Latest Updates to Clack-A-Mole and the Tri-City Water Resource Recovery Facility Outfall Project

Date
Main Content

Oct. 7 update

Tunnel boring machine moving through page

53%

Approximately 1,262' has been mined. For every 10' we mine, we are removing 27 cubic yards of soil, or about 2 dump trucks worth.

Oct. 1 update

WES Advisory Committee members recently toured the TBM launch site
WES Advisory Committee members recently toured the TBM launch site.

Sept. 30 update

Tunnel boring machine moving through page

44%

Approximately 1,040' has been mined.

Sept. 26 update

Tunnel boring machine moving through page

35%

We're now about 35% of the way to the river. The average mole is 5"-11". Clack-A-Mole is 51 feet long!

Sept. 24 update

Tunnel boring machine moving through page

32%

Clack-A-Mole has now mined 770' of the total tunnel length of 2,370'. We're now about 32% of the way to the river. The average mole can dig at a rate of up to 18 feet per hour. Clack-A-Mole is a little slower, averaging about 32 feet a day.

Sept. 19 update

Tunnel boring machine moving through page

24%

Clack-A-Mole has now mined 560' of the total tunnel length of 2,370'. We're now about 24% of the way to the river. Clack-a-Mole isn't a typical Oregon mole, weighing in at 225,000 lbs. The most common mole in Oregon, the Townsend's Mole, weighs under 5 ounces. 

Sept. 16 update

Check out the news package from ClackCo TV as staff and guests celebrated the launch of the Clack-A-Mole tunnel boring machine.

Sept. 12 update

Tunnel boring machine moving through page

12%

Clack-A-Mole has mined 280 of the total 2,370 feet. We're now about 12% of the way to the river.

Aug. 28 update

Learn more about tunnel boring machines

Copyright Herrenknecht AG

Aug. 27 update

Clack-A-Mole getting lowered in to the shaft

lowering clack-a-mole

lowering clack-a-mole

lowering clack-a-mole

lowering clack-a-mole

Aug. 19 update

Milwaukie Review News Article: Clackamas County’s tunnel boring machine, Clack-A-Mole, begins work

 

Aug. 15 update
Staff and guests got to meet Clack-A-Mole as it gets ready to begin it's journey.

Hole for the mole

The shaft where Clack-A-Mole will start its journey

group of people in front of clack-a-mole

WES staff in front of Clack-A-Mole

2 men in front of Mole

Capital Program Manager Jeff Stallard and WES Director Greg Geist

Hole for the mole

The inside of the tunnel boring machine

group of people in front of clack-a-mole

Capital Program Manager Jeff Stallard, WES Director Greg Geist, Commissioner Martha Schrader, Commissioner Paul Savas, WES Assistant Director Ron Wierenga

Aug. 1 update
Construction continues on the Tri-City Water Resource Recovery Facility Outfall Project. Learn more about the project at Tri-City Water Resource Recovery Facility Outfall Project.

Video from July 25, 2024

Pipe being laid out for the open cut portion - July 25, 2024

Pipe being laid out for the open cut portion - July 25, 2024

The shaft where Clack-A-Mole will begin its journey – July 25, 2024

The shaft where Clack-A-Mole will begin its journey – July 25, 2024

July 29 update

Clackamole illustration Clackamole on schematic

Clackamas Water Environment Services (WES) is starting the construction phase of the Tri-City Water Resource Recovery Facility Outfall Project. In the next seven months, the team will focus on building a ½-mile-long, nine-foot-diameter tunnel using a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM.) This tunnel will house a new outfall pipeline designed to safely transport treated water from the Tri-City Water Resource Recovery Facility in Oregon City to the Willamette River. WES invited the community to submit names for the TBM and after considering numerous suggestions, the name "Clack-A-Mole" was chosen. 

Follow along on this page for the latest updates.

Video from July 3, 2024

Staging of equipment

The shaft where Clack-A-Mole will begin its journey – July 3, 2024

Aerial view of site

Staging the pipe for installation – July 3, 2024