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Peninsula Drainage District #1 | Peninsula Drainage District #2 | Multnomah County Drainage District #1 | Sandy Drainage Improvement Company
Upcoming Events
Columbia Slough Regatta
Aug 2, 9 am - 1 pm
MCDD
1880 NE Elrod Dr.
(more details below)
PEN 1 Board Meeting
Aug. 24, 9:00-10:00 am
MCDD Conference Room
1880 NE Elrod Dr.
4MAT Meeting
Sep 24 , 10:00 am-2:00 pm
MCDD Conference Room
1880 NE Elrod Dr.
Levee Ready Columbia*
Sep. 24?
*Formerly "Oregon Solutions Levee Improvement Program
4MAT Meeting
Oct. Time and Date TBD
MCDD Conference Room
1880 NE Elrod Dr.
Bookmark our eventscalendar here
Oregon Solutions becomes Levee Ready Columbia!
July was an important month for the levee program. As many readers may know, for the last two years MCDD has been working with community, environmental, business and government partners to ensure to that our levee system meets federal standards and provides flood protection for our community.
On July 17th partners formalized their commitment to this effort through the signing of a Declaration of Cooperation. The Declaration, though not legally binding, articulates the program's goals and principles, and documents how the partners will work together to ensure that our community continues to protect the important economic, social, and ecological benefits provided by our levee system. Multnomah County Commissioner Jules Baileycaptured the significance of the event in his remarks,"We move today from exploration to analysis and action... critical for our community’s safety and resiliency, for our region’s business and economic health, and for our responsibility as stewards of these levees. Thanks to Oregon Solutions for developing this partnership, framing this table and fostering the goodwill and collaboration that is a hallmark of your organization... Signing on formally together today, solidifies that strength and makes sure we have a foundation for the future."
In addition to signing on to the Declaration of Cooperation, the partners adopted a new name for the program: Levee Ready Columbia: Flood Protection for the Portland Community. Look for more news and updates on Levee Ready Columbia this fall. Until then, you can always learn more athttp://orsolutions.org/osproject/leveeready, or by contacting Levee Ready Columbia program office (located at MCDD) at (503) 281-5675, or 1880 NE Elrod Dr. Portland, OR 97211.
Recent Operations and Maintenance
Vanport Wetlands draw down
While MCDD's primary responsibility is drainage and flood protection we examine every opportunity to work with our partners and deliver on our mission to protect the environment too. One example of this is our partnership with the Port of Portland to manage water levels in the Vanport Wetlands. By carefully managing water levels in the wetlands, MCDD has helped create habitat used by over 100 species of birds, This time of year, MCDD is drawing down the water level in the wetlands by about 6 inches every two weeks. This will result in some mudflats by August, to support migratory shorebirds. For more information visit the Port of Portland.
Levee maintenance update
MCDD field crews continue to progress the through the annual schedule of levee maintenance. This includes mowing the grass on the levees and removing harmful vegetation. This time of year most of the maintenance in PEN 1 and PEN 2 is complete (save some areas that must be cleared manually). Mowing work will continue west to east through MCDD and into SDIC over the next month. As you can see in the picture below, MCDD also got a new sign to alert auto traffic and trail users to our maintenance work.
Tree and stump removal near the airport
If you've noticed a lot of trees down, stumps, or work crews along Marine Dr. just east of the Airport recently, you've seen MCDD at work. The trees in this area did not comply with Federal Aviation Administration regulations. MCDD worked with the Port of Portland to have them removed. To ensure that the Marine Dr. levee was unharmed, the stumps and roots had to be carefully removed so that decaying roots wouldn't damage the levee.
Above right: Tree stumps that were removed along the levee to comply with U.S. Corps of Engineers standards.
Emergency Preparedness
Throughout July, MCDD staff have been working hard to improve the flood emergency action plan for the Districts. Two major improvements were accomplished this month include:
MCDD personnel will continue to work on the flood emergency action plan throughout the summer.
- Drafting levee patrol areas to guide inspections during a high water event
- Clarifying triggers for action and how they coincide with the National Weather Service’s flood categories. (An example “trigger for action”: water elevation at Vancouver Gage reads X feet so Y response must be initiated.)
Though we are currently not experience flood conditions or high flood risk, we are experiencing extreme heat this summer. Access Multnomah County’s webpage, "Help for when it's hot" to learn about how to stay safe and cool in this weather. Cooling center hours and locations and more can be found on this site.
Stay Prepared – Stay Safe. As always, if you have questions about emergency preparedness at the Districts, please call us at 503-281-5675.
Showing posts with label Multnomah Drainage District. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Multnomah Drainage District. Show all posts
Friday, July 31, 2015
News From The Drainage District
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Education Plus Fun In Our Watershed
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today. This FREE workshop
covers the history,
water, wildlife, and current issues of the Columbia Slough Watershed.
Presenters will lead hands-on activities including a tour of a
pump station and macroinvertebrate discovery. Pre-registration is
required for this free workshop, and light refreshments will be
provided. Suitable for adults and teens 14 & up.
Wednesdays March- May 10-11am.
Tuesday, March 18th 4-5 PM.
The
ground is soft and the time is right! The Council is busy taking
advantage of planting season and we need your help. Volunteers are
needed at a number of upcoming restoration events. If you have a group of people you'd like to organize - please contact Hanna Davis at: hanna.davis@columbiaslough.org
Friday, October 11, 2013
Herbicide Application
Herbicide was to be sprayed in September, then it changed to this week, and now it is changed to next week.
At this point, all I can suggest is to watch for the little flags the Drainage District is "supposed" to put out 48 hours ahead of the spraying - OR - better suggestion is to keep an eye and ear on the levee and you can hear or see them coming near you.
I, for one, do not trust that this stuff is harmless to animals and will keep my cats in while it is being sprayed and for 2 days following.
And I will not walk my puppy in any areas that have been sprayed.
I believe in preventive maneuvers when it comes to my pets.
At this point, all I can suggest is to watch for the little flags the Drainage District is "supposed" to put out 48 hours ahead of the spraying - OR - better suggestion is to keep an eye and ear on the levee and you can hear or see them coming near you.
I, for one, do not trust that this stuff is harmless to animals and will keep my cats in while it is being sprayed and for 2 days following.
And I will not walk my puppy in any areas that have been sprayed.
I believe in preventive maneuvers when it comes to my pets.
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Drainage District Meeting - December 6th at 6PM
This is a copy of the letter and agenda sent to all landowners in the DD.
Click on the images to download and read.
[not sure why they don't just enlarge - oh well]
First two images are the DD's summary of the legal situation regarding the trees and the third image is the agenda for the meeting
Friday, November 09, 2007
Poisoning of beavers and "spraying" of the levee
This letter was sent today to the Multnomah County Drainage district and our state rep Tina Kotek - via email. I will post a reply when I receive one.
Friday, November 9, 2007
Mr. Bob Eaton, Executive Director
Mr. Dave Hendricks, Deputy Director
Multnomah County Drainage District
Dear Mr. Eaton and Mr. Hendricks:
I am a Bridgeton resident. In October of this year a neighbor told me that your office poisoned the beavers in the Columbia River along the levees, including Bridgeton levee, and also sprayed “something” on the levee to curtail vegetative growth.
I find this worrisome and have a few questions:
1 – Did you poison the beavers?
If so, when specifically did this occur? Where were the beaver burrows located that were poisoned?
What poison[s] were used? Please be specific and also list all ingredients including information as to how long each of the ingredients is active.
Did you retrieve the dead animals?
If so, where were they found?
And if not retrieved – why not?
2 - Did you spray or otherwise cause chemicals or poison[s] to be put on the levee?
If so, when specifically did this occur?
Exactly what areas were subjected to this process and how close did the process come to the river's edge?
Did you first take care to note if any water fowl were nesting in those areas?
What specifically was used? Please list all ingredients and also include information as to how long each of the ingredients is active.
3 - Why were the neighbors not notified in advance of any of these events?
Many of us allow our pets to walk on the levee and explore the grasses along the slopes.
Many of us water our plants and vegetables with river water.
Many of us in the neighborhood swim and kayak in the Columbia Channel and River or otherwise come in contact with the water, as do many who do not live here but are out on the river in boats.
Assuming you have all this information readily available I expect a most rapid reply and expect an answer within 10 working days.
I am posting this letter on my neighborhood blog [http://ibridgeton.com] and will post your reply as well. As others have shown interest when I spoke of this, copies of this letter will be forwarded to persons and agencies in addition to those noted below..
Lynn Dorman, Ph.D., J.D.
205 N. Bridgeton Road #5
Portland Oregon 97217
503-477-5550
Cc: Peninsula #2 Drainage District Board of Supervisors Messrs. Schafer, Halsten, McBride
Tina Kotek, State Representative District 44
Saturday, November 03, 2007
Commentary by Brain Stipak
This is reprinted with Brian's permission.
One acre, one vote. That's not democracy
Every citizen has an equal vote in national elections -- "One Person, One Vote". But in the Multnomah County Drainage District it's "One Acre, One Vote". Bridgeton Neighborhood residents earlier this year tried to elect a local resident to the supervisors of Peninsula Drainage District No. 2 by attending the meeting for that election. Although we were a majority in attendance, we had but one vote each and were easily out-voted by several people (non-residents, I believe) casting hundreds of votes representing businesses owning hundreds of acres.
What consequences results from such undemocratic process? In the current controversy about tree-cutting in the Bridgeton Neighborhood, the District supervisors and staff ignore the voices of the local residents. 0);"> The State Legislature needs to change this undemocratic "one acre, one vote" governance that robs people who live in a neighborhood of representation on a local agency affecting the livability and safety of that neighborhood.
State Representative Tina Kotek has taken the lead in trying to correct this lack of representation of local residents, and she deserves our support.
One acre, one vote. That's not democracy
By Brian Stipak of Portland, Oregon. Brian is a professor of public administration in the Mark Hatfield School of Government at Portland State University.
Every citizen has an equal vote in national elections -- "One Person, One Vote". But in the Multnomah County Drainage District it's "One Acre, One Vote". Bridgeton Neighborhood residents earlier this year tried to elect a local resident to the supervisors of Peninsula Drainage District No. 2 by attending the meeting for that election. Although we were a majority in attendance, we had but one vote each and were easily out-voted by several people (non-residents, I believe) casting hundreds of votes representing businesses owning hundreds of acres.
What consequences results from such undemocratic process? In the current controversy about tree-cutting in the Bridgeton Neighborhood, the District supervisors and staff ignore the voices of the local residents. 0);"> The State Legislature needs to change this undemocratic "one acre, one vote" governance that robs people who live in a neighborhood of representation on a local agency affecting the livability and safety of that neighborhood.
State Representative Tina Kotek has taken the lead in trying to correct this lack of representation of local residents, and she deserves our support.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Letter of denial from the City Forester to Drainage District
[ Editorial note - the meeting with the City Forester and some of the neighbors, lawyers, etc. took place on October 12th. At that time the city requested that all parties try to reach consensus. The Drainage District's tree removal request was filed on October 16th - included 124 trees - and there was no intervening attempt to even talk to the neighborhood negotiators - and that was after the city arborist spent an entire day with Dave Hendricks and they concluded that 60 trees would be removed. ]
October 23, 2007
Harlan E. Jones
Jordan Schrader Ramis PC
P.O. Box 230669
Portland, OR 97281
Mr. Jones,
My staff and I have reviewed the information sent regarding the request for tree cutting permits by the Multnomah Drainage District in the Bridgeton Neighborhood. By your estimate a total of 124 trees are requested to be cut under PCC 20.40 and 20.42. This is the number referenced in your letter dated October 16, 2008.
There are 40 trees, included in these applications and part of the 124 total, which are below 12” in diameter and not within the ROW. These are not regulated trees. The City of Portland does not require a permit for their removal.
In a response to you October 16th letter, I said I would expeditiously address your permit request but “In order to do this, however, the Multnomah Drainage District needs to specify the number of trees to be removed under each respective tree cutting Title (either 20:40 or 20:42) and the sections (justification) under which permits are requested” Based upon the information provided, I assume the permit request is as follows:
• 33 trees removed under PCC 20.40.
• 51 trees removed under PCC 20.42.
• The tree removal permits are requested as emergency permits under 20:42, without notification or mitigation.
You state: pg 3 paragraph 4 “While 20.40 deals with trees on public lands, nothing in 20.40 provides that 20.40 overrules 20.42 as to the cutting of trees, and 20.42, as stated, unambiguously applies to all land except certain single-family lots” and pg 3 paragraph 5 “The Forester has, and should immediately exercise, the authority to “order or effect” the removal of the trees creating this hazard to public safety by authorizing the District to cut trees as it proposes”.
Again in your email to me on October 17 you state: “As to the rest of the trees, it does not matter whether they fall under 20.40 or 20.42, and it does not matter whether the District or the Forester is correct as to the respective scope and application of those two chapters. Under either chapter and under both chapters, the Forester has explicitly authority to cause or allow the removal of trees, without any permitting process and without any mitigation requirements, in circumstances which present a public safety risk. We identified those specific provisions in our communication yesterday”.
Your permit to remove 124 trees under the emergency tree provision of 20.42.090 Criteria for Issuance of Permits is denied. The City of Portland does not agree with the Multnomah Drainage District that the trees are an emergency hazard for the following reasons:
• The trees have been growing on the levee for up to 50 years without demonstrated negative consequences.
• Despite the District knowing that the trees should be removed and based upon the request of the District, the regulating agency granted annual exceptions suggesting a lack of urgency.
• The City of Portland can grant an emergency tree cutting permit at any time when the levee becomes imperiled by high waters or seasonal conditions effectively assuring safety to “the traveling pubic or the integrity of a public street and associated improvements”.
• The trees submitted are not solely regulated under 20:42 for the following reasons: PCC 20.42.010 Purpose states " ..it is not the intent of this Chapter to require a permit for tree cutting in situations where the same activity is already regulated and reviewed by other provisions of the City Code". PCC 20:40.010 Purpose states " The purpose of this Chapter is the managing, conserving, and enhancing the existing trees located in the parks and public areas owned by the City of Portland and in public rights-of-way.." As clarified by the above, PCC 20:42 do not regulate trees within areas covered by PCC 20:40.
You may resubmit tree cutting permits at any time under the following conditions:
• A permit to remove the 33 trees regulated under PCC 20.40 needs to be accompanied by appropriate mitigation as stated in my October 16th response to you: “The City of Portland does, in most cases, require mitigation for street tree loss through replanting of the tree removal site. The City understands that to do this on the Levee will require replanting in vaults or planters so that tree roots will not migrate to the critical zone”.
• A permit to remove the 51 trees regulated under PCC 20:42 will require an appropriate mitigation plan depending on specific criteria used to justify the permit request.
I
Sincerely,
David McAllister
City Nature Manager and City Forester
1120 SW 5th Ave, Suite 1302
Portland, OR 97204
October 23, 2007
Harlan E. Jones
Jordan Schrader Ramis PC
P.O. Box 230669
Portland, OR 97281
Mr. Jones,
My staff and I have reviewed the information sent regarding the request for tree cutting permits by the Multnomah Drainage District in the Bridgeton Neighborhood. By your estimate a total of 124 trees are requested to be cut under PCC 20.40 and 20.42. This is the number referenced in your letter dated October 16, 2008.
There are 40 trees, included in these applications and part of the 124 total, which are below 12” in diameter and not within the ROW. These are not regulated trees. The City of Portland does not require a permit for their removal.
In a response to you October 16th letter, I said I would expeditiously address your permit request but “In order to do this, however, the Multnomah Drainage District needs to specify the number of trees to be removed under each respective tree cutting Title (either 20:40 or 20:42) and the sections (justification) under which permits are requested” Based upon the information provided, I assume the permit request is as follows:
• 33 trees removed under PCC 20.40.
• 51 trees removed under PCC 20.42.
• The tree removal permits are requested as emergency permits under 20:42, without notification or mitigation.
You state: pg 3 paragraph 4 “While 20.40 deals with trees on public lands, nothing in 20.40 provides that 20.40 overrules 20.42 as to the cutting of trees, and 20.42, as stated, unambiguously applies to all land except certain single-family lots” and pg 3 paragraph 5 “The Forester has, and should immediately exercise, the authority to “order or effect” the removal of the trees creating this hazard to public safety by authorizing the District to cut trees as it proposes”.
Again in your email to me on October 17 you state: “As to the rest of the trees, it does not matter whether they fall under 20.40 or 20.42, and it does not matter whether the District or the Forester is correct as to the respective scope and application of those two chapters. Under either chapter and under both chapters, the Forester has explicitly authority to cause or allow the removal of trees, without any permitting process and without any mitigation requirements, in circumstances which present a public safety risk. We identified those specific provisions in our communication yesterday”.
Your permit to remove 124 trees under the emergency tree provision of 20.42.090 Criteria for Issuance of Permits is denied. The City of Portland does not agree with the Multnomah Drainage District that the trees are an emergency hazard for the following reasons:
• The trees have been growing on the levee for up to 50 years without demonstrated negative consequences.
• Despite the District knowing that the trees should be removed and based upon the request of the District, the regulating agency granted annual exceptions suggesting a lack of urgency.
• The City of Portland can grant an emergency tree cutting permit at any time when the levee becomes imperiled by high waters or seasonal conditions effectively assuring safety to “the traveling pubic or the integrity of a public street and associated improvements”.
• The trees submitted are not solely regulated under 20:42 for the following reasons: PCC 20.42.010 Purpose states " ..it is not the intent of this Chapter to require a permit for tree cutting in situations where the same activity is already regulated and reviewed by other provisions of the City Code". PCC 20:40.010 Purpose states " The purpose of this Chapter is the managing, conserving, and enhancing the existing trees located in the parks and public areas owned by the City of Portland and in public rights-of-way.." As clarified by the above, PCC 20:42 do not regulate trees within areas covered by PCC 20:40.
You may resubmit tree cutting permits at any time under the following conditions:
• A permit to remove the 33 trees regulated under PCC 20.40 needs to be accompanied by appropriate mitigation as stated in my October 16th response to you: “The City of Portland does, in most cases, require mitigation for street tree loss through replanting of the tree removal site. The City understands that to do this on the Levee will require replanting in vaults or planters so that tree roots will not migrate to the critical zone”.
• A permit to remove the 51 trees regulated under PCC 20:42 will require an appropriate mitigation plan depending on specific criteria used to justify the permit request.
I
Sincerely,
David McAllister
City Nature Manager and City Forester
1120 SW 5th Ave, Suite 1302
Portland, OR 97204
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