West Eugene Wetlands Partnership

The West Eugene Wetlands Partnership (WEWP) is a nationally recognized partnership that has collaborated since 1994 to achieve substantial wetlands protection and sound urban development in Oregon’s second largest metropolitan area. The Partnership has implemented many cooperative projects related to enhancement and restoration of key habitats, recreation facilities development, environmental education, and scientific research. The WEWP includes nine member organizations, representing local government, state government, federal government, and non-profit organizations.

City of Eugene (original member, joined in 1994)
U.S. Bureau of Land Management
(original member, joined in 1994)
The Nature Conservancy (original member, joined in 1994)
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (joined in 1996)
Oregon Youth Conservation Corps (joined in 1996)
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (joined in 2001)
McKenzie River Trust (joined in 2003)
Willamette Resources and Educational Network
(joined in 2003)
Long Tom Watershed Council (joined in 2007)

Accomplishments

Acquired and permanently protected 3,000 acres of wetlands and associated uplands. Hydrologically and ecologically connected, they provide high habitat connectivity, flood control capacity, and natural water purification.
Enhanced or restored 800 acres of wetlands and approximately 12,000 linear feet of streams to improve wildlife habitat and wetland functions, helping to stabilize or expand the population of four endangered species.
Provided year-round environmental education programs for adults and children, reaching 3,000 students each year with classroom and field-based wetland education; developed a formal curriculum for 3rd through 5th graders; installed interpretive signs in the wetlands.
Constructed 2.5 miles of multi-use trails and 1.5 miles of walking trails, widely used by walkers, bikers, runners, and wildlife observers; installed rest benches, picnic tables, and parking areas.
Fostered substantial natural science and social science research, including many master’s theses, Ph.D. dissertations, and other published investigations.
Implemented the above projects using partnership-based programs and initiatives, including:
1. City of Eugene stormwater program and mitigation bank program.
2. Cooperative Conservation Initiative.
3. Land and Water Conservation Fund.
4. North American Wetland Conservation Act.
5. Water Resources Development Act.
6. Challenge Cost Share Program.
7. Wetland Development Grants Program.
8. Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board grant programs.

WEWP Awards and Recognition

WEWP has received several national recognitions, which are celebrated each year in May. This year's Partnership annual awards luncheon was held on May 5 in Eugene.

Joint Ventures: Partners in Stewardship Award
2005 White House Conference on cooperative Conservation

In addition, the WEWP presents its own annual awards to individual citizens and organizations for their great work in wetlands conservation. Each year, several awardees are recognized.

2006 West Eugene Wetland Recognition awards were presented to:

Paul Severns

University of Oregon Research Team
(Laurel Pheifer-Meister, Scott Bridgham, Bitty Roy, and Bart Johnson)

Cary Kerst and Steve Gordon

Previous West Eugene Wetlands Awards:
In previous years, the WEWP has enjoyed the recognition of the members of Oregon’s Congressional delegation, the office of the Governor of Oregon, local elected leaders, BLM Director Clark, CEQ Chairman Connaughton, BPA Director Wright, and other dignitaries who have attended WEWP events and celebrated the community’s accomplishments under this partnership.

Previous West Eugene Wetlands Recognition Award Recipients

2005
2004
2003

2002
Looking Glass Lane – Metro Youth Corp
Chuck Missar
Northwest Youth Corps

2001
Rachel Carson Center for Environmental Studies
Lane County Audubon Society
Bruce Newhouse
Roy Titus

2000
Burley Design Cooperative
Willa and John Alvord
Greg Poitra
Central Presbyterian Church

1999
League of Women Voters
Gerald Morsello
Bob Moulton
Don Norris

Photo: The Wetland Executive Team accepts their award at the ceremony May 5th

Joint Ventures: Partners in Stewardship Award
The WEWP was recently recognized by the seven federal land management agencies for its partnership work in adaptive management. The award is an outcome of WEWP’s participation in the Joint Ventures: Partners in Stewardship conference in Los Angeles in November 2003, where it was highlighted as a joint venture example. The award certificate will be presented to the WEWP at the awards luncheon.

2005 White House Conference on Cooperative Conservation
The WEWP was recognized as a case study at the 2005 White House Conference on Cooperative Conservation, another notable federal recognition. Last summer, under the leadership of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, the White House Cooperative Conservation Initiative (CCI) identified the WEWP as one of the nation’s outstanding examples of principles identified within the Executive Order on Cooperative Conservation. In selecting WEWP as a case study of success, the CCI recognized that the West Eugene program epitomized many of the goals set forth in the initiative, including community development and revitalization, restoration of degraded environments, access and enjoyment of urban open spaces, protection of wildlife and creation/maintenance of habitat, and more effective land use, growth and stewardship decision-making. This award recognition has been offered by the CCI in coordination with the City of Eugene.