Figure 73
Downtown Eugene from Skinner's Butte with
the
Hult Center in Foreground
Eugene
had a population of 117,962 in 1990 and 137,893 in 2000, an increase of 15%
(Census Data, Table Seven). Eugene contains about 40% of Lane County's
population and is Oregon's second largest city next to Portland.
Eugene displays
settlement patterns that in part appear to be related to economic class.
Downtown consists mostly of students, professionals, and counterculture people.
Working people are concentrated in west Eugene and Springfield. We were told
that River Road people don't even associate with downtown.
"It
used to be a blue collar town but now there's more white collar workers. Eugene
still has 'that blue collar feeling.'"
"My grandparents were the
first black family to arrive in Eugene - in the Bethel area. They set up services
for black families and were very active in the black community."
Selected
neighborhood areas of Eugene are described below. The reader is referred to
Figure 72 that displays the neighborhoods of the city as described by
residents.
Laurel Hill (Area 1, Figure 72) has a semi-rural feel with
moderate priced homes on the east side of Hendricks Park. The neighborhood's
former school is now home to the Northwest Youth Corps, an alternative high
school and youth conservation corps program.
The Amazon Neighborhood (Area 3). The Amazon neighborhood is made
up of teachers, lawyers, artists and self-employed people who work out of their
homes. South Eugene High School and the YMCA are located in this neighborhood,
the latter serving as an important communication hub for the area. In addition
to its many classes, it has a strong pre-school program and an after school
program for teens. The Obsidian Hiking Club has their sign up sheet here for
outdoor trips. The neighborhood also contains the Amazon Community Center, a
city facility, that is currently closed because of budget cuts except for some
classroom activities and events. The Masonic Cemetery Association has turned a
weedy pioneer cemetery into an invasive free park, and has regular work
parties. Neighborhood associations are active.
The residences in Amazon center around University Street between 18th
and 24th with
well-maintained historic homes. The area also has many student rentals. The
university owns about 100 homes east of campus, which will eventually be moved
or torn down for higher density student housing and day care center. The
proposal is causing some friction between the university and some of the long
term residents and renters. The neighbors are demanding a say in updating the
existing neighborhood plan. The neighborhood also houses several Forest Service
employees who find the easy access to Interstate 5 convenient.
Gathering places: Allan Brothers Beanery - clientele is middle-aged men
and students; Sundance Natural Food Store, Humble Bagel.
Southeast (Area 4). The southeast area of Eugene generally is
generally characterized as more liberal and Democratic than other parts of the
city, as one would expect in a University oriented area. Interestingly, one of
the older areas proposed for "historic district " designation was derailed on
the basis of "too much government" impinging on private property rights by some
residents of the neighborhood. Gathering places: Residents socialize at Jiffy
Mart, which also has a community bulletin board.
College Hill
(Area 8). This
neighborhood is mostly two parent or two adult households. The elderly who used
to be a solid component are now gone. It is predominantly white, middle to
upper-middle class, with teachers and professors from the University and
School District 4J. Many
professional and medical offices are located in this area. Many homes have
backyard apartments/studios with student residents; Most of the homes are
owner-occupied. The Jefferson Westside neighbors has been active with the city
and deal with infill issues, traffic flow, and other concerns. They publish 7
newsletters per year that are hand-delivered and rely on e-mail as well for
regular communication. Gathering places: Wild Oats Market South. [230]
The University District (Area 9) includes campus and the 13th
Street retail area. This area has many gathering places for students and
others, including bulletin boards announcing forest related information.
"This area
used to be panhandlers and 'trannies' who sold pot and mushrooms. The police
cracked down and they left. Then the corporations moved in. This street used to
be family-owned businesses."
"Thirteenth has changed for the better. There used
to be so many street people that no one would come here."
Gathering places: shops along 13th; student union.
Whiteaker (Area 12). The
Whiteaker Neighborhood is an area known for lots of crime, drugs, prostitution,
and transient-to-transient violence. As is usual with stereotypes, the reality
is more complicated and interesting. The neighborhood has strong caretaking
systems with both long and short-term residents operating in a highly transient
area. The presence of both the railroad and the Eugene Mission has created an
"incredibly transient" population. Old hippies bought homes in this area years
ago. In recent years, gentrification combined with in-migration of Hispanics is
fostering continued change. Many homes are for sale. An elementary school
recently closed because of low enrollments. This neighborhood is a key one for
absorbing Hispanics into the City, who use it as a first stop in a stepping
stone pattern to other areas. The Head
Start in the neighborhood is important for absorption and for its support of
Hispanic children and families. A woman's club ("Walk Your Buns Club") and many
Elder Hostel volunteers are in the neighborhood. Many so-called "anarchists"
also live and gather in this neighborhood. Gathering places: Red Barn Market,
Tiny's Tavern, Sam Bonds. The Shamrock
house was a gathering place for anarchist people until it was recently
purchased.
"Whiteaker
is peculiar because you can have a lovely, home-owned house next to a dumpy one
with an utter lack of landscaping. More people are starting to garden in their
front yards and I hope more people do this."
"We are
broad-based and inclusive. Everybody gets along. We keep our eye on those who
don't."
"Meetings
at the Whiteaker Community Center often turn into shouting matches, so many of
us don't attend. We know who to talk to to get things done."
The Whiteaker neighborhood in recent years successfully lobbied to have
a Public Safety Station at 520 Blair. Community policing has helped reduce the
criminal element in the area, according to local residents.
"Bicycle
cops have lowered the crime rate. They help keep order."
Residents in the community were also successful in lobbying the city
for assistance related to impacts created by manufacturing businesses. As a result, signs were posted prohibiting
outside trucks from passing through the neighborhood, a gate leading into the
neighborhood was permanently closed and a "calming device", a
round-about, was placed in a heavily trafficked area. This was a huge accomplishment for the community. The community
also has been successful in reducing crime in Scobert Park through a number of
restoration efforts.
West Eugene (Area 13). This
neighborhood still has a sizeable population of elderly. A lot of baby-boomers
bought there and then moved up. Many have stayed and are likely to remain. The
sense of community is strong - "There's pride in this community." There are
streets where owner-occupation is high, such as Washington, Lincoln, and
Lawrence, while the rest have high rental rates. Even so, it is not so much a
transient population as other areas of town. "People really love to live
here." It was described as a "strong
community," very liberal, but not really activist, and a pedestrian
community. "You walk everywhere." It is culturally and ethnically diverse,
with a large number of graduate students, and many self-employed professionals.
Sixth and Seventh Avenue businesses have moved westward in the last 30 years.
Many operate out of residential structures. Traffic has increased substantially along these arterials. Gathering
places: Cornucopia Market; L&L Market is very active with coffee in the
morning, mainly white, middle-class men; The Kiva.
Bethel-Danebo (Area 15) is a large neighborhood. It covers about 6 square
miles. On the north it is bounded by agricultural lands, on the south by
railroad tracks south of Roosevelt Boulevard, on the east by railroad tracks
and the Northwest Expressway, and on the west by agricultural lands. It is
predominantly residential, with retail and industrial areas limited to the
Highway 99 corridor, the Barger/Beltline intersection, and the intersection of
Danebo and Royal Avenues. There are numerous churches throughout the area. Many
small parks and green areas dot the landscape as well.
Housing styles range from new large two-story homes to very old
trailers, with occasional, remnant farmhouses. Most of the housing is modest.
Caucasians and some Hispanics make up the population. Eight schools, including
Willamette High School, are in this area. Few RVs and boats are seen in this
area, nor people on bicycles. A new gated retired community, Summerfield
Estates, sported several boats, however, and Mel's Marine Service on Barger
specialized in boats. Retirement facilities, low income support organizations,
a health clinic, library, and police substation are located in the
neighborhood. A new shopping center at Royal and Danebo is large and upscale,
located in the midst of working and middle-class older homes.
The neighborhood has a fine resource in Petersen's Barn Community
Center and Park. Its brochure provides the history of its development. Harry Jensen built the barn in 1931-32 for a dairy and horse barn. Between 1934-1936, the Peter Wick family
rented the barn for their dairy. They
sold and delivered bottled milk to homes all over Eugene. They purchased the barn and the adjacent
property in 1936, operating "Wick's Grade A Dairy" until around 1942, when an
ordinance was passed prohibiting the sale of raw milk within the Eugene city
limits. John Goldsworthy bought and
operated the dairy briefly, selling pasteurized milk, but eventually sold the
barn. John Tucker bought the barn in
1965 as a warehouse and office for his construction business.
The idea of making the area into a park was
proposed by George, Paul and Richard Petersen who owned the 11 acres west of
the barn. When George's teenaged son
had drowned in 1963, the family decided they wanted the land to become a park
in Philip Petersen's memory. In 1974,
the City purchased the area and the barn as well as land east of the barn. The barn was purchased from John Tucker and
the land to the east, fronting Berntzen Rd., was purchased from Holger and Anna
Berntzen.
In the second half of the '70s, area
residents strongly encouraged the City to convert the barn into a community
center for their neighborhood. Because
the old dairy barn was a sound structure, the City decided to remodel it. A class of architecture students from the
University of Oregon provided some ideas to Willamette Design Center, who drew
up plans for the interior. Locals
donated much of the labor. Bethel
Community Schools staff moved into office space in the center in 1976.
The brochure states that the facility
"provides a gathering place for intergenerational activities including programs
for senior citizens, youths, special events, education, arts, rentals, sports
and concerts." It provides programs for seniors and children, primarily. The park is very nice, with a soccer field,
baseball field, children's playground area, and benches here and there.
Gathering places: Little 'R' Café, Our Place Bar, and Pop's Diner on
Highway 99.
River Road (Area 16) is a very blue collar and elderly area, Many
starter home make it an area of first-time homebuyers. With several mills
nearby, many mill workers live here. The neighborhood also has many men who
don't work because they've sustained on-the-job injuries - "They buy their beer
at the Park Avenue store." Most who
live in this area have virtually nothing to do with downtown or the
University. Many are
multi-generational. There are still many beautiful older homes through the
area. Remnants of old farms are still visible. Gathering places: Park Avenue
Market.
Santa Clara (Area 17) is an unincorporated area, and proud of it.
Residents don't like being forced to do anything by the City of Eugene. This
long standing sentiment was reinforced recently because residents were assessed
for a sewer system and had to have it installed by a certain date. Much of the area was built in the mid-1960s
on land that had been orchards. The area has continued to develop steadily in
the last decade with large-footprint homes. Ranging in price from $160,000 to
$230,000, these homes are being purchased by highly mobile professionals who
tend to own sports utility vehicles and recreational vehicles. It is an area of
two parent families with several young children, or, in some cases, empty
nesters who decided to move up. Gathering places: Oregon Diner.
Publics
The major publics
in the Eugene community are:
University-related
Business/Professional
Working people
Ethnic groups
Counter-Culture
Working poor
Welfare poor
Networks
See
Section Two.
Work Routines
Eugene's economy
is based on education, high technology, bio technology companies, the service
industry, manufacturing, including wood products, and agriculture. Its major
employers are:
University
of Oregon: 3,676
PeaceHealth
Oregon: 3,103
Eugene
School District: 2,051
Lane
Community College: 2,000
U.S.
Government: 1,900
City of Eugene: 1,688
Lane County: 1,600
Springfield School District: 1,500
Pape' Group, Inc.: 1,205
McKenzie-Willamette Hospital: 1,100
The
top ten Lane County Manufacturers, with number of employees, are:
Monaco Coach Corporation: 1,430
Country Coach: 800
Hynix Semiconductor America: 730
Symantec Corporation: 650
Willamette Industries (now Weyerhaeuser): 588
Weyerhaeuser Company: 580
PSC Scanning: 540
Whittier Wood Products: 428
Seneca: 400
Rosboro Lumber Company: 350
Source:
Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce and Eugene/Springfield Metropolitan
Partnership.
Support Services
The University of
Oregon is of central importance to the destiny of Eugene and has played a
pivotal role in the development of the city from the beginning. The number of
students drawn into the community, and the local economic benefit from the
presence of students and from University spending, are enormous. A local newspaper
article described the student body as fairly insular, having established
routines that kept many students close to campus and its immediate environs (Eugene
Register Guard, 4/1/02).
In addition, the
University is one way in which students express environmental values. For
example, the campus houses the Outdoor Program, established in 1964. It is
located on the ground floor of the student union. The organization, through
student incidental fees, operates a Wilderness Cooperative that serves as an information
clearinghouse for outdoor recreation activities. The office contains a wealth
of information and sign up sheets for a wide variety of outdoor trips. Over 250
trips a year are organized through the coop, ranging in activities from tree
climbing (growing in popularity) to kayaking. Winter sports are becoming
increasingly popular, particularly snow shoeing and snowboarding. The Outdoor
Program organizes educational forums related to natural resource conflicts,
such as motorboats on Waldo Lake and saving Opal Creek.
"I chose the University of Oregon because people
seem to be active environmentalists, compared with OSU."
The City of Eugene
has a Department of Neighborhoods, Housing and Community Development that works
with neighborhoods in the City. It promotes neighborhood organizations but
reports large differences in organizations between neighborhoods - some are
organized and some are not.
Eugene is a
cultural center for the region. The Hult Center for Performing Arts attracts
national talent, but also serves school kids from around the state. Art
permeates the community. There are a good many art stores, lots of murals and
banners hung throughout the City, City art banners, artistic bus stop
structures, and many ducks as an art form, celebrating the University of Oregon
football team.
Eugene prides
itself on its support of diversity. One of the City's "operating principles" is
to "recognize and honor a diversity of viewpoints, cultures and life
experiences." Every year the Eugene Celebration displays and encourages this
diversity.
The City Club of
Eugene sponsors debates on current issues affecting the area.
The Eugene Water
and Electric Board (EWEB) provides water and electricity to city residents and
reports that existing and planned facilities are adequate to meet future needs.
(Southern Willamette Valley, A Profile of the Southern Willamette Valley
Region, Region 2050 and Lane Council of Governments, April, 2001).
Recreational Activities
See Section Three.
B.
Trends, Themes and Citizen Issues
Related to Community Life
Trends
A diversified
economy, less dependent on forest products than years ago.
A community
dedicated to the arts and artistic expression.
A resilient
community, with many active neighborhoods creating positive change.
High levels of
working and welfare poor. Despite economic diversification and progress, some
people have been left behind. A sizeable homeless population exists in Eugene.
Absorption is a
continual process fraught with tensions.
"Old
timers tend not to accept newcomers. They shut them out, especially in blue
collar communities like Santa Clara and North Eugene."
Urban people are
moving into rural areas. Creswell and Harrisburg are growing at very steady
rates, 27% and 26% respectively during the last decade. Coburg is considered
the "future Hillsboro of Lane County." By contrast, Eugene grew 15% and
Springfield by 13%.
Themes
"Eugene has a laid
back liberal feel."
"This town is
incredible for all the music and theater it has."
"Eugene is a hard
working community." People said that Eugenians take pride in working hard and
are proud of their accomplishments.
Citizen Issues Related to Community Life
Citizen issues
related to community life were not examined in depth during the course of
fieldwork, with focus placed on natural resource issues instead.
Growth and
Development
"There are so many people now. West Eugene has
really sprawled."
Quality of Life
"It takes me 20 minutes to drive 5 blocks in the
morning because there's four signals between my home and my daughter's day
care. I've only lived here for 7 years but it's already time to move out."
[Bethel resident]
Section
Two:
Communication
Strategies
A. Informal Networks and Communication
Eugene has a
number of periodicals that offer communication and education opportunities for
the Forest Service and BLM. Some of them are environmentally-oriented
publications.
The Eugene
Grassroots, P.O. Box 51122, Eugene, OR 97405; (541) 345-4139; Grassroots@efn.org. Progressive and
"green" political agenda; social and ecological livability.
The Runoff, P.O.
Box 11211, Eugene, OR 97440; Many Rivers Group, a Sierra Club chapter.
Environmental monitoring, advocacy, and recreational enjoyment.
The Oregon Family
Calendar, P.O. Box 21732, Eugene, OR 97401; (541) 683-7452; sdelreal@netzero.net. A newspaper
distributed to families through the schools in the Eugene/Springfield areas.
Gathering Places
Gathering places
not listed previously in the neighborhood section include:
Friendly Street
Neighborhood: Friendly Street Market
Steelhead Brew
Pub, Market District, mostly downtown professionals, young people.
Recreation
Equipment, Inc. (REI) for sports enthusiasts.
Crux Rock Gym, 401
W. 3rd, near REI
Market District: 5th
Street Market
Willkenzie and
Sheldon Neighborhoods: Wild Oats Market North
The University
area and neighborhood has a vast array of gathering places. The University is
its own community, with its own particular population.
Communication
spots for recreation related information include:
The bulletin
board at Ullr Sports.
Cascadia Live
is a TV show used by residents for information on community and environmental
issues.
The Wild Oats
grocery store off Coburg Road has a community bulletin board used for
recreation purposes.
Key mountain
bikers that could be contacted are:
Don Person (541) 682-6145
Dave Hallock (541) 915-6433
B. Formal Groups and Communication
Figure 74
Organizations With Interest in Public Lands in the Eugene
Area
|
Organization
|
Contact Information
|
Mission
|
|
Emerald Empire Chapter
Northwest Steelheaders
|
Gary Lutman
541) 746-2553
|
Habitat restoration;
Boat landings; Hatchery support.
|
|
Outdoor Program
Wilderness Cooperative
|
Dan Geiger, Director
(541) 346-4365
|
Information
clearinghouse
Educational forums on
natural resource issues
|
|
Sierra Club
|
Many Rivers Group
P.O. Box 11211
Eugene, OR 97440
www.oregonsierraclub.org
|
Timber sale review
|
|
Lane County Audubon
|
President: Mave Soules,
(541) 343-8664; Conservation Chair: Dave Stone
(541) 683-6127
|
Forest management,
species preservation
|
|
Nearby Nature
|
Exec. Dir.: Andy Peara
(541) 687-9699 www.nearbynature.org
|
Outdoor experiences for
kids and youth; restoration projects; interpretation
|
|
Obsidians Hiking Club
|
President: Jan Jacobson
Program Chair: Gale Berge (541) 345-9984
|
Hiking;
No political involvement
|
|
The Emerald Chapter,
Native Plant Society of Oregon
|
Bruce Newhouse
P.O. Box 902
Eugene, 97405
(541) 343-2364
|
Noxious weed eradication
Conservation of meadows,
wetlands, oak savannah eco-zones.
|
|
North American Butterfly Association
|
Sharon Blick
(541) 683-4635
|
Butterfly counts
Field trips
|
|
Pacific Rivers Council
|
Jenna Borovansky
P.O. Box 10798
Eugene, OR
(541) 345-0119
|
Aquatic habitat;
science, law, and advocacy oriented.
|
|
Cascadia Forest
Defenders
|
(541) 684-8977
|
"The only good timber
sale is a cancelled timber sale."
|
|
Northwest Old Growth
Campaign
|
www.nwoldgrowth.org
|
|
|
Oregon Natural Resources
Council
|
P.O. Box 11648
454 Willamette Street,
Suite 203
Eugene, OR 97440
(541) 344-0675
|
|
|
Oregon Cycling Magazine
|
455 W. 1st
Avenue
Eugene, OR 97401
|
Biking information
|
|
Long Tom Watershed
Council
|
Dana Erickson
751 S. Danebo Avenue
Eugene OR 97402
(541) 683-6578
longtom@efn.org
|
|
|
Ullr Sport Shop
|
Jason Stockman
207 Coburg Rd.
Eugene, OR 97401
(541) 687-8557
|
Owned by Willamette Pass
Ski Corporation; active in promoting winter recreation
|
|
Paul's Bike Shop
|
Burt Ojerio
25080B Willakenzie St.
Eugene, OR 97401
(541) 344-4150
|
Mountain bike recreation
on public lands
|
|
Oregon River Sports,
Inc.
|
Guy Santiago 1640 W. 7th
Eugene, OR 97402
(541) 334-0696
www.oregonriversports.com
|
Active in river clean
up, education programs, sports instruction; canoe club has 80 members; sea
kayak club 140 members.
|
|
G.I. Joes
|
Karen Schermenhorn
Store Manager
1030 Greenacres Rd.
Eugene, OR 97401
(541) 343-1666
|
Regular classes to
promote public land recreation. Educational support and better information
about passes and permits desired. Customers want better information on local
conditions (roads, trails, etc.).
|
|
Lane County of
Governments
|
Carol Heinkle
Principal Planner
99 East Broadway, Suite
400
Eugene, OR 97401
(541) 682-4107
www.lcog.org
www.region2050.org
|
Region 2050, "Sustaining
Quality of Life in the Southern Willamette Valley"
|
|
Friends of Buford Park
and Mt. Pisgah
|
Chris Horsinger
P.O. Box 5266
Eugene, OR 97405
(541) 344-8350
|
Ecosystem integrity,
especially in valley lands; noxious weeds
|
|
Mt. Pisgah Aboretum
|
Tom LoCascio
34901 Frank Parrish Rd.
Eugene, OR 97405
(541) 741-4110
|
Ecological restoration
of several indigenous bio-systems; showcase ecosystem management; fire
awareness; noxious weeds.
|
|
Eugene Natural History
Society
|
Dave Wagner
(541) 344-3327
davidwagner@mac.com
|
Founded in 1941.
Promotes study and appreciation of natural history through education.
|
|
Eugene Stream Team
|
Lorna Baldwin
Eugene Public Works
Dept.
(541) 682-4850
|
Urban habitat
restoration
|
|
Center for Watershed and
Community Health
|
Bob Doppelt
(541) 774-7072
|
Associated with the
University of Oregon
|
|
Labor Education and
Research Center
|
Charles Spencer
University of Oregon
(541) 346-5054
|
Tracks labor data
related to restoration forestry
|
Section
Three:
The
Public Lands Perspective
A. Uses of and Orientation to Public
Lands
Eugene has a very
outdoor oriented population that is active, both in the urban setting and in
activities that take them to public lands. It is a population that is very
committed to environmental ethics, and residents believe themselves to be well
educated about environmental and public land issues. The "facts" are subject to
dispute, however - they are politically charged, and everyone seems to have lots
of them. In other words, there seems to be little unity or common vision about
environmental understanding and future direction despite the pervasiveness of
environmental values.
This section has
the following segments:
- Community Values for Outdoor
Recreation and Environmental Stewardship
- The Environmental Community
- The Economic Aspects of Natural
Resource Management
- Toward a Community-Based Approach to Restoration Forestry
Community Values for Outdoor Recreation and Environmental
Stewardship
Eugene has a
reputation throughout the state and the nation for being liberal and "green" in
its politics. Among some circles, it is perceived as extremely radical, and
this perception has fueled a sense of disdain among the rural people that use
Eugene as the regional service center. However, even though many people stated
that they do not agree with all the tactics used to express politically
environmental views, it is very clear from this research that a strong
environmental awareness and ethic permeate the community, along with a healthy
appreciation for outdoor recreation.
"This is an ideal location for both surfing and
skiing because we're close to both. An hour drive either way."
"Alton Baker Park has lots of history on the river
terraces. Each one has its own biology. The higher terraces are almost oak
savannas. They each have their
story."
"Our issue is native plants. We did some restoration
and as we finished a killdeer began a nest there. Nature rewarded our efforts."
[Nonprofit environmental group]
The Growers Market is a
non-profit cooperative focused on providing organic and natural foods. The
Market is a twice-weekly event that attracts 50-100 vendors and is well
supported by Eugene residents.
The River House Outdoor
Program has developed and operated Eugene's community gardens for 23 years,
with five locations and 250 plots.
The City of Eugene has
supported a variety of outdoor education and ecologically oriented programs for
many years, including:
The Stream Team is a program of the City of Eugene.
Among the projects it has undertaken was the volunteer salvage of native camas
bulbs from land destined to become a parking lot. It has conducted storm drain
stenciling, adopt-a-stream programs, wetland tours, school education programs,
and numerous other volunteer-based programs. A native plant nursery by the
wastewater treatment plant collects and propagates native seeds.
The City's Urban Forester has successfully promoted
tree planting in Eugene neighborhoods
The Parks and Recreation Department has operated an
outdoor education program for 30 years. Its current program runs year round and
includes 3 categories: 1) a ropes challenge course; 2) teaching adults and kids
outdoor skills, like white water rafting, cross country skiing and survival;
and, 3) summer youth camps for middle school and teenagers, featuring a variety
of outdoor activities. Scholarships are offered to low income citizens. The
schools and the Looking Glass therapy program utilize the program. The
restoration aspects of the program stem from service days that are part of the
summer camp. Most of this effort is around Eugene and includes trail
maintenance, wetlands maintenance, and reducing "purple loose strife" invasive
plant along river.
The Ridgeline area in the south hills of Eugene is
extremely popular for hiking and biking. The City is undertaking a major
acquisition program in this area.
The City has worked with BLM on the wetlands in West
Eugene.
The Endangered Species Act is encouraging the City
to be proactive in restoring salmon habitat. The nearby watershed councils,
Long Tom, Middle Fork, and McKenzie have focused on fish access, spawning, and
getting fish around the reservoirs, while cities and counties have focused on
water quality. The City is just completing a riparian and aquatic assessment.
To date, little integration on salmon has occurred between federal agencies and
local governments but City program staff are eager to share data and explore
mutual opportunities.
The
City has a highly valued park and bike path system.
A couple
neighborhood associations have undertaken restoration and trail development
work. "Miracle on 33rd Street" is a small neighborhood group that
built a trail along Amazon Creek and began two modest test plots for native
species regeneration that it maintains for the city. The Southeast Neighborhood
Association was very involved through Lane County Council of Governments (LCOG)
in mapping micro-habitat areas of which LCOG was unaware. The association has
developed a proposal to move the Ridgeline Trail from its course along Spring
Boulevard to border these privately-owned habitat areas. An Umpqua National
Forest person is involved with these efforts as a private citizen.
The Mt. Pisgah
Arboretum, between Springfield and Goshen, has established small functioning
ecosystems displaying five types of ecozones, including oak savanna, sugar pine
and Pt. Orford Cedar. The site is 209 acres within the 2200 acre Buford Park
and is visited by 200,000 people yearly. A non-profit group, The Friends of
Buford Park, lends support to the mission. The Arboretum has a K–7 education
program and has over 3000 students a year go through its programs. Their
interests are ongoing funding, jeopardized by the current budget limitations,
interpretation, and volunteer support. A Forest Service staff person was on the
board in the past, and currently a BLM employee sits on the board.
A number of
organizations are working cooperatively to expand the trail system in the
Eugene metro area with public lands. The Forest Service, Recreation Equipment
Inc. (REI), the Corps of Engineers, and others are building a bridge over the
river to connect town trails through Elijah Bristow State Park with trails
through Westfir and Oakridge, eventually tying in with the Pacific Crest Trail
at the top of the Cascades.
Students are a
major user of public lands. Some reported coming to the University expressly
for that purpose.
"I like windsurfing up at the Cascade lakes. I enjoy
going to Cougar Hot Springs."
"I like to go to Florence to hike in the dunes and
sometimes I like ride my bike out to Spencer's Butte, just south of town."
The Environmental Community
Eugene has a
tremendous variety of environmental organizations interested in stewardship and
natural resource management. This segment describes some of the major groups
and their interests.
Nearby Nature is a
non-profit organization devoted to outdoor education and restoration activities
for kids and youth. It does summer programs through the schools and is utilized
by the City and the schools to conduct restoration and monitoring activities in
City parks. Its interns participate in the Waldo Lake education program
sponsored by the Forest Service.
Northwest
Steelheaders, The Emerald Chapter, has worked on river access issues. Its
members have recently testified to Lane County to get more boat ramps. They
also lobby the state legislature for the sports fishing industry. Their
strongest project is the hatchery at Letz Creek, which should start releasing
fish next year. Volunteers reportedly put in between 6-10,000 volunteer hours
last year and contributed between 55-65,000 miles. Budget cuts currently
threaten the operation, although the primary costs are capital and not labor.
Its ties to the Forest Service are not strong as in other areas of the state.
"People develop strong attachment to our projects.
They come back year after year."
The Eugene Natural
History Society is one of the oldest groups in town, founded in 1941. It
promotes the study and appreciation of natural history through a lecture series
during the school year and field trips. Forest Service scientists have given
lectures to the group on a periodic basis in the past.
The Oregon Natural
Resources Council (ONRC), Audubon Society and the Many Rivers Chapter of the
Sierra Club, do a variety of conservation-oriented projects, political advocacy
work, and outdoor enjoyment activities. They each monitor federal timber sales
and advise members of the investigative and political work needed to shape or
stop them. The groups also direct campaigns for policy changes.
The Northwest
Old-Growth Campaign is a coalition of 13 conservation groups in the Northwest
working for permanent protection of old growth on federal public lands.
The Growers Market
Building, at 5th and Willamette, is a gathering place for some of the
most political environmental groups. The upper floor has two large rooms filled
with tables, bulletin board and open space, the site for planning activities
and a hospitality center for visiting activists. On the outskirts of the two
large rooms are offices of many environmental organizations, including the
Oregon Natural Resource Council, Cascadia Forest Defenders, the Sustainable
Forestry Project, Oregon Peaceworks, the Pacific Green Party, and many others.
Eugene is well
known for having an anarchist movement that involves itself in regional issues,
including natural resource management. It has given Eugene a reputation for not
only being "green" but for being radically green. People espousing this
philosophy are seen to be young, university-affiliated, and oriented to
low-income, left wing issues.
A good number of
Eugene residents talked about "anarchists" when discussing forest issues. These
descriptions revealed a common perception of who anarchists are, what their
mission is, and the practice residents have had in dealing with their presence.
Anarchists is a broad term for a large number of people in the region who are
young and have values of living life in "pure" form, organically and
sustainably. They are generally anti-authority and have been active in
environmental issues for several years.
Anarchists come in
two varieties - violent and nonviolent. It is a mistake to confuse the two or
assume they are one because "it creates a common enemy that does not exist," as
one knowledgeable observer pointed out. Although they sometimes overlap
socially, the two groups rarely collaborate. Violent anarchists are believed to
have few scruples in ruining the reputation of others. A couple residents had
stories of themselves or friends bearing the brunt of these campaigns. As a
result, residents, especially in the Whiteaker neighborhood, became adept at
dealing with anarchists. They developed counter-campaign measures to
demonstrate community support in public ways. Residents began to exert peer
pressure on them, for example, through negative reactions to them in public,
and, as a result, the violent anarchists began to move out of the neighborhood.
After September 11, they reportedly moved their base to the River Road area.
The purchase of a hangout, the Shamrock house, by another buyer, has also
helped to disperse their activities.
Residents
especially do not like how the violent anarchists prey upon the vulnerable, the
"naïve, lost, confused, drug-induced kids." Young kids are believed to be
indoctrinated into their ideology and then induced to engage in the anti-social
acts for which they are known. They also raise money and use publications in
various ways that obfuscate their true purpose.
Significantly,
many leaders in the major environmental organizations, when asked who else to
speak with, provided names of their colleagues and then, as an afterthought,
would say, "Oh, yes, and then there are the anarchists. I don't actually know
anyone there but you could go down to the Growers Market building." The uniformity
of these responses leads JKA to believe that anarchists represent a minority
element within the environmental community and that the ties are not strong
between anarchists and environmental organizations. At the same time,
anarchists deliberately try to stay low key and invisible, partly because it is
prudent to do so, and partly because it fits their image of "anarchy."
While the violent
segment of the anarchist population appears to be the minority, it is important
to note the strong support voiced for the anarchy perspective by residents in
Eugene. While many decried their tactics and even said they were wrong on
certain key issues, the overall pro-environmental, anti-government values
expressed by anarchists are supported. Residents that had association with
anarchists recommended an up-front, friendly, and informative approach on the
part of natural resource agencies wishing to communicate more effectively in
the urban areas.
"The only way to undermine anarchists is to develop
intimate relationships with the nonviolent ones."
"The
Forest Service biologists should make their work prominent. Talk about what is
being studied and the results. Invite educated people from these groups to
participate. The result is an enhanced profile of the Forest Service through
day-to-day, face-to-face contact."
One person, who
has been working in a professional capacity at the neighborhood level for two
decades, had this advice:
- Publicize projects that have greater
public appeal from a green perspective;
- Be assertive in the community by
attending Saturday market and other community events;
- Put out storefront displays of Forest
Service programs;
- Distribute information in a number of
different formats;
- Don't wear uniforms because they
symbolize authority;
- Connect to the community in a broad
sense - teach workshops, co-sponsor green events, assist smaller
organizations, "through the use of a [Forest Service] truck or anything;"
- Publicize and reinforce the community
benefits created by natural resource agencies.
The Economic Aspects of Natural Resource Management
This part of
Oregon, like other areas of the Pacific Northwest, has been struggling for many
years to create viable economic livelihood in the context of the reduced and
changing forest products inventory available from public lands. The recent
history will not be repeated here, but certain highlights of that history are
offered.
The
Jobs-in-the-Woods program, begun in Sweet Home and extended throughout the
state, was not successful in every aspect, but did significantly contribute to
enhanced training in restoration forestry skills. Evidence exists that this
effort has contributed to the local economy and that some sustainability is
possible.
The Forest Service
has had a person assigned to innovative contracting processes for some years,
who has recently retired and been replaced by a BLM person. The effort has been
successfully directed to using existing authorities in different ways to make
small diameter harvest, thinning operations, salvage forestry, and riparian
restoration projects available for economic benefit.
The Small Business
Development Center (SBDC) has offices throughout Oregon offering business
support services like classes and consultation for business plan development,
financing, accounting, marketing and other aspects of running a good business.
The Eugene Center instructors stated that they have had only one forest
products business person in the last ten years, and they could not account for
why these kinds of people are not utilizing their services more. In addition,
SBDC offers support services to aid the transition to other economic
activities.
"Oakridge needs forest products development work.
Oakridge is marketing itself as the 'Gateway to Recreation' but they need more
amenities like bed and breakfasts, restaurants."
We know
anecdotally that many small scale entrepreneurs are experimenting with new
livelihood strategies derived from forest products. JKA could not find
organizations that are tracking the extent of this activity. It appears that
these enterprises come and go. They are also done in the midst of other income
producing strategies - an SBDC person called this "patching." You do some
farming, you collect forest products, you make kids furniture, plus whatever
else.
Toward a Community-Based Approach to Restoration Forestry
Restoration
forestry is commonly defined as: 1)
resource management, on the ground work in the woods; and, 2) utilization of
"by-products of restoration." The above discussion points to the potential of a
labor base plus institutional mechanisms in place to foster continued
development of this field.
The other key
question to address in assessing the potential for restoration forestry is the
political support needed to implement it. This research has shown that there is
ample support for a community-based approach to forest health projects that
could not only create economic benefits but be politically-acceptable as well.
The prescription
from the environmental community on this point is clear. Although
environmentalists in the Eugene area are not known for consensus vision in
their approach to natural resource issues, enough overlap of interests was
discovered to warrant cautious optimism. More and more people within the
environmental community are realizing that thinning has to happen. A
community-based approach involves:
- Inclusive practice of involving the
widest range of people and interests possible;
- Ecosystem stewardship has to be the
management goal, with forest products being a by-product of good
management;
- Specific forest practices that would
be bottom line to beginning an agreement are to avoid clearcutting, the
taking of big trees (however defined), and entering areas that have not
been logged;
- The focus is on thinning, particularly
in the Late Successional Reserves (LSRs), which have many plantation
acres. Seek policy changes that would permit volume from these lands to be
counted in the Probable Sale Quantity (PSQ);
- Collaborative science would form the
basis of assessment and monitoring; In other words, collaborative partners
also seek agreement on who will do the science, how it will be conducted,
what will be monitored, and how results will be evaluated;
- Intentional and sustained effort to
develop a business and labor force associated with this work.
The notion would
be to build a track record of success and trust, beginning with pilots and
expanding to larger projects.
"So much depends on the ranger, some want to work
with you and others don't seem to care. That guy Wayne… [Kleckner] at Cottage
Grove. Now he was good. He came out to talk with us. He wanted to know what we
wanted." [Protester]
"I used to be extremist. Now, I'd like to know what
other people think."
Environmentalists
pointed out the timeliness of this approach - the review of the Forestry
Practices Act, the recent Bush Administration initiative on "Healthy Forests",
and the renewed focus on the Northwest Forest Plan.
B.
Trends, Themes, and Citizen Issues Related to
Natural
Resource Management
Trends
The counter-culture
community is healthy and viable, with its own economy and local stores such as
cuisine in local eateries, arts and crafts outlets, clothing stores, and so on.
The values and lifestyles represented by this public permeate the larger
culture. What this means is that, while particular political actions of
environmentalists may not be fully supported, there are broad-based "green"
values for preservation and protection of natural resources, restoration
forestry and anti clearcutting. Hence, it is JKA's belief that environmental
values will continue to dominate discussions of natural resource management and
the increased scrutiny of decisions in the future will be the norm.
Hispanics have
been settling in Eugene at a steady rate. Their settlement is concentrated in
the River Road and Whiteaker neighborhoods. Many Hispanics are mushroom
pickers. Mushroom buyers have said that Hispanics make up the bulk of pickers
today and that they prefer picking to working on Christmas tree farms because
of the money.
Themes
1. Diversity of
environmental values.
"I
don't know that there is an environmental community here. We're all
environmental."
"Environmental
groups here are so fragmented. It would be impossible to craft a coherent
direction or vision."
2. Diversity of
attitudes about federal land management agencies.
"The
courts seem to be the only voices that are effective with the Forest Service."
"With
all the past history, it's hard to trust the Forest Service."
"They
do these things without any consultation."
"They
need to get out of that federal building and participate in their own
community." [Neighborhood leader, not particularly connected to public land
issues]
"When you walk into the McKenzie station, you feel
like they want to help you, like they are there to serve the public. There's a
big room where a map of trails is posted with the maintenance schedule and
conditions. It's very easy and simple to find out information. But in Oakridge,
you feel like it's a federal building, that no one really cares. A much
different feeling."
3. "We [Eugeneans]
pride ourselves on education." Residents from old to young expressed attitudes
of seeking information and new ideas when they are presented in a professional,
rational way. Eugene citizens don't respond to fist wavers, screamers, and
those that rant and rave. They appreciate face-to-face contact, and a friendly,
helpful approach.
Citizen
Issues Related to Natural Resource Management
Recreation Users and Their Interests and Issues
Many residents
stated that access to four-season recreation was one of the primary attractions
to the community. This section will outline the major recreational uses of
public lands, and the interests and issues associated with the uses, focusing
on mountain biking
Mountain
Biking Interests and Issues
Mountain biking is
extremely popular in Eugene. One bike store manager felt that the mountain bike
community in Eugene is the most active in the valley.
Enthusiasts prefer
established trails on city and federal lands. Trails close to Eugene are valued
for convenience and farther trails for challenge and variety. Mountain bikers
are very active in trail development and maintenance. They have helped with the
Ridgeline Trail in the south part of Eugene. Most of the trails in the Oakridge
area were built by bikers from the Willamette Valley, according to a number of
bikers. Sometimes trail development is not authorized. Some bikers apparently
make changes to the trail, such as creating obstacles or drops. The new bikes
are capable of safely dropping down seven feet. Bikers reported that there is
very little coordination with the Forest Service around trail development, and
that the agency removes obstacles and jumps.
Two organizations
received special mention as "doing it right" for mountain bikers - the McKenzie
Ranger Station of the Willamette National Forest, and COTA (Columbia Observed
Trials Association, www.observedtrials.com),
a long-standing regional group in the Northwest focused on motorized trial
events).
Mountain bike
trails were described as "pretty stinking good." The favorite areas are near
Oakridge: Hardesty, Goodman Creek, Hewlett Ridge, and Eagle's Rest. The
Ridgeline Trail is not as popular as years ago because of the greater number of
people using it. It is becoming an area for walkers. The McKenzie River Trail
is a highly valued resource for mountain bikers.
An informal
network of mountain bikers, called the Disciples of Dirt, has been active in
trail development and maintenance for many years. It organizes the Cream Puff
Race each year, which provides an economic benefit in the area.
"We
fill Oakridge." [Mountain biker, referring to the race]
Fallen trees
impeding trails are the most common issues for mountain bikers. Other issues
reported to JKA include:
"Trails get closed without anyone knowing. Can't we
get like a snow phone, some easy way to find out about changing conditions?"
"Goodman
Creek Trail is overused."
"The trails are pretty clean this year because of
work the Forest Service did."
"Is a special area possible for mountain bike
obstacles trails? As it is now, we create special areas with obstacles or drop
offs and the Forest Service comes along and ruins them. They're not safe for
everyone, but a designated area could work. In Glenwood, the BLM just puts up
signs and tells us to go for it."
"There needs to be better coordination between the
Forest Service, BLM and mountain bikers. In San Diego, bike shops sponsor food
and tools and do trail building a couple times a year. We should coordinate
these efforts."
"Sometimes when the group goes on a ride and sees
fallen trees, they will stop and work for hours to clear the trail. We call it
'impromptu work'. Why should we have to pay to use the trails that we work so
hard to maintain?"
"The Forest Service is not adopting a service model.
Rather than work against each other, we should be working together." [Mountain
biker]
"The Forest Service in Oakridge does not recognize
all the volunteer work we do. They cut holes in trails to add water logs and
call them 'speedbumps.' Someone is going to get hurt on these. Some have been
filled in, like the Waldo Lake trail, but others like Maiden Peak trail are
still dangerous."
"I used to go in the Goudyville area all the time
between Cottage Grove and Lorane. I went out there the other day and found
gates." [Apparently, this is Weyerhaeuser land.]
"You get to the trailhead and find you need a pass.
It takes you two hours to get to another; Where do you get passes? We used to
get them at Hoodoo, now I think GI Joes in Eugene has them."
"It costs $25 a year. That prices people out of the
woods. "I'm not doing Fall Creek anymore because of permits."
"We often make the trails, then the Forest Service
hears about them and suddenly puts up a sign requiring a pass. That really
makes us angry."
"User fees are double taxes."
Fishing
Interests and Issues
Fishing stores
make a point of advising their customers about fishing conditions. "It's our
job" to tell them where to go, one clerk stated. Bass fishers are angry and
believe that agencies discriminate against them and favor trout.
"They want money for everything. To park your rig at
boat ramps costs money. The Willamette Pass costs $30 and they are doing it
without congressional approval."
"Trout
fishers don't need a permit, but bass fishers often do in large groups so
permits required. But we turn the bass lose while the trout are killed."
"ODFW
doesn't like bass fishers either. We limited tournaments voluntarily to lessen
impacts but then we got regulated anyway. It's unreasonable."
"The recreation fees price people out. Low income
people just don't go. Money doesn't go back to the land. They just pocket the
money. Go see [Congressman] deFazio. He hates those fees."
Hunting
Interests and Issues
Hunters and
archers generally have interest in promoting deer and elk habitat. Clearcut
logging in the past created that habitat because of the brush that would come
in after timber harvest. They believe that deer and elk herds will decline with
the loss of clearcuts as a timber management method. Fires also create proper
habitat but thinning operations do not.
"I'll bet the Siuslaw herds are down because they
haven't cut in there for years now."
Winter
Sports Interests and Issues
Skiing and
Snowshoeing are popular activities on the Willamette National Forest. Telemark
skiing has gained in popularity in recent years. Ski shops reported generally
good management relative to their interests, except for communication helpful
with changing conditions. The cameras displaying live-time road conditions on
some of the mountain passes are very much appreciated but the feeling was that
the coverage ought to be wider than it is. As with other recreation users,
winter sports enthusiasts wanted easy to obtain and timely information about
trail conditions, road conditions, and changing regulations.
River
Sports Interests and Issues
River sports are
part of everyday social life in Eugene. The Upper McKenzie River, from Paradise
to Blue River, is used frequently, as are the Deschutes and John Day Rivers,
which are managed by BLM. The lower McKenzie sees a lot of activities but that
is not a permitted area. The staff of river programs reported excellent
relationships with the Forest Service. They especially appreciated the efforts
of the Willamette staff to handle all the paperwork, channeling it to the
appropriate offices, so that the service appears seamless from the standpoint
of the City program. "Sort of like one stop shopping," is how one person
described it.
"Tax supported programs, like City Park and
Recreation programs, are hurting our business. Their costs are subsidized by
the state and mine are not. We offer a higher quality experience, with better
equipment and training, and so on, but people are attracted to the lower costs.
More training and expertise should be required."
Rock
Climbing Interests and Issues
Rock climbers do
not use Forest Service lands extensively. The favorite areas for local climbers
are Smith Rock State Park near Bend, Lake Billy Chinook, also a state park, and
the Forest Service site of the Flagstone area near Finn Rock up the McKenzie
River. Climbers also like "the
Callahans" near Roseburg, a site owned by Weyerhaeuser. Although the company
was going to close the area off, informal agreements by climbers to keep
numbers low and to observe no smoking has allowed the area to remain open.
"The road to
get to Flagstone is terribly gutted. It damages vehicles just getting to the
site."
"We want to maintain access, maybe get other areas
opened."
"In the past climbers had a bad reputation but they
try to do cleanup all the time. We didn't do the litter at Smith Rock but got
the rap. We helped clean up the trash."
"Once
I was asked to leave an unposted area. Did these [Forest Service] guys have the
authority? I should be able to find out ahead of time. Post it, post it, post
it!!"
Recreational
Vehicles Interests and Issues
Recreational Vehicles (RVs) users and dealers reported a
variety of people that take up the activity. The typical user is a retired
couple over 55 years old, traveling around the country to favored spots and to
visit their children. These folks are unlikely to use public lands on a regular
basis. The new generation of larger RVs have up to three "sliders", for the
kitchen, the bedroom and living room. The parking spots in public campgrounds
are not large enough to accommodate these sliders. Nor are campgrounds suitable
for the sometimes large groups that these folks organize. Favorite areas
include Highway Heaven in Sutherlin, Twin Rivers in Roseburg, Diamond Lake
Campground, and Detroit Lake:
"We
go to Detroit Lake. That's very well run and set up. There are a variety of
sites."
The second type of
user is the young family that purchases a "starter unit" in order to go
camping. These people do make use of public lands, utilizing the campgrounds,
rivers, lakes and trails. Often dealers or manufacturers sponsor RV clubs. They
organize events and send sales people to them, along with technicians for
participants. Several events a year are organized. "It's all about service,"
one dealer said.
"The parking spots are not adequate for the
larger RV units."
"Black Canyon is run by the Forest Service and we
can't get our rigs in it. My friend tried and they had antennas broken off, the
tree branches hang so low."
Other Interests and Issues Related to Natural Resource
Management
"The Forest Service is too removed from the
community. They never talk to the common person. We need to be educated and
informed. It seems like they are keeping things from us."
"If the Forest Service wants our support, then
educate us!"
"Why
would you go to the federal courthouse unless you were in trouble?"
"The
Forest Service needs to tell citizens what benefits they provide the community.
I watched the hillsides in Bethel cleared for houses, which has caused massive
erosion, increased and damaging waterflow, more dust and septic tank problems.
They can help us create stewardship approaches to human habitats."
"An
educated public is a better audience. Trust increases when you make an effort
for face-to-face contact."
"The
anarchists may not always be effective but Eugene people listen to their
messages. Like learning about that bank person who was using bank finances for
personal investments in timber. The demonstrations in front of those banks
really made us aware."
Recreation,
General
"The Forest Service should not allow dune buggies on
the Oregon coast. It ruins the outdoor experience for me and my friends."
"I used to see only a few people out in the forest,
but now you see lots more. It's almost getting overcrowded."
Permits
and Northwest Forest Pass
"Some
sites have additional permits, like Green Lakes and Cougar. Information ahead
of time about these permits is hard to get."
"The Fee Demos are very confusing, especially for
students who are in and out. They get up to the site, they can't purchase a
permit there, and are faced with the choice of driving back or getting a
ticket."
"People don't understand the permits. If we had more
information, it would be helpful. It would be great if we could issue the
forest permit, since we're already doing snow park permits." [Sporting goods
store clerk]
"The Northwest Forest Pass, I learned, is voluntary.
You can't even really get a fine, just a reminder to mail your $5, but if you
don't, nothing happens. So all the sudden, I feel really exploited because I go
ahead and pay it."
"Our hope is one gold card. Just buy it once and
it's good for all. As it is now the forest pass is a major frustration."
"Updates
on trail information are difficult to obtain. During a fire, or after a storm,
it's hard to find the right person to get the information. A web page that is
centrally managed is a good idea. River runners are great about this - you can
find out current water levels anytime."
"There
is a shortage of maps. Information about trail conditions is hard to find. Many
employees don't know the area as well as others, so customers are not always
well informed." [Sporting goods store manager]
"The
Oakridge station is open during the week for commercial interests, but closed
on weekends for the recreation interests. Let's staff it with volunteers if we
have to." [REI store representative]
Outdoor Education
"A lot of students come from urban areas. They need
more education about the forest, about proper conduct."
Stewardship
"Three fly fishing groups have contacted me and want
to help clean up rivers, but I have no way to make use of their interest." [REI
store representative]
Forest Management
"No
clearcuts." [Very common]
"The
only good timber sale is a cancelled timber sale."
"Every
single timber sale planned around here has big trees in it - Blodgett, Flatco,
Straw Devil, Pryor, Clark, Northnoon, Sten, and
Turnridge. That's not thinning and it's not forest health."
"Keep logging off the streams. There's still some
siltation in the streams."
Ecosystem
Integrity
A great number of
scientists and citizens are concerned about the near extinction of certain
biological regimes in the Willamette Valley, particularly wetlands, prairie
lands, and oak savanna woodlands.
"The invasion of the exotics in the Willamette
Valley is a huge and underrated problem. False brome, giant knotweed, and
others. City budget for this problem has been shrinking."
Fire
The
neighbors in southeast Eugene (Area 4, Figure 72) have been concerned about
fire risk for many years. Residents work on education with the local fire department
and are concerned about long-term fire risks. The BLM and the Forest Service
could use Fire Plan resources to coordinate with residents and fire districts.
Positive
Experiences
"Waldo Lake is sort of positive. At least we thought
it was. It was a reasonable agreement for the phase out of motorboats. Then we
got a letter from the Forest Service last week that was full of vague words but
didn't really say anything. Finally at the end, it mentioned a lawsuit and
'we'll get back to you.' It was strange."
C. Management Opportunities
Communication Opportunities
The City Club
of Eugene has already brokered discussion regarding the creation of a natural
resource management campus with several appropriate agencies. With sufficient
communication with informal networks affected by this decision, the City Club
sponsorship of public debate could be useful.
Opportunities
should be utilized to engage with recreational publics in the Eugene area in a
nonpolitical setting. By building trusting relationships, the stage is set for
education about Forest Service/BLM initiatives in a non-threatening atmosphere.
Natural resource
agencies could develop a news alert system, or newsletter, so that stores and
other outlets could communicate better with the public. Information about trail
conditions, road closures, gate closures, maintenance schedules could be posted
in more accessible ways and could also be updated more regularly.
The Oakridge
Ranger District could engage in more direct communication with Eugene mountain
bikers. There are a number of missed opportunities to coordinate on trails and
to communicate on methods of trail development and maintenance. As it is now,
many bikers feel that their knowledge of trails, water erosion patterns, and
use preferences are ignored, which contributes to the "outlaw" dynamic that
fosters individuals just doing what they want. Some people expressed confusion
about whether a long standing network of mountain bike enthusiasts, Disciples
of Dirt, is still organized. The JKA team discovered that the group is indeed
present, although it is even less formal now than in years past. There are
roughly 30 people that participate in this network and many more for special
events. These people would be excellent communicators with other mountain
bikers in the valley as well as potential partners in monitoring and
maintenance activities. They host the Cascade Cream Puff, a race of 100 maximum
riders on the Alpine Trail, held the 3rd weekend of July. DOD has a
website bulletin board on which information about rides, trail conditions, and
so on is posted on a regular basis.
Neighborhood
leaders meet once a month (4th Tuesday) in the Sloat Room of the
Atrium Building, at 10th and Olive. This meeting would be an
efficient way for the Forest Service and BLM to communicate with a wider
public. The City neighborhood liaison sends packets of material to
neighborhoods once a week, to which federal agencies are welcome to add. The
city Neighborhood Services office sponsors many public events. In addition,
many neighborhoods have their own newsletters sent out on a periodic basis.
Action Opportunities
Explore the
prospects for the development of community-based restoration forestry as
outlined above.
There are ample
opportunities to create relationship with moderate environmental voices in
non-political settings. For example, the fact that two neighborhood
associations have involved themselves in restoration work is a tremendous
opportunity to link neighborhoods and ecology in very new ways. These connections
will build a base of understanding and support for agency initiatives.
The Forest Service
could explore grant opportunities through the U.S. Department of Agriculture
for purposes of interpretation, outdoor education, and restoration work. For example,
groups like the Mt. Pisgah Arboretum and Nearby Nature are presently not
connected with federal funding sources.
The final chapter
of this report outlines in greater detail opportunities for responding to
citizen interests identified in this chapter.
Previous Chapter
