Wetlands and Riparian Areas
Documents Available for Public Comment
Please see the Comprehensive Plan and Code Amendments page of this site for the Draft 2013 Significant Wetlands and Riparian Areas Plan, 2013 Florence Area Wetlands and Riparian Inventory (when posted), and all Appendices. See also Frequently Asked Questions on that page. As additional products are available for public review, they will be posted to the Comprehensive Plan and Code Amendments page.
Property owners were sent a letter on February 8, 2013 inviting them to comment on the drafts and to attend a meeting at the Florence Events Center on February 27, 5:30 pm. If you own property in the Florence UGB with a wetland or riparian area and do not receive a letter, please contact Katya Reyna, City of Florence, at 541-902-2587.
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Wetlands and Riparian Areas Project Element
The Wetland and Riparian Areas Project Element involves the development of a "Wetland and Riparian Area Protection and Restoration Plan" thatuses the Oregon Rapid Wetland Assessment Protocol (ORWAP).
This project elementupdates the 1996 biological and functional assessment; assesses omitted wetlands; includes delineations made since 1996; and adopts policies and meas  ures to protect the unique functions and values of the resources. The City will also do preliminary work to assess the potential for restoration of riparian areas and wetlands on City-owned property. The Draft Inventory Report is currently under review by the Department of State Lands and is subject to change based on their comments. The Proposals, posted below, for Wetlands and Riparian Areas, contain the criteria for significance determination and proposed protection measures. These are now available for public comment. In terms of protections, see below for "City of Florence Existing Policies and Code For Wetlands and Riparian Areas, 4-30-12," a report on existing Florence policies and code and anticipated modifications.
The revised, updated Draft Inventory, below and in the map on this page,provides a comprehensive functional assessment. This is especially important in this watershed because the capacity of existing natural wetland systems, and potential future constructed wetlands, to store and slow the velocity of stormwater prior to discharge to area creeks and the estuary, is now established.  It isnot known whether the carrying capacity of the land is sufficient for the environment to fully address the anticipated impacts from planned urbanization. The functional assessment of the wetlands within this urban growth area will provide critical information to help guide future urbanization policy and stormwater management policy and capital programs.Documents and Downloads
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Staff Contacts
Carol Heinkel, Project Coordinator: cheinkel@q.com; 541-345-8660
Kelli Weese: Florence Interim Planning Director, City Recorder and GIS Technician;
; 541-997-8237
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Key Estuary Wetlands Project Element
Key Estuary Wetlands is a project for tidal wetlands that is being coordinated by the Siuslaw Watershed Council, in concert with the Siuslaw Estuary Partnership. The Watershed Council is working with their project partners and the Key Estuary Wetlands Team to protect/restore, through easement or acquisition, over 200 acres of wetland in the Siuslaw Estuary. The SWC, McKenzie River Trust, ODFW, and other partners are working with state, federal, and private funding sources to achieve protection and restoration of high priority tidally influenced wetlands. Two sites have been identified.
For information about the Siuslaw Watershed Council and Key Estuary Wetlands, contact: Liz Vollmer-Buhl; Siuslaw Watershed Council Coordinator: 541-268-3044 or visit their web site at www.siuslaw.org
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