© 2024 KLCC

KLCC
136 W 8th Ave
Eugene OR 97401
541-463-6000
klcc@klcc.org

Contact Us

FCC Applications
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Eugene Parks System Honored With Environmental Certification

Meriwether Lewis Elementary/Reed College Science
/
Flickr.com

A Portland non-profit has deemed Eugene’s parks “salmon-safe”, following efforts to improve water quality and habitat in more than 4,500 acres of city park land. KLCC’s Brian Bull reports. 

Credit Brian Bull / KLCC
/
KLCC
Ducks at Eugene's Delta Ponds.

The ducks at Delta Ponds certainly seem happy over the news. While flanked with highways on either side, the waters here are clear and teem with wildlife.

“We’re only the second municipal park system to be certified ‘salmon-safe’ so we’re very excited about that,” says Shelly Miller.  She's the City of Eugene Parks and Open Space Ecological Supervisor. 

The only other municipal park system to be deemed "Salmon-Safe" is the City of Portland's.  The Port of Seattle has also received the designation.

She says scientists with theSalmon Safegroup came down and assessed the park lands before giving its seal of approval. However…

Credit Brian Bull / KLCC
/
KLCC
Shelly Miller, of City of Eugene Parks and Open Space.

“...the certification is a five-year certification, and it’s considered to be a continuous improvement model.  And so they’ve given us some conditions and some things to make progress on for the next five years.”

Miller says areas they’ll work on next are improving riparian habitat and expanding on planting and restoration work. Juvenile salmon use the Delta Ponds in the winter, before migrating to the ocean.

Copyright 2018, KLCC.

Brian Bull is an assistant professor of journalism at the University of Oregon, and remains a contributor to the KLCC news department. He began working with KLCC in June 2016.   In his 27+ years as a public media journalist, he's worked at NPR, Twin Cities Public Television, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, Wisconsin Public Radio, and ideastream in Cleveland. His reporting has netted dozens of accolades, including four national Edward R. Murrow Awards (22 regional),  the Ohio Associated Press' Best Reporter Award, Best Radio Reporter from  the Native American Journalists Association, and the PRNDI/NEFE Award for Excellence in Consumer Finance Reporting.
Related Content