E. 40th Water Storage Project FAQs

A: We have already planted additional trees on the south side of the ridgeline. In February, volunteers from Friends of Trees planted 18 native trees, including white and black oaks, valley ponderosa, pine, incense cedar, pacific madrone and Oregon myrtles—species that are consistent with the oak and prairie-dominated habitat that historically characterized the area. Habitat restoration work will continue after construction.

We are taking extra steps to mitigate for the loss of trees at the site. When possible, we will create snags and leave downed trees on the site for birds and other wildlife to use for nests, nurseries, storage areas and perching. Other downed trees are being donated to a City of Eugene wetlands restoration project, where they will continue to provide habitat long into the future, and for public use projects in the Southeast Neighborhood and also City of Springfield.

Although not directly related to this project, EWEB will be planting around 55,000 trees on our High Banks Road property in Springfield and, with our partners in the McKenzie River valley, will be planting another 700,000 trees and shrubs to help with fire restoration.  

In addition, EWEB is working with other community partners on multiple local carbon sequestration projects.

For example:

• We are working with UO Soil Plant Atmosphere Lab on a pilot study funded by a National Science Foundation Convergence Grant. The lab team has planted Douglas fir, incense cedar, ponderosa pine, cottonwood, bigleaf maple, ash and white oak and several shrub species on a 12-acre fallow field in Springfield near the McKenzie River and will monitor carbon levels as the trees grow in various treatments, such as hardwood-only, conifer-only, mixed tree and shrub, and shrubs only. 
• We are working with partners such as McKenzie River Trust to acquire wildfire-affected properties in the McKenzie watershed for conservation management and on large scale floodplain restoration in key areas (e.g., Quartz Creek, Gate Creek, and Finn Rock Reach), all of which have carbon, climate and water quality benefits.

A: Reducing the number of truck trips was a key factor in EWEB's decision to construct both tanks at the same time. Constructing both tanks at once reduces the total truck trips by approximately 2,000 compared to building the tanks several years apart.

The truck traffic will be intermittent during the entire construction period. It will vary depending on the phase of construction, with the earthwork and the backfilling seeing the largest numbers of trucks. The earthwork phase will begin in September 2021 and last 6-8 months.

The actual construction of the tanks will have much less traffic and noise with periods of no activity while waiting for concrete to dry. The construction phase will begin early 2022 and will last 18-22 months.

To mitigate the impacts of truck traffic, we will have a traffic control plan that will be developed with the contractor. The plan will be submitted to and approved by the City of Eugene.

All information regarding construction impacts, schedule, and mitigation will be communicated to neighbors through our neighbor email list and will be posted on our website.

We want to assure our community that safety is VERY important to us. It is one of our core values. On any given day, around 135 EWEB trucks are on the road going to and from job sites. Dozens of crews are working with heavy equipment and high voltage systems. We are responsible for safely delivering power and water to our community 24x7. We embed public and employee safety in everything we do.

A: While there are no tree removal restrictions within the Eugene Urban Growth Boundary per City fire code, EWEB will adhere to the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) restrictions and is taking other proactive risk mitigation measures.

The contractors will strictly adhere to the ODF Industrial Fire Precaution Levels (IFPL) work schedule (no fire-risk activity after 1 p.m.), continuously monitor conditions throughout the day, and adjust work and mitigation strategies accordingly.

Additionally:

• A new hydrant was installed at the west entrance of the property. This gives the contractor a path to install a fire hose across the site to have water available throughout construction.
• The contractor will have two water trucks onsite, one dedicated for fire mitigation and one for dust mitigation.
• The contractor is removing the vegetation around the work zone down to the bare ground and installing rock up to the tree line. This reduces fire risk and helps with dust mitigation.
• A minimum 3-hour fire watch will be provided by the contractor after work stops for the day. Additionally, EWEB will have 24/7 security at the site who will be able to call 911 and EWEB's security lead if they see anything concerning after fire-watch.
• EWEB has been communicating with the Eugene Fire Department regarding schedule and mitigation plans. They are aware of the work and the work schedule and will be ready to respond if an issue should arise.  We will coordinate risk mitigation measures with Eugene Fire Department should a red flag warning go into effect in the area.