Wetlands and Riparian Areas

The public will have an opportunity to review and comment on the Florence Local Wetland and Riparian Inventory and possible protection measures at the third Open House to be held in the spring of 2012. The draft inventory will be presented along with options for protecting the resources and public input will be sought on both. Please check the web site in April for an update on the Open House.

 

A second public meeting specifically for the Wetland and Riparian Inventory was held at the Florence Events Center on Wednesday, September 22, 2010 from 5:30-7:00 pm with presentations starting at 5:30. The meeting allowed interested citizens and property owners a chance to review and comment on the inventory completed by the consultants, Pacific Habitat Services Inc. Presentations were given by the consultant, the City of Florence, and the Oregon Department of State Lands concerning the results of the study and potential future policy decisions by the City.

 

The Wetland and Riparian Areas Project Element involves the development of a "Wetland and Riparian Area Protection and Restoration Plan" that will use the Oregon Rapid Wetland Assessment Protocol (ORWAP).

This project element will: update the 1996 biological and functional assessment; assess omitted wetlands; include delineations made since 1996; and adopt policies and measures 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 revised, updated Plan will provide 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 not currently established.

It is also not 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.

The Watershed Council is working withtheir 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.

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