News From The Drainage District

Flood Safety Monthly, July 31, 2015 View this email in your browser Protecting lives, property and the environment through innovative, proactive, flood plain management 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.  Above: The Oregon Solutions Levee Ready Columbia partners gathered for the signing of the Declaration of Cooperation on July 17, 2015. Columbia Slough Regatta on Sunday! MCDD is proud to be hosting the Columbia Slough Regatta on Sunday Aug 2. In addition to providing access to the slough and free kayak or canoe rentals, this year's event will have a live band, food vendors, and tours of the levee and pump station. MCDD values its partnership with the Columbia Slough Watershed Council and we are very happy to help introduce paddlers to the importance of conservation on the slough as well as the important public safety and flood protection work of the Districts. For more information on the Regatta, visit:http://columbiaslough.org/ 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 left: MCDD levee maintenance in progress, mowing along the Marine Dr. levee just west of I-205. 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: 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.) MCDD personnel will continue to work on the flood emergency action plan throughout the summer. 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.  Noteworthy Links Vanport the Musical  on July 31st and August 1st.   Columbia river levees still inadequate for flood    Portland shuts of back up water supply (Columbia South Shore Well Field)   Riverfront greenway as flood control in Cedar Rapids   El Niño update

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.

Flood Waiver Forum for Property Owners

Reminder | July 16 - Must Attend Meeting for Bridgeton Property Owners

A friendly reminder from BNA Flood Zone Waiver Forum Monday, July 16 7 PM @ Portland Yacht Club 1241 NE. Marine Dr. Portland, OR General information session and open forum with a panel of flood zone experts The BNA has arranged a general information session and open forum with a panel of experts to provide a more thorough understanding of how the FEMA flood zone changes impact Bridgeton property owners and to determine the best path for moving forward for affected property owners. Christine Shirley - The State Flood Plain Administrator Doug Morgan - City Flood Plain Specialist with the Bureaus of Environmental Services Dave Hendricks - Executive Director | Penninsula 2 Drainage District Representative from West Consulting   Our current understanding: Because FEMA has changed the way it defines “the Floodway Line” on the Bridgeton levee, financial institutions holding mortgages for structures built on the levee are now requiring property owners to purchase flood insurance. These changes may lower property values and make it difficult to buy and sell structures built on the levee.  Each property owner needs to submit completed FEMA LOMR-FW forms to FEMA. Obtaining a waiver individually by each property owner can be complicated and expensive. We greatly increase the odds of obtaining a waiver by working with experts to file a well organized, accurate, complete and consolidated waiver application. The Bridgeton Neighborhood Association recommends working with the experts at West Consultants to streamline the application process. West Consulting has a thorough understanding of the application process and information requirements. They have professional connections with FEMA, the Army Corp of Engineers and the Pen 2 Drainage District. West Consultants is the most cost effective consulting team West Consultants can perform the surveys, collect, assemble and usher the forms through the FEMA process. We can reduce out of pocket expenses for Bridgeton property owners by splitting the costs of conducting property measurement surveys. We need to assess where we are in the process so we can create a cohesive and informed plan. For Bridgeton property owners who choose to participate in the waiver program there are five components that need to be filed for each property owner: 1.       Copies of the encroachment permit approved by the Army Corp of Engineers 2.       Plat map for each property effected 3.       Elevation measurements showing the structure is above the floodway 4.       Signature of an authorized engineer 5.       Completed LOMR-FW form If you have started this process please indicate at the meeting which documentation you may have so we may update our map database, and help determine which properties are moving forward with obtaining a waiver. Please invite others in the neighborhood who own property with an even number Bridgeton Road address to help gather information and form a plan of action. If you have questions or comments, please send an e-mail to: Leslie Sawyer, parafriend@comcast.net 503-314-2137 Dustin Pruitt djpruitt@gmail.com Co-Chairs, Bridgeton Neighborhood Association

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Meeting Tonight - June 20

June Meeting Wednesday, June 20, 2007
7 PM @ Columbia School, 716 NE Marine Drive

AGENDA:

· Important Levee Recertification News: New US Army Corp of Engineers regulations may require the removal of a number of trees growing on or adjacent to the Bridgeton levee. A survey of the impacted area will be completed in July.

· Bridgeton Path Update

· Columbia School: Vice Principal Seth Jones will bring us up to date on what is happening with the special program at the Columbia School.

· New Columbia River Crossing Maps and Plans

We will have an opportunity to see updated maps and plans for the new I-5 Bridge.

· ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND BOARD MEMBERS

The following were nominated for Board and Officer positions.

_____Matt Whitney, Chair____________________________________________

_____Cherry Ann Kolbenschlag, Vice Chair______________________________

_____Stan Hart, Treasurer____________________________________________

_____Sam McGarrity, Secretary_______________________________________

_____Jon Peterson__________________________________________________

_____Kim Swenson_________________________________________________

_____Leslie Sawyer_________________________________________________

_____Byron Johnson________________________________________________

_____Chuck Wilson_________________________________________________

_____Walter Valenta________________________________________________

Please VOTE for 9. Mark your selection with X

Your Name & Address:_____________________________________________



Bridgeton bylaws allow a maximum of 9 Board members. We have a total of 10 Bridgeton residents willing to serve on the

Board or as an officer. All officers must be Board members. You may vote for a maximum of 9 people, one vote per person. PLEASE VOTE by the June 20, 2007 Bridgeton Neighborhood Association meeting. Ballots may be emailed to Bridgeton.neighborhood@comcast.net, mailed to Bridgeton N.A. 417 N. Bridgeton Road, Portland 97217 or dropped off at the Channels Edge coffee shop, a current Bridgeton officer or at the June 20th meeting. Printed ballots are also available in the usual distribution boxes.

· No meetings in July and August

Bridgeton Trail project

Patty Freeman, who co-led the meeting on the levee project has uploaded a page about it on Portland online [click here]

Also from Patty: "Please, if you have not yet had a chance to complete your comment form, take a few minutes and send us your feedback! We have received a little over 30 thus far, but we'd really like to get comments from everyone we can. They are so helpful in developing consensus and direction for the project. We have created a web-based comment form, so those who have not yet commented may do so on line."

This is a neighborhood project so let your voice be heard....

Path along the levee

Come to a special meeting on October 18th to discuss your ideas for the path/trail/promenade along the levee. Portland Parks will be there to present some ideas for us to comment on.

The meeting is at the Residence Inn at North Harbour
120 N. Anchor Way
7 PM

Note - it is not at our regular meeting place