Volunteer Stewards document adult salmon in CCSD #1 Watersheds

For more than 10-years, both Steve Berliner and Dick Shook (members - Friends of Kellogg and Mt. Scott Creek Watersheds and the Tsunami Crew) have been dedicated watershed stewards. Their commitment to protecting and restoring the health of our watersheds is exemplary. In September 2008, and again on October 24, 2009, both of these volunteers along with George McKee spotted adult salmon within the lower reaches of Mt. Scott Creek!

This picture taken by Steve Berliner (right) is of a Sockeye salmon near North Clackamas Park in September 2008. This fish was lost and apparently took a wrong turn where the Willamette meets the Columbia, and was more than likely headed for the Snake River.

Another salmon first spotted on October 24, 2009 by George McKee and observed by Dick and Sally Shook was also within the lower reach of Mt. Scott Creek adjacent to North Clackamas Park. The fish was likely a Coho salmon considering the largest run in more than a decade is expected to enter the Columbia River system this year (more than 700,000)! Officials say that this relatively high number of fish returning is due to improved ocean conditions (temperature and nutrient upwelling).
“It is important to have salmon in our watersheds because they represent an important indicator species for overall healthy habitat and water quality”, said Shook.

“We have not observed big fish in Mt. Scott Creek for a long time, with the exception of the past couple of years". He further stated, “Folks are beginning to understand that if they remove vegetation along a stream riparian area that it needs to be replaced to provide all of the benefits to the stream system like shade, erosion prevention, and filtering of pollutants.” He is convinced public awareness and restoration efforts are starting to build momentum and believes these efforts are starting to make a difference.

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CCSD #1 withdraws permit lawsuit against City of Milwaukie, urgent maintenance work starts soon

Kellogg Creek Water Pollution
Control Plant blowers

The District has dismissed a lawsuit regarding the issuance of electrical permits needed to repair equipment at the Kellogg Creek Water Pollution Control Plant, located in Milwaukie. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) ordered the District to make repairs. Until recently, the City of Milwaukie was requiring the District to go through a lengthy land use process to obtain permits.

The plant relies on four blowers that are critical in processing millions of gallons of raw sewage. One of those blowers has failed and another is on the verge of failing, posing a substantial risk that partially treated sewage could spill into the Willamette River.

The City of Milwaukie has agreed to approve the permits with some conditions. The District has agreed to discuss those conditions, as long as they do not limit District operations. Repair work will begin soon to ensure the protection of public health and the environment.

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Water Environment Services
A Department of Clackamas County
150 Beavercreek Rd.  Suite 430
Oregon City, OR 97045
503-742-4567

Pipeline Construction in CCSD #1 coming summer 2010

RiverHealth Intertie 2 pipeline project

In 2008, the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners (BCC) authorized construction of the RiverHealth Intertie 2 pipeline project. This project is in support of efforts underway to create adequate sewage collection and treatment capacity for residents and businesses within Clackamas County Service District No. 1(CCSD #1), as mandated by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).

Known as the RiverHealth Capacity Management Program, the pipeline project, together with maintenance at the Kellogg Creek Water Pollution Control Plant in Milwaukie and expansion at the Tri-City Water Pollution Control Plant in Oregon City, will allow the transfer of wastewater flow from CCSD #1 to the Tri-City plant. This will help relieve operating issues at the Kellogg Creek Plant and mitigate spills into the Willamette River.

The pipeline route study began in August 2008 when the BCC authorized a contract with HDR Inc. of Portland to assist WES staff with identifying and ranking possible route options that were measured against a variety of criteria.

In January 2009, after public review and comment on the 11 route options, the BCC selected the Johnson Road/I -205 route. Construction will begin summer 2010.

Click here to see a map of the route and the flyer sent to property owners along the route.

Construction begins in the North Clackamas Revitalization Area (NCRA)

At long last, the first phase of sewer construction is beginning in the NCRA! Following the advertisement, bidding and review process in November, the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners (BCC) awarded the first portion of the sewer project to the low bidder, Dunn Construction of Gresham, Oregon on December 10, 2009.

A Notice to Proceed for this project was issued to Dunn Construction and a Preconstruction Conference held on January 6, 2010. The delay in the project start was due in part to the award of $4 million in federal stimulus funding, as announced by the BCC last July. Some additional environmental review work was required before the project could proceed. However, as the award saves the project $2 million and directly benefits all property owners in the project area, we are certain you'll agree it was well worth the wait.

Click here to see the January NCRA newsletter including the construction schedule.

Developers' sanitary sewer connection fees increase February 1 in CCSD #1

The third and final planned increase of a System Development Charge (SDC) for the North Clackamas Service Area of CCSD #1 will go into effect on February 1, 2010. The Clackamas County Board of Commissioners approved the three-phase implementation on August 4, 2008 and divided the phases over a two-year period to help finance Phase 1 construction of the RiverHealth Capacity Management Program.

Sanitary sewer SDCs are paid by developers and homeowners when they add a new connection to the public sanitary sewer system. They are established, in accordance with state law, to equitably spread the costs of essential capital improvements to the sanitary system to new development.

The North Clackamas Service Area includes unincorporated North Clackamas County, and the cities of Happy Valley and Damascus.

Other Clackamas County SDCs - for transportation and parks - will remain unchanged in 2010.

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