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Vol. XXIII No. 1
Wednesday, October 4,1989
Oregon City, OR
Clackamas Community College
ELC concerned over plans for Berry Hill Mall
by Jim Titus
Editor-in-Cliief
Construction of the Berry Hill
shopping center at the intersec­
tion of Beavercreek Road and the
Oregon City Bypass has gener­
ated some major concern from
the John Inskeep Environmental
Learning Center (ELC).
ELC Director Jerry Herrmann
is concerned that construction
plans for the Berry Hill site do not
adequately handle water run-off
during periods of heavy rain and
may harm fish in Newell Creek.
Fish released into the creek from
the ELC’s fish rearing program
use the waterway as a route to the
Willamette and also return up­
stream to spawn.
“Newell Creek has extremely
good habitat and is one of the few
urban streams that still has a
migratory fish run,” Herrmann
explained.
Initial discussions between
ELC members and the Oregon
City Council last November con­
cerned options for the discharge
of water from the Berry Hill site
and future developments in the
Newell Creek Basin. Herrmann
feels that on-site detention (a
method of holding storm water
on the site of the development
and slowly releasing it to control
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flooding) is the best way to handle
the drainage problem.
“It became very obvious back
in November that if some type of
on-site detention for storm water
wasn’t provided there could be
some real impact on the stream
and even the college,” said
Herrmann.
Herrmann went on to explain
that the area to the east of the
Beavercreek Road entrance of the
college is zoned for commercial
development If development does
occur in this area without proper
drainage, the area of the college
containing the ELC, athletic fields,
and Clairmont Hall could become
flooded during periods of heavy
rain. Most of the area now occu­
pied by the college was once a
wetland.
A letter to the Oregon City
planning director from Depart­
ment of Fish and Wildlife biolo­
gist Jay Massey dated January 6
seems to support Herrmann’s
contention, stating that, “the cal­
culated storm water flow from the
shopping center, without adequate
detention facilities, could create
severe problems for the fish lad­
der and for fish habitat and fish
downstream in Newell Creek.
Extremely high flows in the creek
will cause severe bank erosion,
wash away spawning gravel, de­
stroy streamside vegetation, and
silt in valuable spawning and rear­
ing areas further downstream.”
The letter concludes by stat­
ing that, “it is very important that
the shopping center provide ade­
quate storm water detention on
the site to reduce the peak flows
discharged to Newell Creek and
protect valuable fish resources
downstream.”
The developer of the Berry
Hill site, Centers West Realty Inc.
of Portland, have been working
with the City Council and envi­
ronmentalists to lessen the im­
pact of the development on its
surroundings, but specifics of storm
water management (such as ac­
ceptable water levels) are still under
negotiation.
Herrmann stressed that he is
not against the construction of
the shopping center, and is in fact
trying to work with the developer
to achieve the “best of both worlds.”
Herrmann’s goal is to create a
standard for development in the
Beavercreek Road area to lessen
the impact on the environment.
The Oregon City Council is
meeting tonight at 8:30 p.m. to
adopt changes to the storm water
plan.
Construction continues on Berry Hili Mall despite concerns from the John Inskeep
Environmental Learning Center.
Pioneers of Country Music festival breaks even
by Briane C. Dotson
the Clackamas Community Foun­
News Editor/Managing Editor
dation Board on whether there
The Pioneers of Country will be a Pioneers of Country Music
Music Festival, held August 19, Festival next year.
drew 2,000 people for an after­
If there is a festival next year,
noon of music at Balsinger Park Fulmore said the foundation would
in Wilsonville.
like to have bands from the North­
“The festival was successful west play during the intermissions
in terms of starting something of the major acts. Also there is
new,” said Bev Fulmore, festival talk of making the festival an all­
coordinator.
day event.
Without the corporate spon­
If the board decides to have
sors the festival would have lost another festival, it will then begin
money, however, with their help contacting bands to perform at
the festival broke even.
future festival.
Corporate sponsors were
The booking agent for the
KATU television and Thriftway festival was Portland based book­
Association. Media sponsors for ing agent Steve Reischman. Reis-
the festival were This Week Maga­ chman has worked for the Port­
zine, and KWJJ AM and FM.
land Zoo-grass Festival, Rippling
Three major country and River Resort, and other music
western bands took part in the festivals all over the Northwest.
extravaganza: the O’Kanes, South­
Terri Calamoneri, who’s has
ern Pacific, and Ricky Skaggs.
had experience working for the
“Reviews from the perform­ Mt. Hood Festival of Jazz, handled
ers gave encouragement to have the logistics. The festival employed
more country music festivals. The 150 volunteers and staff.
newspapers also gave good reviews
Any money that was raised by
of the festival. I’m really pleased,” the festival will be used to equip
said Fulmore.
the South Clackamas Satellite
It will be decided on Oct. 9 by Center in Wilsonville, and to fund
traditional foundation projects.
pointed out that it took the Mt.
David Dickson, assistant to Hood Festival Jazz four years to
the president, said he is pleased make any money.
with this first time effort. He
“Despite the fact that we didn’t
make any money, sponsors are
committed to it... we’re enthused
about doing it again, and plan
someday to sell it out and make a
whole bundle of money,” said
Dickson.
Photo courtesy Bill Symes
Ricky Skaggs entertained a crowd of 2,000 at the Pioneers of Country Music Festival
held in Wilsonville on August 19.