College Hill Reservoir Historic Mitigation

View Historic Mitigation concepts based on public and stakeholder feedback.  

View Concepts

Preview a collection of photos of the historic College Hill Reservoir 607.

View Photos

EWEB collected feedback on Historic Mitigation from members of the public through meetings and online questionnaires. 

Notes and Recaps

Public Historic Mitigation Meeting #1
EWEB held a Historic Mitigation Workshop at the Washington Park Community Center on September 12, 2023. The workshop included a presentation from Natalie Perrin of Historical Research Associates (HRA). Attendees then asked questions and provided feedback in an open forum.

• Watch the presentation
• Listen to the full audio recording of the meeting
• View the Meeting Recap Email #1
• Read mitigation-related suggestions from participants (PDF)
• View Historic Mitigation examples from HRA (PDF)
• View the Meeting Recap Email #2

Historic Mitigation Survey
The public was invited to submit mitigation ideas via survey which was open for input from September 12 - October 3, 2023. 

• View survey responses (PDF)

Public Historic Mitigation Meeting #2
EWEB held an informal, drop-in style meeting to answer questions about historic mitigation concepts on March 21, 2024, at the Hilyard Community Center.

Historic Mitigation Concept Questionnaire
From March 13 - April 5, 2024, EWEB collected feedback from the public on historic mitigation concepts via an online questionnaire.  

• View summary of results from Historic Mitigation Questionnaire (PDF)
• View detailed responses from Historic Mitigation Questionnaire (PDF)

EWEB is consulting with the State Historic Preservation Office, local agencies and tribal entities to collect mitigation ideas for the College Hill Reservoir. 

Meeting Notes and Recaps

Stakeholder Kickoff Meeting  
EWEB held a kickoff meeting with stakeholders on September 12, 2023. An EWEB staff member gave a short presentation. Attendees then discussed mitigation ideas in an open forum. 

• View the stakeholder initiation letter (PDF)
• Read the meeting minutes (PDF)

Round 2 - Stakeholder Kickoff Meeting 
EWEB held a second stakeholder kickoff meeting with representatives from the UO Historic Preservation Program and UO Museum of Natural and Cultural History on October 24, 2023. The format mirrored that of the first stakeholder kickoff meeting. The UO representatives will join the main stakeholder group moving forward. 

• Read the meeting minutes (PDF)

Stakeholder Update Meeting 
EWEB held a stakeholder update meeting with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)on May 16, 2024, to review the four proposed historic mitigation options, hear feedback, and review the next steps in the process.

• Read the meeting minutes (PDF)

What is Historic Mitigation? 

Historic Mitigation is the process of memorializing historic structures before they are altered or removed. It is an activity mandated by the state to ensure the memories of important structures are not lost over time. In the state's eyes, the College Hill Reservoir System is significant because of its depression-era construction and its role in expanding Eugene's water system. Other histories important to stakeholders can also be acknowledged.

How Do the Historic Mitigation and Landscaping Plans Fit Together? 

We are gathering ideas for historic mitigation before we develop the landscaping plan, but the two pieces will weave together to inform the layout of public spaces on site. For example, if interpretive signage is selected as a part of the solution for historic mitigation, the placement of those signs would be considered during the landscaping plan.

Why Aren't We Doing Historic Mitigation and Landscaping Together? 

We cannot start on the landscaping plan until the location of the new tanks is finalized. That process is underway, and we expect to have a decision on the final tank placement by later this year or early next.

Intensive Level Survey (PDF) report with the background/history of the College Hill Reservoir System

Response Letter from the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office (PDF) on the Intensive Level Survey

Stakeholder Initiation Letter (PDF) with the final "statement of significance" based on SHPO's response