The Amazon Headwaters in South Eugene is one of the most pristine sites left within the Eugene Urban Growth Boundary. Two years ago, Lisa Warnes founded VIEW, Vision for Intact Ecosystems & Watersheds, as a local watchdog group dedicated to preserving water quality and wildlife habitat in the headwaters of Amazon Creek and to address concerns of over-development in the headwaters area. As developers hire certified experts to survey and write reports for their applications, groups like VIEW must raise thousands of dollars to provide information to challenge subdivision proposals. VIEW has worked to form coalitions with other neighborhood groups and Friends of Eugene.

Lisa Warnes gave up the culturally loaded and warm climate of Santa Cruz to seek the solace and magnificence of Oregon in 1978. A building contractor, she founded VIEW to oppose the development of the urban forest in her neighborhood and now is raising the issue of the lack of public funds for bringing balance to the decision of developing new subdivisions.

Kevin Matthews, President of the Southeast Neighbors and the Friends of Eugene, will introduce Lisa Warnes.

Our First Question will be asked by local developer and now downtown resident Jean Tate.