News Release
| Release Number: | 00-100 |
| Dated: | 6/5/2000 |
| Contact: | Matt Rabe, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has prepared a draft assessment of the environmental impacts of a plan to improve camping and day-use facilities at Lookout Point Reservoir.
The Corps’ two-phase approach would initially add overnight camping facilities at Ivan Oakes Park on the north shore of the reservoir, and improve existing day-use facilities and add additional camping sites. Work could begin as early as this fall.
Since some of the improvements involve construction in the lake, the Corps has applied for a Water Quality Certification from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.
The Corps' draft environmental assessment, addressing the environmental impacts of the proposed action, is now available for public review. To comment on, or to receive a copy of, this evaluation, write to: District Engineer, U.S. Army Engineer District – Portland, Attn: CENWP-PM-E (Stevens), P.O. Box 2946, Portland, OR 97208-2946, or call Steve Stevens, Environmental Resources Branch, at (503) 808-4768. Written comments should be mailed no later than June 21, 2000. Please refer to Corps ID number CENWP-PM-E-00-07 in any correspondence.
The Corps' EA takes into account environmental considerations, including fish and wildlife, cultural resources, current land-use practices, and social impacts to area residents. Numerous federal laws and Presidential executive orders were referenced in creating the draft EA.
Ivan Oakes Park was identified in the Corps’ 1992 Lookout Point Plan for Management and Development as one of only a few locations on Lookout Point Reservoir capable of handling expanded recreational facilities. The proposed improvements would help fulfill the Corps objective to provide additional overnight camping facilities, improved shoreline access, and control dispersed recreation use. Dispersed use has contributed to degradation of vegetation and wildlife habitat in the area of the existing facilities.
The 47-acre site currently has minimally-developed campsites and day-use facilities, gravel roads and two vault toilets.
The first phase of the improvements includes improving the exiting loop road, expanding the existing camping facilities to 30 sites, and improving an existing boat launch ramp. The second phase would include adding a new camp loop with an additional 20 to 30 camping sites if future demand warrants, improving the day-use parking area, constructing a swim beach, installing picnic tables and shelters, and adding additional restrooms.
In addition to the above improvements, the Corps also would develop a portion of the "Eugene to Pacific Crest Trail" along the road adjacent to Ivan Oakes Park. Signs and rail fencing would be constructed as part of this effort.
The day-use portion of this project would encompass about seven acres and the camping area about 20 acres. The remaining 20 acres of this site would be managed in a natural state as buffer and forest habitat. Campgrounds would be constructed in a way to minimize the impact to vegetation.
Lookout Point Reservoir is home to many species of plants and animals. Consultations with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service identified three species of threatened or endangered animals – bald eagles, spotted owls and Oregon chub – that may be present within the project area. The USFWS indicated the presence of one bald eagle nest about one mile from the work site. Although no spotted owls are known to nest in the area of Ivan Oakes Park, work would not occur during the owl’s primary nesting season of March 1 through June 30. Oregon chub are known to reside in the Middle Fork Willamette River and Lookout Point Reservoir.