History

Early inhabitants of the Willamette Valley were the Kalapuya people who depended o­n the plants that grew in the wetlands. They were followed by Euro-American settlers who filled and drained wetlands to utilize the land for agricultural purposes and urban development. In the 1980's the West Eugene Wetlands area was the proposed location of Eugene's growing industrial center. When this land was recognized as remnant wetlands, it was necessary to find a balance between economic development and preservation of important natural resources. The West Eugene Wetlands Plan was born.

A study conducted by Rice University documents the unfolding of the West Eugene Wetlands Plan including the planning and community participation necessary to create the West Eugene Wetlands Partnership. The Rice University site is static, however it contains historical data collected at the beginning of the overall West Eugene Wetlands Project.

The Annotated Bibliography and the Update to the Bibliography of the West Eugene Wetland lists all published materials that relate to the West Eugene Wetlands. This information is complied by Lane Council of Governments for individuals interested in our wetlands.