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Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2016 4:58 PM
To: Heider, Tim <THeider@co.clackamas.or.us>
Subject: North Clackamas Regional Flood Control Facility questions
Importance: High
Hi Tim,
My questions regarding the North Clackamas Regional Flood Control Facility are below. I believe this is in
the 3-Creeks Natural area, and is built in Mt. Scott Creek. As you mentioned in our phone conversation
today, I will expect answers by the end of the day on Monday, March 28, 2016.
-How does the flood control facility work?
-When was it built?
-Why was the facility built?
-Who is responsible for opening and closing the gates?
-Who is responsible for maintenance at the flood control facility?
-Are logs/records kept as to when the gates are opened and closed, and conditions on the creek at the
time?
-How do the gates open? (i.e. manually or remotely)
-When are the gates supposed to be closed?
-When are the gates supposed to be open?
-What would happen if the gates are left open when they are supposed to be closed?
-What would happen if the gates are closed when they are supposed to be open?
-What has been done to prevent flooding from happening in this area since the flood that occurred on
January 1, 2009?
-Was the flood on December 7, 2015 that affected the Lake Road Courtyard Apartments, and
surrounding neighborhood, the result of the gates at the flood control facility being left open when they
should have been closed?
-Was the flood on December 7, 2015 that affected the Lake Road Courtyard Apartments, and
surrounding neighborhood, the result of the gates at the flood control facility being closed when they
should have been left open?
-What could have prevented the 2009 flood?
Typically the facility gates rest in the closed position, with a two-foot opening for runoff to pass.
During larger rain events, higher water levels trigger the gates to raise. Once a certain water
level is reached, the gates return to the closed position to start holding water behind the berm.
Stormwater storage is engaged when the outlet control structure openings constrict as intended
by the design, reducing the downstream flow.
The facility is designed to reduce downstream flow rates in Mt. Scott Creek when high flow
levels occur by detaining flows up to a 17-year return period storm event (roughly the equivalent
of the December/January storms) and releasing flows at a seven-year event when the facility is
full.
Recent significant storm events in December 2015 and January 2016 exceeded the facilitys
capacity. The facility was not designed to protect all downstream properties within the 100-year
floodplain or floodway return period (expected frequency based on statistical data).