USA: Corps to Host Willamette Floodplain Restoration Information Session

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will host an open-house style information session Thursday, March 28 in Springfield, Ore., about its draft feasibility report for the Willamette River Floodplain Restoration Study.

The session will be from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Library Meeting Room at Springfield City Hall, 225 N. Fifth St. Members of the public are welcome to drop by at any time to learn about the report and provide comments.

The report is available for public review and comment. It identifies and evaluates alternatives and presents a proposed action for restoring natural floodplain functions like fish and wildlife habitat, groundwater recharge, flood storage, and sediment and erosion processes in the lower Coast and Middle Forks of the Willamette River.

The proposed action would restore five sites near Eugene and Springfield that have formerly been gravel mines. Four of the sites are owned by The Nature Conservancy; the fifth is Lane County property.

Proposed restoration actions include removing invasive plant species and replanting natives; increasing shallow water areas; connecting ponds to each other and to the rivers; maintaining side channels; placing additional wood in the floodplain and off-channel areas; and removing debris.

The Willamette River Floodplain Restoration Study is intended to provide the Corps authority and resources to work with local agencies and organizations to assess and implement ecosystem protection and restoration opportunities. The Corps and other federal and state agencies are also implementing recovery efforts for endangered spring Chinook salmon, winter steelhead, and Oregon chub under the Willamette Valley Biological Opinions.

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Press Release, March 21, 2013