Debbie Schlenoff
A shout out to Dave Stone for reporting on the Endangered Species Act (ESA) during its 40-year anniversary. This is a powerful law with the potential to make a great deal of difference for the protection of species and ecosystems. However, vigilance is required against the many political attempts to weaken the law and slash funding.
by Debbie Schlenoff
It is estimated that a mind-boggling 1.2 billion pounds of pesticides are applied in the United States every year. Several recent reports have highlighted the threat of these toxic chemicals to public health, especially to the developing bodies of children, as well as the elderly, immune-compromised, and chemically sensitive. Pesticides are found in all types of habitat: grasslands, forestlands, farmland, lawns and backyards, in the soil, and in our waterways. Several types of pesticides, including herbicides, insecticides, and rodenticides, have adverse effects on fish and wildlife. It is difficult to get an idea of the extent of the threat.
by Dave Stone
By now, registered voters in Eugene have received their ballots for the special election that will determine the fate of a significant portion of our West Eugene Wetlands. These recently-acquired wetlands are part of the largest urban wetlands protection and restoration project in the US. Voters have been inundated with a massive advertising campaign designed to persuade them to approve the dubious Parkway project.
By Jim Maloney
After more than a year of meetings, e-mails, and conference calls, an all day work session on September 29 culminated in an agreement establishing a set of voluntary guidelines to guide assessment and development of wind energy facilities on the Columbia Plateau in Oregon.
by Pat Bitner
September is not the harbinger of the dying year. Instead, it is a time of new energy and new undertakings after a warm (this year hot) summer of diminished mental efforts for most of us.
by Kat Beal, Wildlife Biologist
US Army Corps of Engineers
As many Quail readers know, Fern Ridge supports an amazing variety of breeding and wintering birds. Designated as an Important Bird Area in 2002, Fern Ridge provides important habitat for migrating and wintering shorebirds and breeding habitat for species not commonly found west of the Cascades, including Black Tern, Yellow-headed Blackbird, and more recently Black-necked Stilt and Wilson's Phalarope. In the last 20 years the Corps and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife have created over 900 acres of wetland impoundments--essentially large wetlands where water levels can be managed independently from the lake's elevation. These impoundments have provided more stable habitats, and allowed managers to improve wetland composition by converting canary grass to higher quality native plants.
by Maeve Sowles
On September 30, 2003 Lane County Audubon Society signed the Declaration of Cooperation as a Project Partner for the Delta Ponds Restoration and Recreation Project. *
The project encompasses more than 150 acres and will become an urban wildlife area of regional and state significance. We are proud to be contributors.
by Dave Stone
On May 29, LCAS President Maeve Sowles spoke before the Eugene City Council in favor of retaining protected wetlands and against constructing the costly, ineffective West Eugene Parkway. This hearing is one of many hurdles Parkway planners face.
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.
Three years ago the Oregon Natural Resources Council invited conservationists from around the state to begin working to promote a new Oregon wilderness bill. Lane County Audubon Society joined the effort at that time by “adopting” the Maiden Peak roadless area to determine its suitability as a wilderness area. We have been exploring the area and educating the general public about its virtues ever since. I report on these activities in periodic installments of the Maiden Peak Journal.