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Columbia Gorge News
Wednesday, July 21, 2021
www.columbiagorgenews.com
Port of Hood River welcomes new
commissioners and hears updates on bridge
consulted and Commissioner
Kristi Chapman suggested
that locals would be the
strongest option, as they
know which areas need the
most attention. Marina safety
is a priority for the Port of
Hood River, but so is the
Hood River-White Salmon
Interstate Bridge.
The Oregon Department
of Transportation has
been conducting studies
on bridges all around the
state called Weight Limit
Evaluations. They found
that the Hood River-White
Salmon Interstate Bridge
should reduce the amount
of weight allowed to cross. It
was recommended to lower
the limit from 80,000 pounds
to 64,000 pounds, which will
not affect most traffic, but
some of the larger trucks will
need closer inspection.
Paul Bandlow, one of the
project’s engineers, said their
findings turned up some
time-sensitive problems. The
ropes that pull the lift span up
and down are “overstressed
and should be replaced,”
according to Bandlow. The
commission asked him and
his associates to form an ini-
tial plan to replace the ropes.
Bandlow estimated replace-
ment could take anywhere
from six months to a year, but
they will present their plan
of action during the port’s
August 17 meeting.
Mark Libby of HDR
Engineering also recom-
mended that the port revisit
weight limits imposed on
certain vehicles — but mainly
Specialized Hauling Vehicles
(SHV) — crossing the bridge.
The port staff has created a
group email list and been in
contact with businesses to
express the concerns with
large trucks hauling fruit,
New changes
to Hood
River-White
Salmon Bridge
infrastructure
coming soon
Noah Noteboom
■ By Columbia
Gorge News
Heather Gehring, Mike
Fox and Ben Sheppard were
all sworn into their new
positions on the Port of Hood
River Commission on July 13.
Gehring and Fox are serving
their first term, and Sheppard
was confirmed as the com-
mission’s new president. As
they recited their oaths of
office they were welcomed by
existing commissioners and
took their seats for one of the
first meetings in-person since
the COVID-19 pandemic
began more than a year and
a half ago.
Testimony from the
public initiated the meeting.
Written and verbal concerns
about safety at the Marina
and Waterfront areas along
with the partnerships of the
commission were spoken to.
Port of Hood River Executive
Director Michael McElwee
wanted to bring attention to
the standards of safety at the
waterfront recreation areas
of Hood River. After a 10-
year old girl drowned in the
Nichols Basin, McElwee and
the rest of the commission
decided that now is the time
to act.
“Nothing should be
out of the question,” said
Commissioner Mike Fox
about what strategies
should be considered. They
discussed who should be
The Port of Hood River Commissioners hold and in-person meeting for the first time since the pandemic began. The council listened to
presentations and updates on the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge during a meeting on July 13.
Noah Noteboom Photo
lumber and other con-
struction materials. When
managing the load capacity
of the bridge, ODOT uses a
rating scale of 0 to 1. HDR’s
summary of ODOT’s research
found more than 50 loca-
tions where the rating falls
below 1.0. Live load testing
and Non-Destructive Testing
(NDT) will answer whether
or not many of the locations
will need to be reinforced.
HDR Engineers will estimate
the time, materials and costs
needed to complete the proj-
ect and then the Port of Hood
River commissioners will de-
liberate and finalize the plan.
McElwee hopes to finalize all
planning by this Fall.
Commissioners Heather Gehring, Mike Fox and Ben Sheppard are sworn into office during a July 13
meeting at the Port of Hood River.
Noah Noteboom photos
Drought emergency
declared in Washington
Jacob Bertram
■ By Columbia
Gorge News
By Alana Lackner
■ Columbia
Gorge News
The Washington
Department of Ecology
declared a drought emer-
gency for a large majority of
the state on July 14, includ-
ing the entirety of southern
Washington and leaving out
only Seattle, Everett, and
Tacoma metropolitan areas.
State ecology officials
cited a historically dry spring
and summer, followed by a
record-breaking heatwave
that affected water supplies,
as the prompt for the emer-
gency declaration in a news
release.
The drought emergency
declaration means water
supply is projected to be
below 75 percent of average,
and there is a risk of undue
hardship to water users
and uses, according to the
announcement.
“Farmers’ crops are failing
and ranchers are losing
livestock because of these
dry conditions, extreme
heat, and lack of water,” Gov.
Jay Inslee said in the July
14 announcement. “We’re
experiencing more droughts
in our state as the climate
warms. These dry conditions,
combined with scorching
heat, are putting our way of
life at risk. We must continue
to act on climate change to
protect our state.”
According to the an-
nouncement, a formal
Drought has been declared in all but a few portions of Washington,
including in Klickitat County.
Contributed graphic
drought declaration autho-
rizes Department of Ecology
to take certain measures
for the purpose of provid-
ing emergency drought
relief, including expediting
processing for emergency
drought permits, processing
temporary transfers of water
rights, providing funding
assistance for public entities,
and holding public educa-
tion workshops.
A recent heat dome sent
state thermometers skyrock-
eting, measuring record-high
triple-digit temperatures, and
according to Ecology, wors-
ened drought conditions.
“We’re now in the literal
heat of summer and the
driest time of year,” said
Department of Ecology
Director Laura Watson. “As
our climate warms, droughts
will be more frequent.
Focusing on additional water
storage, water efficiency
and reuse, and changes in
agriculture practices will
help Washington be more
resilient and protect water
for communities, farms, and
fish.”
On July 15, the U.S.
Drought Monitor put the
eastern portion of Klickitat
County, along with the rest
of Eastern Washington, in
extreme drought conditions,
the second-most extreme
drought measurements
made by the U.S. Drought
Monitor. Franklin County is
in exceptional drought con-
ditions, the most extreme
drought measurement
possible.
Inslee cited the drought
conditions and record-break-
ing heat to declare a state-
wide emergency on wildfires
earlier this month.
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THE DALLES — The
Dalles City Council voted
unanimously to transfer
ownership of Aviation
Management Services at the
Columbia Gorge Regional
Airport from Dave and Aryn
Rasmussen to Jeff Renard.
The vote follows the
Rasmussens’ decision to
leave Aviation Management
after finding employment
elsewhere and opting
to move out of the area,
according to the city council
agenda.
The airport board
recommended the city
council approve the
Rasmussens’ transfer of
Aviation Management to
Renard. Renard is currently
employed by TacAero, but
will be leaving its employ-
ment once the transfer is
finalized.
The decision will now go
to Klickitat County to final-
ize the transfer.
•••
In other business, the city
council voted unanimously
Dave and Aryn Rasmussen stand on the balcony overlooking the
Columbia Gorge Regional Airport in 2020. Current owners of
Aviation Management Services, which operates the airport, they
are leaving and ownership will be transfered to Jeff Renard if ap-
proved by Klickitat County commissioners in addition to The Dalles
City Council, which approved the transfer last week.
The Dalles Chronicle photo/file
to annex certain proper-
ties into the urban growth
boundary, at the request of
the owners. Additionally, the
council updated a medium
residential parcel of land to a
general commercial, also at
the request of the owner.
The city also approved the
Hood River High
School Classes
of 2000 & 2001
purchase of a new exca-
vator for the Public Works
Department’s Wastewater
Division. The excavator will
be used for deeper projects,
such as repairing or replacing
sewer lines.