High temperatures over the weekend has caused an increased rate of snow melt in the Cascade Mountain Range. At this time, both the Willamette and Columbia Rivers are expected to crest at 14′ Tuesday mid day and remain that high until Wednesday. The Sauvie Island Levee System is designed to protect the community up to 29′.
If conditions change, an update will be posted here.
*Note to story- The Sauvie Island Drainage Improvement Company levees have been rated excellent by the United States Army Corps of Engineers for several years.
Published in
Statesman Journal - January 30, 2007
Oregon is No. 2 in United States for at-risk levees
Water barriers could fail during a major flood
BY PETER EISLER
Gannett News Service
January 30, 2007
WASHINGTON — The Army Corps of Engineers has identified 146 levees nationwide that it says pose an unacceptable risk of failing in a major flood.
The deficiencies, mostly because of poor maintenance, are forcing communities from Connecticut to California to invest millions of dollars in repairs. If the levees aren’t fixed, the Federal Emergency Management Agency could determine that they no longer are adequate flood controls. If that happens, property owners behind the levees would have to buy flood insurance costing hundreds of dollars per year or more.
Compared with the rest of the nation, Oregon has racked up the second highest number of levees posing an unacceptable risk of failing: 14. California had the most with 42.
Ten of Oregon’s 14 are considered “inactive” because the districts that manage the levees have not responded to correspondence from the Army Corps — in some cases for 20 years.
“At last we inspected them they were in poor condition and we have no evidence that they were improved or repaired in any way,” said Portland-based Matt Rabe, a public-affairs officer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. “Therefore we can only surmise they remain at an unacceptable risk.”
The remaining four are in “fair” condition and have problems the corps thinks must be addressed. These four were notified last year of their status and have one year to fix the problems.
Thousands of other levees are spread across every state. They range from miles-long levees protecting major cities to small berms guarding agricultural fields. Many were built by the corps and turned over to local authorities, which are responsible for maintaining them.
The substandard levees are being identified under a corps inspection program that has grown more aggressive since Hurricane Katrina overwhelmed levees across the Gulf Coast in August 2005. Thousands of residents who lost property did not have flood insurance because those levees were considered adequate; subsequent reviews found many were not well maintained.
“The corps and FEMA are saying, ‘We’ve been lax as a nation in our operation and maintenance of these levees, and it’s time to tighten up,’” said Larry Larson, the director of the Association of State Flood Plain Managers, a group of officials who run flood control systems.
After Katrina, Congress directed the corps and FEMA, which runs the federal flood insurance program, to identify at-risk levees.
The corps inspects about 2,000 levees nationwide, mostly larger ones. The corps would not provide Gannett News Service with a list of the 146 communities where levees have been identified as inadequate.
Spokesman Pete Pierce said the corps does not want to release the list until all levees are inspected and all communities with faulty levees are notified. GNS has filed a request for the list under the Freedom of Information Act.
The Oregon corps office did release the names of the 14 levees to the Statesman Journal.
State and local officials fear that some communities may not be able to bear the unexpected costs of repairing or upgrading levees. Hartford, Conn., spent $5 million last year to meet the corps’ demands for levee repairs. Otherwise, several thousand properties worth almost $2 billion would have needed flood insurance, city Engineer John McGrane said.
McGrane said local governments need state and federal assistance to upgrade levees. “It’s a tremendous burden for a municipality,” he said.
The corps allows a one-time, one-year grace period to do the work, says Maj. Gen. Don Riley, the corps’ director of civil works. “We want communities to clearly understand the risks of not maintaining these levees and take responsibility,” he said.
Statesman Journal staff writer Beth Casper contributed to this report.
Minutes of Meeting of Landowners Notice Committee
Sauvie Island Drainage Improvement Company
January 11th, 2007
A meeting of the Landowners Notice Committee of the Sauvie Island Drainage Improvement Company was held on January 11th, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. at the Sauvie Island Volunteer Fire Department.
Directors David Fazio, Bob Egger and David Kunkel and Committee members Denny Grande, Jane Hartline, Shirlen Wilson, Dick Vetsch, Lynn Trupp, Mark Hepner, Bob Wiley, David Egger, Greg Sprando, Anthony Fazio, Mark Beall, Mike Jacobson, and George Douglas were present, as well as Josh Townsley and Joe Hobson.
The meeting was called to order.
Director David Fazio introduced Josh Townsley, manager of the Company.
Josh Townsley gave a brief presentation on the district and its role on Sauvie Island including maps and pictures of the current boundaries.
Joe Hobson, attorney for the Company, presented on the history of the Company converting from a Drainage District in the 1990’s. Joe explained that the Company did not file a Landowners Notice or “Plans and Specifications” when it changed from a Drainage District. This Landowners Notice is needed for the Company to incur any capital improvement costs or change the methodology of assessments. Joe proceeded to explain the purpose of this committee in reviewing a landowners notice, and that the final document would need to be approved by the Company at a Landowners meeting.
Bob Wiley reminded the Committee why the District went through the transformation process after Measure 5 passed.
Copies of the “Resolution of the Members of the Sauvie Island Drainage Improvement Company” and “Landowners’ Notice” were distributed.
Joe Hobson introduced both documents, including the three proposed options for assessment methodology.
Discussion ensued regarding bringing lots outside of the Company boundary into the Company.
Hobson explained that property outside of the original boundaries could only be included by voluntary consent of the landowner.
George Douglas questioned whether a landowner with several small parcels could have to pay a minimum fee on each parcel under the one of the proposed options for assessment methodologies. Director Bob Egger explained that a minimum per Company member could be an option.
Joe Hobson and Bob Wiley explained that the benefits were calculated in the beginning of the District and have not changed. These benefits were based on agricultural land, not the newer usage of the island.
Director David Fazio asked for nominations for committee chairperson.
Upon motion made, duly seconded and carried Mark Hepner was elected Chairperson.
After discussion, it was decided to create a regular meeting schedule of the first Thursday of every month. Meetings will be held at 7:00p.m. at the Sauvie Island Fire Station.
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for February 1st, 2006 7:00 p.m. at the Sauvie Island Fire Department.
We’re back after a several month hiatus!
Look for some new features in the next coming days, but for now, here’s your local report.
We’re expected to have some light showers Saturday and Sunday. I don’t expect too much.
Monday we should clear up some for most of the week.
Models right now show showers returning Thursday or Friday of next week.
Some people have talked about snow in the next few days- the only snow we see would quickly melt with highs during the day expected to reach the mid 40’s.
Stay tuned for more updates!
Dear Sauvie Island Resident-
Several weeks ago we sent you a newsletter hinting at exciting plans in the future of SIDIC. I’m asking you today to write a letter of support for one such plan.
Jim Robison with the West Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District has been working hand in hand with SIDIC the last several months on securing funding for a hydrology study of the island. This grant will in effect allow us to see how effective the current model of drainage is for the island, and find ways to improve the system. Throughout the years our drainage ditch banks have eroded away precious farmland and wildlife habitat. Once this study is complete, we will have the knowledge necessary to rebuild our ditches, increase drainage, and improve wildlife habitat. Similar work in the Multnomah County Drainage District has reduced sloughing, weed infestations, and algae growth, improved native plan landscapes, established new wildlife habitats, and improved hydraulic operations of the channels while maintaining adequate flood control.
This grant has already been submitted with the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB,) however we need your support! If you are able to write a letter of recommendation for this grant we would be very grateful. OWEB needs to hear that Sauvie Island residents want this study to occur.
Please address your letters to
Jim Robison, District Administrator
West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District
2701 NW Vaughn St, Suite 450,
Portland, OR 97210
Thanks again for all your help. Let’s keep working together to make this a great place to call home!
Josh Townsley, Manager
Sauvie Island Drainage Improvement Company
Office: 503-621-3397
Fax: 503-621-9865
Email: Jct@Jctownsley.com
Web: www.sidrainage.org
I apologize for the delay the past couple of days, I’m on the other side of the country in Vermont enjoying some fine NorthWest Rain!
For your side of the country though, models are showing some typical early summer patterns the next couple of days. Morning cloudiness, sun breaking through mid day, slight chance of showers. Like last week, models still aren’t agreeing on what is coming next.
The river is rising and falling as expected. Levels came up this weekend to above 11 feet, we have dropped down now to about 10.5 feet.
More updates later-
Well the good news first tonight: We should begin to see some clearing tomorrow as the weather moves east. Forecasts and models are pointing at a dry, sunny weekend. Think mid to high 70’s. This trend looks to continue till late sunday or early Monday.
Bad news now: You might have seen next week as dry and warm. You’ll notice tonight on the air that most forecasters are calling for showers now. Check out the NWS and you’ll see that the models aren’t really agreeing on whats going to happen. We might end up with sunshine, but everybody is pointing to showers and cooler temps for now until the models clear up.
The river peaked around 11ft today. Expect this trend to continue for the next couple weeks it seems. This is probably the best circumstances with our above average snow pack. Runoffs so far have been manageable for the dams to keep up. If we get some significant heat we could see the rivers rise a few feet again.
More tomorrow-
Well first of all, be glad we’re not Klamath Falls area. You might have seen it on the news- they had a levee break today and cause some flash flooding in the area. Looks like crews will have it shored back up by tomorrow.
Our rivers continued to rise today. Weather patterns are showing cooler temps thursday and friday with a slight chance of showers as the marine air passes overhead. Saturday and Sunday we’re back in the seventies and mostly sunny.
Next week is where nobody can agree yet. Some models show next week dry and warm. Sometimes those same models show some moisture. We’ll wait another day or two and let the smart guys figure it out.
We’re keeping levels a little high down at the pumphouse for irrigation. Unless we get any significant moisture we’ll keep the levels the same through the weekend.
Check back again tomorrow for more updates-
Our inuagural post it seems- We hope this webpage will be your resource for the current and forecasted weather, river conditions, channel levels, and any Company news.
The only chance of rain this week will be Wednesday through Friday in the morning. Just a few sprinkles at the most. Friday and Saturday should bring more sunshine and warmer temps. Next week is looking dry and warm- still waiting to see tonight’s models.
River levels dropped over the weekend- bad news is they are on their way back up again. The Willamette is currently at 10.20 feet and rising. Snow pack is still above average, so as we warm up expect to see the river rise even more. Most of the dams are full and are letting out as much water as they have coming in.
More updates tomorrow-
–Update–
My weather guru has updated his thoughts. Cooler the next two days- don’t expect to see the sun much. Warm weekend for sure- could feel like July weather. Next week is showing no significant traces of moisture.