Local Wetland and Riparian Inventory

The City of Florence (City) partnered with Pacific Habitat Services, Inc. (PHS) to conduct an update to the 1996 City of Florence Local Wetlands and Riparian Area Inventory. This update to the inventory was conducted as part of the Wetland and Riparian Areas Project Element of the Siuslaw Estuary Partnership. The Siuslaw Estuary Partnership (SEP) is a collaborative effort to protect and improve water quality and fish and wildlife habitat in the lower Siuslaw River Watershed. The Wetland and Riparian Project Element updates the Florence wetland and riparian areas inventory performed in 1996 and it includes the adoption of protection measures, as required by state law.

The objectives of this project were to: update the 1996 biological and functional assessment; assess omitted wetlands; include delineations made since 1996; and adopt policies and measures to protect the unique functions and values of the resources. The City also did preliminary work to assess the potential for restoration of riparian areas and wetlands on City-owned property. This project resulted in the development of a "City of Florence Significant Wetlands and Riparian Corridors Plan”. A comprehensive functional assessment is important in this watershed because the capacity of existing natural wetland systems, and potential future constructed wetlands, to store and slow the velocity of stormwater prior to discharge to area creeks and the estuary, is not currently established. It is also not known whether the carrying capacity of the land is sufficient for the environment to fully address the anticipated impacts from planned urbanization. The functional assessment of the wetlands within the Urban Growth Boundary will provide critical information to help guide future urbanization policy and stormwater management policy and capital programs.