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UNIVERSITY OF OREGON NORTH CAMPUS CONDITIONAL USE & WILLAMETTE GREENWAY PERMIT APPLICATION path, two recreational fields, and the Frohnmayer Bridge. Pumping of the Millrace is currently maintained by the university. The site of the current Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact project is located along the north side of Franklin Boulevard between Onyx Street and Riverfront Parkway. It is not located in the S-RP zone (and not subject to the Conditional Use Permit requirement), but will serve as an important connection between the current main campus and the North Campus area. 6.3 Environment As part of the site analysis phase of the project, environmental consultants with Mason, Bruce & Girard (MB&G) conducted a riparian assessment of the project area to determine the extent of Goal 5 and Goal 15 conservation areas and to assess the functional quality of the riparian corridor. Riparian areas are typically defined as vegetated areas located adjacent to water that form an interface between terrestrial and aquatic environments. These areas protect water quality, remove contaminants, recharge groundwater, provide habitat for wildlife species, and provide flood storage and channel stability. The City of Eugene code (EC) states that the applicable Water Resources Conservation overlay zone, Ånot only conserves the physical resources but also protects the water quality within the resource areas as a fundamental and essential requirement for continued survival of these biological systemsÆ (EC 9.4900). The overlay zone establishes conservation setbacks that guide the planning, implementation, and management standards for multi-use development. These setbacks are established landward from a waterbodyÈs top-of- high-bank (TOHB) or a waterbodyÈs ordinary high water mark (OHWM). Riparian areas within the City are defined in the EC by a 100-foot setback from the TOHB and a 120-foot setback from the OHWM. Existing conditions within the project area have been altered in comparison to historical conditions due to various prior development, vegetation management, and soil compaction. Most notably, the project area contains a large amount of fill, which has altered physical and biological function of the riparian habitat. The use of riprap, introduction of invasive species, and impact of foot traffic has also degraded the bank of the Willamette River. However, the project area still functions as habitat for several terrestrial and aquatic species. The project area also includes approximately 33 acres of disturbed habitat in the form of maintained grassy fields. These fields are partially within the 100-year floodplain. The project area is divided into aquatic habitat, riparian habitat, and upland habitat for analysis, and further split into the Millrace Slough, and the Willamette River. The project area was analyzed for baseline functional conditions, which include temperature and shade, channel stability, flood storage, groundwater recharge, sediment and contaminant removal, and fish and wildlife habitat. Overall, the assessment documented riparian functions at 57 points throughout the Study area. The project area provides many of the necessary functions necessary for healthy aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. However, these ecosystems are also influenced by other factors that occur outside of the Study area. More explicitly, the streambank of the Willamette River is conducive to supporting native aquatic species, and the riparian vegetation along the Willamette River and Millrace Slough streambanks reduces erosion, supports groundwater recharge, and provides shade and habitat for wildlife species. The project area has a history of disturbances associated with multiple land uses that have degraded the native vegetation composition throughout the site. In addition, it is expected that areas with compacted soils may have reduced riparian/floodplain functions. Lastly, there are Cameron McCarthy FINAL SUBMITTAL | June 22, 2018 37