Proposed Ballot Measure - Tri-City Water Resource Recovery Facility Outfall Project

Clackamas Water Environment Services (WES), the regional wastewater treatment provider for the City of Oregon City, is proposing to install a new outfall pipeline. WES produces clean water for more than 190,000 customers in Clackamas County. WES operates and maintains five resource recovery facilities, 23 pumping stations and more than 340 miles of pipes that carry wastewater to treatment facilities.

If the proposed ballot measure passes, the new outfall that would serve Oregon City, would run from the Tri-City Water Resource Recovery Facility parallel to I-205 and under the OR 99E off ramp. The new outfall pipeline would run underneath Jon Storm Park and discharge into the Willamette River just north of the I-205 Abernethy Bridge. The current outfall was constructed in 1984 and is nearing capacity during peak wet weather events.

If the measure passes, construction would take place in 2023 and 2024. The proposed project, which is estimated at $21,500,000, would be funded as part of WES’ Capital Improvement Plan. WES has the funding for the outfall pipeline project. The proposed ballot measure, if passed, would not increase taxes.

The Oregon City Charter calls for a vote of the people regarding the easements and for the construction of permanent structures unrelated to park use. On June 17, 2020 the City of Oregon City Commission referred a measure that will ask voters “shall the City authorize the underground placement of a wastewater pipeline in Jon Storm Park.” The proposed ballot measure provides voters with the opportunity to vote on the issue.

If the measure passes, the proposed new outfall location would be upstream of the existing outfall which is near a cold-water refuge for migrating fish at the mouth of the Clackamas River. Construction crews would adhere to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Willamette River in-water work window. The in-water work guidelines were created to minimize potential impacts to fish, Pacific lamprey, wildlife and habitat resources.

WES’ consultants are also performing an archaeological investigation and working in compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act, as well as working with the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Tribal Historic Preservation Office.

If the measure is approved, WES would construct the proposed outfall and restore Jon Storm Park to its original condition. In addition, it would provide for mitigation improvements identified by the Oregon City Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee who recommended “mitigation going towards a tree inventory and some mediation of hazardous trees. If the measure passes, any remaining funds would be used for master planning of Jon Storm, Clackamette parks.

If the proposed measure does not pass, the project as proposed would not take place.

To address community questions about the project, WES will host online open houses on Wednesday, Aug. 26, from noon to 1 p.m. and on Monday, Sept. 21, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. To register, and to learn more about the Proposed Ballot Measure - Tri-City Water Resource Recovery Facility Outfall Project, visit the website.

Sources:

1. Routing study: completed by Jacobs Engineering Group in the fall of 2019.
2. Capital Improvement Plan: updated by Clackamas Water Environment Services in 2020.