyouthandfamiliesthroughFamilyExplorationDays,whichwereheldatavarietyofsitesintheWestEugeneWetlands.Inaddition,WRENreachedadultslife-longlearnersthroughourWetlandsWanders,ledbylocalexperts.WRENwasalsoakeypartnerinavarietyofcommunityoutreachpro-grams,includingtheMushroomandWildflowerFestivalsheldatMountPisgah,thePlayintheRainDay,andtablingeventsinthecommunity.

4.3.4 Laja River Watershed Twinning Exchange Program

OnJune8,severalRiverstoRidgespartnersmetwithrepresentativesfromtheLajaRiverwatershedofGuanajuato,Mexico.Thevisitwaspartofa“twinning”exchangeprogramsponsoredinpartbyMeyerMemorialTrust,theWillametteRiverInitiative,andothers.Moreinformationaboutthisprogramcanbefoundat http://willametteinitiative.org/river-sto-ries/river-people/13652.

4.3.5 Coast Fork Science Pub

ThisfunandfamilyfriendlycommunityeventsponsoredbytheCoastForkWillametteWatershed Council takesplaceonthefourthTuesdayofeverymonthattheAxeandFiddleinCottageGrove.Topicsrangefromawidevarietyofnaturalresourcetopicsandcomefromavarietyofpointsofview.Thispopulareventisoftenatcapacityandin2017beganbeing broadcast on the CFWWC YouTube Channel.

Volunteers learn how to properly plant native shrubs and trees at Elijah Bristow State Park during the

Middle Fork Planting Celebration.

Rivers to Ridges Partners tour Delta Ponds with representatives from the Laja River

Watershed of Guanajuato, Mexico

Photo credit: Michelle Emmons

CFWWC Science Pub

page 13

4.3.6 Dorris Ranch Oak Science Pub and Tour

ToconnectthecommunitywiththerestorationworkatDorrisRanch,MiddleForkWillametteWatershedCouncil and Wil-lamalaneParksandRecreationDistricthostednearly60peopleatasciencepubandtour.StafffromMFWWC,Willama-lane,andU.S.Fish&WildlifeServicegavetalksinthehistoricbarnabouttheimportanceofoakhabitatanddetailsabouttheproject.Thenparticipantswereledonawalkingtourthroughtheprojectareatolearnaboutandseeinvasivespecies,oakwoodlandhabitats,nativebirds,andhistoryoftheareafromlocalexperts.Theeventwassponsoredbylocalbusinesses,includingMountainRoseHerbs,PlankTownBrewing,and100MileBakery.

4.3.7 Staley Creek Fish Salvage

DuringtheStaleyCreekFloodplainRestorationProject(seeSection3.3.5),itwasnecessarytodivertwaterfromthestreamchannelwhichinevitablyplacedfishindan-gerofbeingstrandedinadrystreambed.Tolimitthepossibleimpacts,theMiddleForkWillametteWatershedCouncilorganizedapproximately20volunteerstohelpsalvagenativefishesfromthestreambeforedewateringoccurredandmovedthemtosafetyoutsideoftheproj-ectarea.Thisvolunteereventwasagreatwaytoexposecommunitymemberstorestorationinactionandcreateacommunity-basedrestorationethic.

4.3.8 Middle Fork Paddle & Pull

TocelebrateEarthDayandhelpoutnativeWesternPondTurtles,MiddleForkWillametteWatershedCouncil and OregonParksandRecreationDepart-mentteameduptofloatahandfulofvolunteersdowntheMiddleForkWillametteRivertoanislandinElijahBristowStateParkwheretheyworkedtoremove scotch broom.

4.3.9 MRT Community Tours and Volunteer Events

In2017,McKenzieRiverTrusthostedatotalof13communitytoursandvolunteereventswithintheR2Rservicearea.Throughtheseevents,morethan1,000peoplevisitedconservationsitesincludingCoyoteCreekMeadows,BerggrenWatershedConservationArea,An-drewReasonerWildlifePreserve,GreenIsland,CoyoteSpencerWetlands,andChubSlough.

Community members learn about invasive species during the Dorris Ranch Oak Science Pub and Tour

Photo credit: MFWWC

Volunteers at the Middle Fork Paddle & Pull show off one of the piles of Scotch broom they removed to

protect western pond turtle habitat.

Photo credit: MFWWC

A group of McKenzie River Trust volunteers

page 14

4.3.10 Row River Nature Park Western Pond Turtle Habitat

In2017,theCoastForkWillametteWatershedCouncilcompletedinstallationofinterpretivesignsintheRowRiverNatureParktoincreaseawarenessandknowledgeoftheWesternNativePondTurtlepopulationthatresidesinthepark.ThesesignsweredesignedwiththehelpoftheCityofEugene and OregonDepartmentofFishandWildlife.InstallationwascompletedbytheCityofCottageGroveinSummer2017.

4.3.11 Restoration at Bake Stewart Park and Dorena East Wildlife Area

WithsupportoftheU.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers,theAlKenne-dyAlternativeHighSchool,producedandinstallednativeplantsatDorenaEastWildlifeAreaandBakeStewartPark.Theprojectnowexceeds30,000plugsincludingOregongeranium,biscuit-roots,lupine,Oregoniris,Tolmiestar-tulip,androsecheckermal-low.WithassistancefromtheNorthwestOregonDistrictBLMfireshop,theCorpsburned30acresinEastWildlifeArea.Post-burnseeding included important pollinator resources such as Phac-elia,Potentilla,Eriophyllum,Gilia capitata. Golden paintbrush (Castilleja levisecta)wasalsointroducedtothesite.

Newly installed interpretive signage at the Row River Nature Park

Golden paintbrush

Photo credit: CFWWC

page 15

SpringfieldMill Race

Photo credit: Audrey Squires

page 16

5 Planning and Publications

Thurston Hills Natural Area viewed from the south

5.1 Thurston Hills Natural Area Management Plan

WillamalaneParkandRecreationDistrictcom-pletedatManagementPlanforits665-acreThurston Hills Natural AreaPark.ThisManage-ment Plan serves as the overarching guide to activitiesatthesiteforthenext20yearsinclud-inghabitatrestorationand public access. The Plan was reviewed and approvedbyBPAandOregonDepartmentofFishandWildlifeand isalreadybeingimple-mented.

5.2 Willamette Valley Conservation Study

The U.S.FishandWildlifeServicehasspentthelastseveralyearsconductingtheWillamette Valley Conservation Study whichwasfinalizedinMarch2017.Thereisalonghistoryofpartnersworkingtogethertoaddressnaturalresourceconser-vationissues,throughland-basedandeducationalconservationactionsacrosstheWillametteValley.Todeterminewhereandhowtheseactionscouldbecomplemented,theUSFWSworkedcloselywiththeOregonDepartmentofFishandWildlife,andothergovernmentalandnon-governmentalorganizationsengagedinconservationeffortsintheWillametteValleytocompleteastudyofland-basedconservationneedsandopportunities.Forthepurposesofthisstudy,land-basedconservationincludesactionstoidentify,preserve,restore,andmanageterrestrialareasprimarilyfortheirwildlifehabitatvalueswhilepromotingnature-basedrecreationalandeducationalactivitieswhereappropriate.Thestudyrecommendsthatnetworksofgrasslands,oakwoodlands,andriparianhabitatsinspecificareasofthevalley—subsetsofConservationOpportunityAreasidentifiedbytheODFW,beprovidedassafeandsecurehabitattoallowpopulationsofsensitivenativewildlifeandplantsspaceandtimetorecover.EstablishingthesehabitatnetworksprovidesanopportunitytoreclaimaportionoftheValley’snaturalheritageforcurrentandfuturegenerationsofOregonianstoexperienceandenjoy.

5.3 Long Term on the Long Tom

The Long Tom Watershed CouncilcontinueddevelopmentofthegrantfundedLowerLongTomHabitatImprovementPlanin2017.Workthisyearincludedhydrologicmodellingoffloodplainreconnectionopportunities,sitevisitswithlandown-ers,alternativesdevelopmentforfishpassage,formulationofmaintenanceactionbestmanagementpractices,andhold-ingpublicmeetings.Areportwillbepublishedinearly2018.

5.4 Eugene Parks are Salmon-Safe!

The CityofEugeneParksandOpenSpaceDivisionhasbeencertifiedsalmon-safebytheOregonnonprofitSalmon-Safe,Inc.,thenation’sfirstcertificationorganizationlinkinglandmanagementpracticeswiththeprotectionofwaterqualityandimperilednativefish.Salmon-SafepromoteswatershedconservationandpreservationpracticesthathelpPacificsalmonthriveinwestcoastwatersheds.ThecertificationlastsforfiveyearsandincludesannualverificationbySalmon-SafeofprogressbyEugeneoncertificationcommitments.Salmon-SafeimplementationinthesouthernWillametteValleyisco-ledbytheLongTomWatershedCouncil.DuringEugene’sparksystemevaluationprocess,Salmon-SaferecognizedthevalueoftheRiverstoRidgespartnershipandthecommitmentofEugeneParksandOpenSpacetobalancemultipleobjectivesinanenvironmentallysustainablemanner.

5.5 OPRD Natural Resource Assessment and Strategic Action Plan for the Willamette Basin

OregonParksandRecreationDepartmentmanagesover134individualpropertiesandover23,700acresintheWillametteBasin.Overtheyears,therehasbeensignificantinterestfrombothpartnersandOPRDstaffinmanagingandrestoringhabitatsonOPRDproperties,yetuptothisplanningeffort,therehadbeennoprioritizationofOPRDsitesinthebasinto

clarifywherelimitedstafftimeandfundingshouldbeallocated.Overatwo-yearperiod,OPRD,withassistancefromJeffKrueger(JKEnvironments),developtheNaturalResourceAssessmentandStrategicActionPlan,withinputfromdozensofOPRDstaffandovertwentypartnerorgani-zations.FundingforthiseffortwasprovidedbyOPRD,OWEB,andMeyerMemorialTrust.

Akeycomponentofthisplanningeffort,all134individualOPRD-managedpropertiesintheWil-lametteBasinwereevaluatedagainstasetof19criteriaandscoredtomeasureoverallnaturalresourcefunctionandvalue,intheareasofhabitat,waterqualityandfloodplainfunction,andpublicuseandenjoymentofnature.Theresultsofthisassessmentwereusedindevelopmentofstrategiesandprioritiesinthisplan,andwillbeusedbyOPRDtohelpinformandprioritizefuturenaturalresourcemanagementdecisions,includingcharacterizingstewardshipneedsandrestorationopportunities.

5.6 Rivers to Ridges Vision Map Updated

TheoriginalRiverstoRidgesVisionMapwasdevelopedin2003andamajorworkitemfortheIT!in2017wastocreateanupdatedversion.Inordertopreservethe2003electedofficialen-dorsements,themapareaandoverallconceptsfromthevisionwereunchanged.However,ex-tensiveupdatestothebaseinformation,extentofconservedlands,andtrailsweremade,andthemapwasdesignedforimprovedreadability.Therevisedmapisnowavailableforpartnerusetopromotethevision,highlightaccomplishments,andsupportfundingefforts.

5.7 Trust for Public Land Support for the Eugene Parks and Recreation System Plan

IncontinuedsupportoftheCityofEugene’sParksandRecreationSystemPlanupdate,theTrustforPublicLand conducted astudyonpotentialrevenuesourcestoaddressparksandrecreationfundingchallenges.HighlightsfromthereportwaspresentedtotheCityCouncilinNovemberandincludedpublicpollingresultsforvariousfundingoptions.

Long Tom Habitat Improvement Plan public meeting

page 17

page 18

6 Administrative Structure

FOG site visit to Staley Creek

2017 FOG Field Trips and Events:

• CoastForkTurtleFlatsProject(March7)

• BaldHillFarminCorvallis(April4)

• BufordRecreationArea(April20)

• CerroGordoviaRowPoint(May17)

• SnagboatBendTour(June13)

• GreenIslandandCoburgAggregateReclamationProject(July12)

• QuamashPrairie/ShortMountain(Sept.13)

• MeadowlarkEastManagementUnitatBufordPark(October11)

• StaleyCreekTour(November28)

6.1 Summary of Activities

Beginningin2010,theRiverstoRidgesPartnershiptookovertheadministrativefunctionthathadbeeninplaceundertheWestEugeneWetlands(WEW)Partnershipsince1992.TheWEWpartnershiphadoriginallyformedtooverseetheimple-mentationoftheWestEugeneWetlandsPlanbutovertimehadexpandeditsfocustoincludeamuchbroadergeographicarearepresentingarangeofadditionalhabitattypes.TheformationoftheR2Rpartnership,withtheadditionofseveralnewpartners,wasanacknowledgementofthisexpandedreach.ItisimportanttonotethattheR2Rpartnershiphasnooutsidefundingsourcesfortheadministrationofthepartnershipandcurrentlyreliesonvoluntaryannualpartnerdues,plusasignificantamountstafftimecontributedbypartners.ThebasicadministrativestructureusedbytheR2Rpartner-ship,isdescribedbelow.

6.1.1 Rivers to Ridges Executive Team (R2R XT)

ThefunctionoftheRiverstoRidgesExecutiveTeam(R2RXT)istoguidemanagementoftheregionalopenspacesysteminacooperativemanner.TheteamincludesatleastoneexecutiverepresentativefromeachmemberoftheR2RPartnershipandtypicallymeetsonceannually.The2017meetingwasheldonDecember4attheEugenePublicLibraryandwasfacili-tatedbyChrisOrsingerfromFriendsofBufordPark&MountPisgah.ThemeetingincludedtheadditionoftheMcKenzieWatershedCounciltothePartnership,RiverstoRidgesTeamupdates,IT!OutreachPlan,AccomplishmentpresentationfromPartners,R2RVisionMapupdate,andadiscussionofanexpandedR2Rvisionarea.

6.1.2 Rivers to Ridges Implementation Team (IT!)

TheRiverstoRidgesImplementationTeam(IT!)includesmanagerlevelrepresentativesfromeachofthepartnerorganiza-tions.TheIT!providesbroadoversightfortheimplementationoftheobjectivesoftheR2Rvision.TheIT!metapproxi-matelyahalfdozentimesin2017.ShellyMillerfromtheCityofEugenefacilitatedtheIT!meetingsin2017.

6.1.3 Rivers to Ridges Field Operations Group (FOG)

TheFieldOperationsGroup(FOG)isamulti-jurisdictionalteamthatmeetsseveraltimesannuallytocoordinateon-the-groundactivitiesandsharetechnicalinformationandexperience.ThemissionofFOG,asdefinedbytheIT!,isto“Effectivelycoordinateinformationsharingandprovideprofessionaldevelopmentopportunitiesthrougheduca-tionalpresentationsandprojectfieldtours.”

MuchofthecoordinationroleofFOGhasbeendelegatedtosubcommitteeswithgeneralmeetingsdedicatedtoguestlectures,trainings,orsitevisits.EmilyRingfromWil-lamalanescheduledandcoordinatedthe2017FOGmeet-ings and tours.

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Willamette Watershed Council.

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