Delta Ponds

Location: Goodpasture Island Rd. to Valley River Ctr.

What’s New? In 2009 the City of Eugene received American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding for two large projects at Delta Ponds: Habitat Enhancement project: The City received a $1.642 million grant from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) that was made possible by ARRA funding. In addition, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers received $2.337 million in ARRA funding for the project. These two sources of funding will allow the completion of habitat restoration and hydrological components of this large, multi-year project. The first part of the habitat enhancement work that will take place under the ARRA funding will be invasive species removal on the east side of Delta Highway and south of Goodpasture Island Road. This will be followed by planting of native trees and shrubs along Debrick slough and other portions of the ponds. In 2010, activities will increase greatly with the conversion of nearly 5,000 linear feet of steep banks covered in blackberry to gradually sloping riparian habitat that will support a diversity of native species. At the same time, a large fish passable culvert will be constructed under Goodpasture Island Road, providing the last major hydrological connection between the river and the ponds. Several other channels will be excavated throughout the ponds to further enhance connectivity. Finally, in early 2011, thousands of native trees and shrubs will be planted on the new riparian slopes and in areas previously dominated by invasive species. Delta Ponds Bridge Project: A new elevated bicycle and pedestrian path and bridge will create a much needed route over the Delta Highway.  The bridge eliminates a miles long detour and the undesired mixing of bicycle, pedestrian and motor vehicle traffic on existing Delta Highway interchanges at Valley River and Goodpasture Island Road. The elevated path and bridge will be over 1000 feet long, reaching from Robin Hood Avenue on the east to Goodpasture Island Road on the west.  The centerpiece will be matching 85 foot tall columns, supporting the main cable spanned sections over the Delta Highway. A new high visibility crossing will be constructed across Goodpasture Island Road, linking the new bridge and path to the Ruth Bascom riverbank trail system. One of the several funding sources for this project is $2.225 million in ARRA stimulus funds which allowed the construction to proceed a year ahead of schedule.  As a result the bridge is currently under construction and scheduled for completion in the fall of 2010.

Delta Ponds is a 150-acre waterway site consisting of numerous ponds, channels, wetlands, and associated riparian areas. This unique natural area owned by the City of Eugene borders a stretch of the Willamette River, just downstream from Valley River Center. For many, it is a favorite spot for bird watching, fishing, and enjoying the outdoors.

Up until the late 1800s, the Delta Ponds area was part of a river flood plain network of side channels, sloughs, and tributaries that provided a rich habitat well-suited for many fish and wildlife species. Over time, flood control management, urbanization, and land use practices changed the area dramatically. The ponds, peninsulas and islands that are present today at Delta Ponds were formed by gravel extraction operations that took place in the 1950’s and 60’s. These activities provided much of the gravel for the construction of Interstate 105.

The City purchased the ponds from Eugene Sand and Gravel in the late 1970s. Up until 2004, the site was largely unmanaged and the natural succession that took place created both valuable habitat for a variety of wildlife and resulted in colonization by a number of invasive species, such as Armenian blackberry.

Since 2004, significant effort and resources have been directed toward the enhancement of the Delta Ponds system including its habitat, access, aesthetics, and hydrologic function. Partners in this effort include the City of Eugene, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Lane County, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and various community groups such as the Downtown Lion’s Club and Stream Team volunteers.

For more detailed information about the Delta Ponds project, see the links on the right hand side of this page. The Delta Ponds Vision document, developed in 2005, provides a detailed summary of the history of the site and outlines planned enhancement and maintenance activities.