RIVERGATE-NORTH PORTLAND SURVEY STUDY
FLOOD CONTROL AND DRIANAGE SUPGROUP
WORKSHOP NOTES
28 JUNE 1973
The citizens’ group working on flood control and drainage problems met 28 June at the home of Billie Graap in Peninsula Drainage District No. 2, to hear about drainage problems.
The first part of the meeting was devoted to a consideration of the land which needs flood protection. Mr. Jaren briefly described the proposed land use plans being considered for the area. He emphasized that the South Shore Plan is being reworked by the county planning staff. The North Portland Peninsula Plan is being considered by the city and county planning commissions. He then lightly touched on the six alternatives for providing flood protection and navigation which the Corps will consider.
Because flood control projects are usually sponsored by drainage districts, Mr. Jaren had invited Mr. Quentin Bowman, Field Representative of the Oregon State Water Resources Board, to talk to the group about drainage district organization. It has been suggested that a single agency sponsor and oversee the flood control project for the land between the Sandy and the Willamette if this project is undertaken.
Mr. Bowman pointed out the benefits and the pitfalls of merging drainage districts. Some ways that savings could result were: one attorney could be retained for all districts; one office could suffice for all; equipment would not be duplicated; personnel could be used more efficiently; purchasing could be centralized. He cautioned that it would be wise to take one step at a time, joining together to solve a mutual problem. He suggested a Board of Control, with the present drainage districts forming subdistricts. These subdistricts could be the vehicles for setting up different classes of assessment, because not all property benefits equally from a flood control project.
Leo White, supervisor of Multnomah Drainage District No. 1, commented that the present drainage districts all serve different needs. Pen 1 is primarily a recreational area, with no residences. Pen 2 is residential, farm, recreational, and some industrial development. Multnomah has the airport, farm, residential, and some industrial development. Both Mr. White and Mr. Venmea, a resident of Multnomah Drainage District, took dim views of consolidation of drainage districts. Both agreed that consolidation of government agencies has usually resulted in a loss of local control and has meant more people working at more expense.
Jack Cervetto and Mary Runyon both questioned the part that drainage districts played in pumping water in and out of the slough, and the importance of keeping the slough flushed out. Mr. Bowman commented that this flushing of the slough might be a function where the districts could associate in a joint venture. In answer to Mrs. Runyon’s question about whether pumping water into the slough for flushing was shown as an alternative, Mr. Jaren replied that it is not one of the six which the Corps is considering, but that it would be considered as an added project purpose under any or all those alternatives.
Mr. Bowman has complied a levee manual which will be published soon in which there is a page of operational arrangements which might give drainage districts some ideas about how to work more closely together. He regretted that the three districts have not explored all the possibilities for cooperation because they have many problems in common.
Billie Graap and Robert Blower indicated that the drainage district question should be pursued further after the group has looked at the flood control problems facing the three districts.
At this meeting, Barbara Lucas was elected chairman of the group; Monroe Jubitz, vice-chairman; and Dave Cox, recorder. Members of the group were unanimous in their desire to ask technical people to be advisors from time to time. Mr. Jubitz will seek out these advisers.
