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Mt. Hood Flood Updates

Video Meeting of Interagency Flood Response Team with Residents from Lolo Pass Road area, March 3, 2011

Video Meeting of Interagency Flood Response Team with Residents from Timberline Rim area, March 3, 2011

  1. Updates

  • Video of Road and Bridge Repair
     
  • Update: 3/16/11
    • MEETINGS:  For those of you who need permits and/or information on recovery activities, we have planned two more sub-regional meetings with the Interagency Flood Response Team (Clackamas County, US Army Corps of Engineers, Department of State Lands, National Marine Fisheries Service, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife):
      • Residents within the area of Salmon Street, Ernst St., etc:  April 7, 10 a.m. to noon
      • Residents within the area of the confluence of the Sandy and Zig Zag rivers:  April 7, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
      Both meetings will be held in the County’s Development Services Building, 150 Beavercreek Rd in Oregon City.
      Three sub-regional meetings have already been held, for residents of Zig Zag Village, residents in the area of Lolo Pass Rd/Autumn Lane and residents of Timberline Rim.  Everyone is welcome to attend either of the upcoming meetings, even those who don’t live on one of the specified areas.  While there may be some specific information that will not be relevant, the general processes, people and agencies are the same at every meeting.
    • QUESTIONS ABOUT COUNTY REPAIR WORK:  We’ve had some inquiries about the details of the repair work that was done on Lolo Pass Road and around the Zig Zag Bridge, and what might happen in the future, e.g.:
      • Why was the new Zig Zag Bridge damaged by the flood? 
      • While repairing the bridge and Lolo Pass Road, what is the County doing to make sure they don’t wash out again? 
      • Did the County get permits to do the repair work
      Here are the answers, based on discussions with our maintenance and engineering staff.
      • The Zig Zag Bridge was not damaged; the approach to the bridge was damaged.  In fact, the new bridge was specifically designed to be 30% longer than the old bridge to try to prevent what happened this year.  In January, however, the river literally moved out from under the bridge and eroded the south approach.  No damage was done to the bridge itself  To repair and strengthen the approaches on both sides, we excavated several feet below the streambed, and added more large rock to protect the approaches and around the abutments.  The approaches are now in much better shape to resist future flooding, but there is no guarantee that the river will stay within its banks and not go around our work again.
      • On Lolo Pass Road, the first priority was to rebuild the permanent road base to get the road open so residents could get to and from their homes.  As soon as that was done, road construction was stopped and work began to protect the road base by installing an underground revetment and placing woody debris in the bank.  The material was also graded to form more of a wide floodplain to help dissipate future floods and disperse the energy. 
      • The road protection work was completed March 14. During the week of March 14, road construction work is resuming, which includes installing ditches, culverts and shoulders, applying the finish grade and paving.  As mentioned before, the paving will take place when the weather is warmer and drier.
      • Permits – All County work was performed in collaboration with the Oregon Department of State Lands, the US Army Corps of Engineers and the permits authorized for these specific repairs.  We continue to work with the Corps and its federal partners, including the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Department of Environmental Quality, to identify and address the impacts on natural resources and needed mitigation resulting from the repairs.

While we have taken these additional measures in repairing Lolo Pass Road and the approaches to the Zig Zag Bridge, we know that the Sandy River system is powerful and has a history of moving its channel.  There is no cost-effective way to guarantee that Lolo Pass Road and the area around the bridge will not be damaged again, but the repair work should minimize damage if a similar event occurs in the future.  In the meantime, the staff of the County Transportation Maintenance Division would like to thank everyone for their patience and support during this recovery process.

  • Update:  3/10/11
    • Zig Zag Bridge:  We expect to have the Zig Zag Bridge fully open permanently at 6 p.m., Friday, March 11.  If weather permits, we'll do some temporary paving tomorrow afternoon before the road opens; if not, the road will be gravel.  When weather permits later this year -- when it's drier and warmer -- we'll replace the temporary paving with permanent paving.
    • Lolo Pass Road:  Next week we'll return to work on the road, with about three weeks of activities planned including grading, and establishing ditches, shoulders and driveway culverts.  Permanent paving will be done later this year when the weather is drier and warmer.
    • Permits and Recovery: Agency officials met with Timberline Rim residents in Timberline Rim this past Tuesday, and additional meetings are being planned for residents from other regions later this month.  We appreciate your cooperation in continuing to contact Steve Hanschka or Rebecca Ceniga in our Land Use & Zoning Division about recovery efforts, permits and related issues.
        
  • Update:  3/3/11
    • Construction:  The snow has slowed work a bit, but otherwise things are progressing well on both the bridge and the road.  There will be workers on both sites this Friday and Saturday, March 4-5.  Road traffic will not be impacted by the work, but the bridge will be closed while workers are present.  We are hoping to be able to fully open the bridge as soon as March 11.
    • Permits and Recovery:  Many thanks to the people from the Autumn Lane/Lolo Pass area and the Timberline Rim area who trekked to Oregon City today to meet with County, State and Federal agency representatives.  Those meetings are the second and third we've had with regions -- Zig Zag residents attended a meeting last month -- and more meetings will be scheduled with additional regions in the next couple of weeks.
  • Update:  2/24/11
    • Bridge:  You may have noticed there are no workers on the bridge today – too much snow.  The good news is that means that one lane is open today.  That may continue tomorrow, also, if the weather keeps the workers away again.  At this point is looks like it will be at least two weeks before the bridge is fully open to all traffic.
    • Rumors:  We keep hearing rumors about the County giving away wood – those are NOT TRUE.  Please help spread the word.
    • Disaster Declaration:  As you may have heard, on Feb. 17 President Obama signed the disaster declaration for Oregon.  This will make funds available only to local governments and non-profit organizations under certain circumstances.  Today the County issued a news release about a meeting on the disaster declaration for government and non-profit agencies.  Again, this is only for eligible local government agencies and non-profits.
    • Meetings with Permitting Agencies:  We have scheduled meetings with Autumn Lane/Lolo Pass area residents and Timberline Rim area residents on Thursday, March 3 with staff from County Land Use and Zoning, County Office of Emergency Management; the Oregon Department of State Lands and the US Army Corps of Engineers.  Both meetings will be in the County’s Development Services Building, 150 Beavercreek Rd., Oregon City.  The Autumn Lane/Lolo Pass meeting is from 10 a.m.-noon; the Timberline Rim meeting is set for 1-3 p.m.  If you live in either of those areas, you should have received notification already.  If you have any questions, please let us know.
  • Update:  2/17/1
    • MEETINGS:  The Interagency Flood Response Group that we’ve pulled together – including Clackamas County, Department of State Lands, US Army Corps of Engineers and the National Marine Fisheries Service – met with residents from Zig Zag Village last week.  Now we are working on scheduling similar meetings with groups from two more areas – Autumn Lane/Lolo Pass and Timberline Rim – during the week of Feb. 28  We sent letters to people in both those areas – if you are in one of the areas and have not yet received a letter, please let us know.
    • PERMITS:  Please remember – for your sake and the sake of your neighbors and community --permits are required for work on structures, on the riverbank or in the river, and no blanket permits have been issued.  Work done without permits is subject to fines and/or required to be undone.  We appreciate the cooperation we’ve received so far.  If you have questions, the key contacts continue to be Steve Hanschka (stevehan@co.clackamas.or.us or 503.742.4512) or Rebecca Ceniga (beckycen@co.clackamas.or.us or 503.742.4505) in Clackamas County Land Use & Zoning.
    • RUMORS:  We’ve been hearing some rumors (like the one about blanket permits).  Another, that is just a rumor and definitely not fact, is that people can get free wood out of the Sandy River for firewood.  Not true – the river is in the jurisdiction of the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of State lands, and nothing can be removed from it without appropriate permits.
    • ZIG ZAG BRIDGE:  Repairs are finished on the south side abutment and are just beginning on the north side.  At this point we’re estimating it will take another three weeks or so before the north side repairs are complete.  During that time, the travel schedule on the bridge will continue as it has been the last couple of days:
      • One lane available to emergency vehicles at all times
      • One lane available to all vehicles when workers are not present:
      • 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., weeknights
      • Saturdays and Sundays
      • Monday, Feb. 21 (Presidents’ Day)
  • Update:  2/14/11 -- We’re making good progress on the Zig Zag Bridge – thanks to the continuing supreme efforts of our local contractors, Konell Construction & Demolition – and expect to be able to begin a limited opening of the bridge to traffic beginning at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 15.  
    • Here’s the plan:
    • OPEN TO REGULAR TRAFFIC --
    • Beginning Tuesday, Feb. 15, one lane will be open to vehicular traffic from 7 p.m. until 7 a.m. weekdays, when workers are not present. 
    • The bridge will be open to regular traffic all day on Saturday and Sunday when workers are not present.
    • CLOSED TO REGULAR TRAFFIC -- The bridge will continue to be closed to regular traffic weekdays (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.) when work is taking place on the bridge.
    •  AVAILABLE FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES ONLY -- Beginning Wednesday, Feb. 16, one lane will be available 24 hours a day for emergency vehicles only.
  • Update:  2/10/11 -- Zig Zag Bridge:  Progress is coming along slowly.  We are working towards being able to at least have one lane available for emergency vehicles, but that probably won't happen in the next couple of days.  Workers will be there through Saturday and then will have Sunday off.

    Cell Towers:  A note on the temporary cell towers -- they are temporary, which means they will be removed in a few weeks.  They were placed in the area by AT&T and Verizon to support the recovery effort, especially when regular phone lines were down.

    Permits Required for Repairs/Bank Work:  If you have building repairs to do or any work planned in relation to the river or the river bank, you MUST receive permits from the appropriate agency -- either the County, the Oregon Department of State Lands or the US Army Corps of Engineers.  Please contact Steve Hanschka (503.742.4512 or stevehan@co.clackamas.or.us) or Rebecca Ceniga (503.742.4505 or beckycen@co.clackamas.or.us) -- they can work with you on county permits and help guide you to the state and federal permits processes.
    The rules and regulations are in place for your safety and well-being and for the long-term safety and well-being of your community and the environment in which you live.  If you're unsure whether you need permits or if you think you don't need one because the county has given out blanket permits for the whole area (which we haven't), please contact Steve or Rebecca.

    As mentioned before, the agencies are working together to clarify and help people through the permitting process.  Yesterday representatives from the county and the other agencies spent the day in the area to visit with residents and answer questions, and the day before they met with a group of residents and property owners from Zig Zag Village.
  • Update:  2/3/11 -- Work is progressing on both the bridge repair and road improvements.  ZigZag Bridge - We're still doing in-water work by the south abutment.  The workers are going to take this weekend (Saturday and Sunday) off -- the first break they've had after 15, 12-hour days in a row!  When they return Monday, they'll finish the in-water work by the south approach and then begin in-water work on the north side.  There will be pedestrian access over the bridge while work is shut down over the weekend.

    Lolo Pass Road -- We're about half-way through completing the 500-foot revetment needed to protect the roadway from the next flood.  Once that is done, we'll get back to smoothing the road so we can add some asphalt once the weather permits.
  • Update: 2 p.m., 1/27/11
  • Update: 4 p.m., 1/22/11 
  • Clackamas County officials to hold informational meeting Saturday for people affected by Mt. Hood flooding
  • Update: 5 p.m., 1/21/11 
  • Update: 2 p.m., 1/19/11 

Contacts, Tips and Recovery Information