february7 2019
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VERNONIA’S
volume13 issue3
reflecting the spirit of our community
Council Discusses Nehalem River Scenic Waterway Plan
The Vernonia City Council met
in a workshop on January 14 with offi-
cials from the State of Oregon to discuss
a proposal by Oregon Parks and Recre-
ation Department (OPRD) to designate a
17.5 mile stretch of the Nehalem River
as an Oregon Scenic Waterway.
The state is currently studying
the proposal, which would add the sec-
tion of the Nehalem River, starting at
Henry Rierson Spruce Run State Park
and ending at the confluence of the Cook
Creek and the Nehalem River near Cou-
gar Valley State Park, to the Scenic Wa-
terway program.
OPRD is responsible for admin-
istering the State Scenic Waterway pro-
gram, which protects the scenic, natural,
and recreation values on 22 designated
waterways currently part of the program
in Oregon.
The state has completed their
initial study of the area and has been
working to finalize a Management Plan.
The City of Vernonia was asked
to comment on a Draft of the Manage-
ment Plan because they hold water rights
on Rock Creek, a tributary of the Ne-
halem River, and make their city water
from Rock Creek. The City was not giv-
en an adequate amount of time to com-
ment and OPRD then chose to delay the
process giving the City the opportunity
to respond.
According
to
the
Draft
Management Plan, the state conducted
a field study of the proposed area in
May of 2017, followed by a public
comment period. Approximately 40
people attended a public meeting on
September 12, 2017. A total of 1,409
public comments were received, with
10 in opposition and 1,327 supporting
it, with some comments indicating
that the program did not offer enough
protections.
Three
respondents
indicated they were landowners within
the study area, with two opposed and
one in favor. The Clatsop County
inside
Board of Commissioners supports the
designation while the Tillamook County
Commissioners oppose the designation.
Columbia County was not consulted in
the process.
A stretch of river can be consid-
ered for the program if it meets certain
qualifications, including:
• The study area is completely free-flow-
ing.
• The scenic quality of the area is pleas-
ing, with areas where the scenery is con-
sidered “outstanding,” with a rural land-
scape with a variety of geologic, plant
and wildlife features visible from the
river. Some cultural modifications are
allowed, including a few homes, two
bridges, a small rail line, and evidence
of logging.
• Natural and recreation values can be
maintained and sustained without undue
impairment.
The initial study concluded that
the Nehalem River study area is a strong
candidate for the program. Following
that initial conclusion, OPRD held two
Advisory Group meetings on May 28
and July 18, 2018, which were open to
the public, and included local landown-
ers, recreational users, local business
owners, and members of local govern-
ment. Dale Webb, who took office as
a Vernonia City Councilor in January
2019, was part of that Advisory Com-
mittee.
Chris Havel, Associate Director
of ORPD, and Nikki Hendricks of the
Oregon Water Resources Department
answered questions from the Vernonia
City Council during the workshop on
January 14.
Havel explained there are three
ways a State Scenic Waterway can be
designated: by ballot measure, by legis-
lative action, or through a study process,
which was used in this case and is the
least used process. If done by a study,
the Governor must approve the designa-
tion, which is then sent for formal rule
donations help
public safety
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osu bee school
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vhs winter
sports report
but will affect any requested changes or
new water right applications. She ex-
plained that junior water rights are cur-
rently curtailed from August-October,
but with this designation they would also
be restricted from May-July. She said
the Water Resources Department is no
longer awarding water rights during the
summer, with all new water rights only
for winter storage.
When asked about the reason
for these types of designations and any
side effects on property owners, Havel
said that the regulation of property is
for aesthetic purposes, and water allo-
cation is to protect water resources and
the fish. He said the intent of a designa-
tion is to preserve the current condition
of the area. He said the majority of re-
quests from landowners for changes are
approved and said the effect on property
owners is minimal. He said there are
typically a lot of denials in the first five
years until landowners understand the
program better, and then the approval
rate increases to roughly 90%.
Councilor J.R. Allen expressed
concern that the designation will put
continued on page 7
Racial Incident at St. Helens H.S. Condemned
Girls basketball contest
vs. Parkrose marred by
inappropriate fan behavior
By Scott Laird
7
making. There would be a comment
period for the developed rules, which
would then be adjusted or adopted.
Havel said when a waterway re-
ceives this designation it regulates what
can be done within .25 mile of a river. If
a landowner wants to change the land-
scape (build, log, etc.) they must submit
a request, which is reviewed by OPRD
who can recommend changes and then
either approve or deny the request. If the
request is denied, the property owner
can move forward with the proposed
plan after waiting one year.
“Any timber harvests over a
certain size go through the Forest Prac-
tices Act review and approval as well,”
said Havel in a separate interview. “The
Scenic Waterway law is designed around
cooperation and negotiation, not com-
pulsion. Ultimately, protecting scenery,
recreation, and fish is voluntary under
the scenic waterway law. We’ve found
tremendous success in just having a
conversation with property owners and
recommending options that protect these
values.”
Hendricks explained this desig-
nation will not affect current water rights
A deeply disturbing incident
occurred during a girls basketball game
at St. Helens High School, prompting
St. Helens Superintendent Scot Stock-
well to issue a public apology in a state-
ment to the community.
On January 23 KPTV Fox 12
reported the incident that occurred dur-
ing the January 15 girls basketball con-
test between St. Helens and Parkrose
High Schools, where spectators yelled
racial slurs at the Parkrose players.
According to the Fox 12 report,
Parkrose varsity head coach Krystal
Forthan said spectators made monkey
noises and called her athletes the n-
word, starting during the junior varsity
game and continuing during the varsity
match, and said it wasn’t the first time
this type of incident had occurred. Stu-
dent athletes from Parkrose who have
played against St. Helens before said
it’s not the first time this has happened
in St. Helens.
St. Helens Superintendent
Stockwell released a statement con-
cerning the incident, calling it “disap-
pointing.” “I believe we all share a deep
regret for the hurt caused by those in-
volved in the incident,” said Stockwell.
“The Parkrose school community, stu-
dents, and families deserve better and
should expect a welcoming environ-
ment free of racist comments when
they attend events. Disrespectful lan-
guage and behavior does not represent
the teaching of the St. Helens School
District. I am personally mortified and
embarrassed by the bigoted actions of
those involved. It is upsetting that the
ignorance of a few reflects on our en-
tire community. If we stand silent in the
presence of racism we are culpable.”
Stockwell went on to say the
incident was, “... absolutely inexcus-
able and unacceptable,” and apologized
for the District, noting, “... words can-
not fix what happened, only actions.”
“What matters is that we as a school
community take responsibility and re-
fuse to tolerate discrimination of any
kind.”
Oregon School Activities As-
sociation (OSAA) Executive Director
Peter Weber confirmed the incident did
take place. “To my knowledge no one
is saying that this did not happen,” said
Weber during a recent phone interview.
“Things did happen and they shouldn’t
have happened, and they need to be
dealt with, because it’s unacceptable.”
Weber said the expectation is
continued on page 13