West Eugene ParkwayLane County Audubon Society is committed to preserving wildlife and habitat diversity throughout the Pacific Northwest.
FRESH (Friends of Eugene-Springfield Habitats) is a committee of Lane Audubon dedicated to conserving open spaces and natural areas in the greater Eugene-Springfield area.
If you are concerned about environmental issues and would like to make a difference, contact Pat Bitner at patricia_bitner (at) earthlink.net.
February 2002 Update
Wetlands Highway faces many roadblocks
by Dave Stone
The narrow majority of voters who favored the Wetlands Highway have a long wait before they can cruise around the new big box Target and Walmart stores on West 11th.
Before they get the green light, the following roadblocks must be removed:
- The BLM must agree to permit the highway to plow through recently acquired West Eugene Wetlands.
- Many federal laws such as the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act and even the 1996 Transportation Act must give way to the Wetlands Highway construction.
- Other state highway projects such as widening West 11th, Beltline and the Jefferson Street Bridge must be taken off the current funding list.
- Reconstruction of the I-5/Beltline interchange must be delayed indefinitely.
- The Urban Growth Boundary must be expanded.
Lane County Audubon Society continues its opposition to this expensive, ill-conceived project.