Section
SANDY O REG O N
THURSDAY
JANUARY 7
1982
The S^näy Post
Area News
People
Home & Garden
Features
Neighborhood group opposes hydro project
bv
JONES
by MICHAEL
MICHAEL P.
P JONES
Post Correspondent
it
-1___ . . . . . . . .
•
*
it would be constructed above the
of the proposed hydro would severely
company to put in the new tank
that they are concerned about the ex since the government is giving loans
area's water system
impact the quality of the domestic
Tobey also said that if the turbidity
tent of the study and possibly that
for mini-hydroelectric projects, and
The project is being proposed by
water system of the area The water
gets too bad. we'll "be forced to go to F’ egar would begin some of the initial
opening up federal lands for energy
The Rhododendron Neighborhood Douglas Pegar of Gladstone, who is
comes directly from Henry Creek
wells like Lady Creek
phases of construction, such as the
Association met with U S Forest Ser considered one of the pioneers of
exploration, that he could see poten
and serves 325 persons
“ This would affect not only us,"
construction of roads.
vice officials on Dec 2» to voice its micro hydroelectric generating in
tial problems with letting them make
The water company is a non profit
Tobey
said
“
This
would
affect
all
the
This has happened in two other
the right decision for everyone in
opposition to the hydroel«’tric pro ( iregon
corporation that is operated by the
citizens on government lands «sum hydroelectric projects in the Sandy
volved
ject proposed for Henry Creek
Pegar has three projects currently
R hododendron S um m er Home
mer home sites leased by people
River drainage area Permits were
Members of the RNA met with proposed for the Zigzag District
" I f the government is encouraging
Association Last year the company
from the Forest Service» who use this
not secured, nor the proper legal
Chuck Smay, ranger for the Zigzag They are Henry Creek, D evil’s Creek
hydroelectric projects, then they w ill
spent $70.000 to c o n s tru c t a
water also "
channels followed, before construc look the other way on requirements,"
District, and Ron Marvin, who is in (just above Devil's F allsl, and Wind
100.000-gallon storage tank on the
“ How in the world can he do this
tion occurred in the Sandy River
charge of special resouces
said Lamereaux.
Creek on Tom. Dick and Harry
creek at the base of the East Zigzag
thing," asked S. Lou Tipton of Scenic W aterw ay, and on the
Smay and Marvin were told that Mountain
lam ereaux asked that since the
Mountains
Rhododendron, a retired Clackamas
Mimkahda Creek project in the Lola
the RNA opposes the project because
RNA has voiced opposition to the pro
The RNA fears that the installation
Water hoard members said that
County librarian whose fam ily has
Pass area near Zigzag
ject, "how hard of a stand w ill you
they feel the construction and opera
owned property in the area for a
Smay said that what Pegar could
take against it? "
tion of a hydro would cause turbidity
number of years.
do in that study would “ depend upon
Smay said that he couldn't answer
and erosion
"That sounds stupid," she said
what's authorized in the study per
that question at this time, hut had to
"There is no way to dam a creek
“ Why would someone want to build
m it.’’
wait until the environmental analysis
and not cause tu rb id ity ," said Col
above a water system? Is he «Pegar»
He said that he could start im is done and the project’s develop
onel Jack Baker
of the right m ind?"
mediately on anything allowed by the
ment proposal submitted
"We know from past experience
Smay said that Pegar has only filed
permit, but that he doesn't envision
“ We have to take all the best input
when someone disturbs the creek
an application to do a study on the
any road construction taking place
in the environmental analysis and
what it can do In one instance up
site and that the Forest Service
Dale Lamoreaux told Smay and
make a decision." Smay said.
here it took a number of years for the
"could not deny him the right to look
Marvin that he wants the area's
The Forest Service involvement in
by M ICHA EL P. JONES
s
tre
a
m
banks
to
s
ta
b
iliz
e
and
do
the
study."
Dale Lamereaux asked Smay that
watershed proected
the project would be to determine the
Post Correspondent
themselves
"
" I would just like to know if we. the
since Pegar “ hasn't made a move in
“ The water system wasn't a new impact on the land, taking into con
Jerry Schmidt, and independent
people, the ones who drink this
two years, wouldn't his application
born babe," said I^amereaux
sideration such things as environ
water consultant for the Alder Creek
A lack of information, questions
water, have a say in this study," ask
be null and void’’ "
" I t ’s been around since the turn of ment. culture, history, hydrology and
about energy speculating, and the
Water
Users
Association,
agrees
ed Jane Tobey
Smay said that on a special permit
the century We people live on the the other natural resources.
In an interview in November,
selling of special use permits were
Smay told her that "the time to
issued by the Forest Service, that
valley floor and want to protect that
Smay told the group that they have
topics that dominated a meeting
Schmidt said that hydroelectric
provide that input is when the en
there is no set time lim it.
watershed "
the legal right to submit imput. hut
about the Henry Creek m icro-
generating
plants
and
domestic
vironmental analysis is being done
He said that his application would
Smay told the group that protec added. " I warn you. not to mean it to
hydroelectric project
for that particular project."
remain active unless the developer water supplies cannot co-exist.
ting the Rhododendron watershed
be positive or negative, that i t ’s not a
At a special meeting held by the
"T u rb id ity is a good enough reason
But first, a study would have to
made no effort to proceed any further
was much different than protecting
voting process."
to
shut
down
a
water
system,"
said
R hod od e n d ro n
N e ig h b o rh o o d
take place There would be no public
on the project
the Bull Run watershed The Bull
Smay told the group that if the
Association and Forest Service
hearing
Some of the RN A members raised Schmidt "This was part of the pro
Run is closed to public entry and the
Forest Service makes a decision that
representatives, RNA members ex
Edgil Panian, of the RNA, told
questions as to whether Pegar could blem here in the Alder Creek case."
East Zigzag Mountains are not
the group determines to be bad, then
pressed concern about how little they
Wendell Tobey, president of the
Smay and Marvin that after she
be a speculator, since he has five or
"There is a significant difference
they could go through a "ve ry fo r
could find out about the project
RNA, told the Forest Service
learned of the proposed hydroelectric
six other proposals on National
between the watershed we’re dealing
malized appeals process ’’ But he
Chuck Smay, Forest Service
representatives that Pegar's hydro
project she was told by someone at
Forest land
with and the Bull Run," said Smay.
added, when one goes through this
would
be
creating
turbidity,
which
is
ranger in charge of the Zigzag
the Zigzag Ranger Station that there
Carolyn Smith said that Pegar
"The dominant use in that area is process, one is faced with sorting out
District, said that the information is
would be a public meeting
could sell the special use permit to the Environmental Protection Agen
water for Portland "
the differences of opinions from all
cy’s reason for forcing the water
not secret, but that he could not give
The Association’s members said
another developer, for a profit.
Lamereaux raised concerns that
the expert witnesses
specifics because of the potential for
Smay said that this is true, but that
other hydroelectric developers to
he couldn't do it legally without per
come in and compete for the same
mission from the Forest Service for
site
the transaction to take place.
Smay said that there exists the
"Our permits are issued to a
possibility of many permits on the
specific individual or corporation for
same site, if certain information is
a specific purpose," said Smay
bv MICHAEL P. JONES
been burglarized that week in the
While all of this was going on, Bar
given out.
stood there, they surrounded her and
"When that party no longer wants
Post Correspondent
Rhododendron area alone.
bre was unaware that so many peo
covered her with stars.
This happened last year on the
that permit, it goes back to us.
The world was crashing down
ple were concerned about her fam ily.
Barbre said that she didn’t unders
Roaring River in the Clackamas
"Technically, this breaks the chain
The holidays are over, but for some around her, Barbre thought. Not only
She said she was turning bitter and
tand the meaning of the dream until
Ranger D istrict, where a local
of ownership so it reverts back to the people, like Glenda B arbre of
in Rhododendron, but the world.
forgot that one doesn’t need much at
two days later
developer and a California developer
Forest Service."
Rhododendron, the memory lingers.
Poland underwent the change to
Christmas, especially when sur
The morning after the dream, Bar-
were both studying the same location
The organization said that they
Barbre said that she received the
m artial law, and peace between the
rounded by fam ily and friends.
b re ’s purse was found at the
for a micro hydroelectric project
fe a r th a t the developers are greatest gift of all this year, which is
U.S. and the Soviet Union seemed to
“ ‘I can’t take it,' I kept saying to
Clackamas County bank, where she
"This particular field, like others,
speculators, and do not show enough to know that others care.
be on shakey ground.
myself. ‘1 don’t deserve it.’"
is employed as a custodian.
is speculative and competitive,” said
concern for such things as the creek’s
She also said that she learned to
On
top
of
all
this,
what
she
though
Barbre said that she finally let all
Smay
It was found on a chair that had
fisheries, scenic beauty, erosion, tu r receive as well as give.
to be the circumstances surrounding
of her anger go, and was able to
been pushed under a desk while she
Smay said that he "m ay just be
bidity, w ildlife needs, as well as
Just a few days before Christmas it
the disappearance of the purse began
forget that someone actually would
was cleaning up after the hank’s re
h u n g -u p
on
p ro te c tin g
the
maintaining the quality and quantity seemed to the Barbres that the
to eat away at her.
enter her home and steal from her.
cent remodeling project.
applicant," but that centain informa
of the area's domestic water source.
holidays were off to a bad start
"The idea that someone would
"When I finally let go of all the
She went down immediately, pick
tion, like financial data, cannot be
They said the risk of having a
Barbre's purse was stolen, and in it
come into my house and take my
anger. I knew I could celebrate
ed up her purse, and began paying
released
hydroelectric project on Henry Creek was her last paycheck. Her husband,
purse really bothered m e," said Bar
Christmas," she said " I couldn't
hills and Christmas shopping.
Also, the applicant's name and the
is too great a risk to take
Bob, is now unemployed He was laid
bre. ‘ "Why me at this particular
celebrate our saviour’s birth with all
On Wednesday morning a gift
specific location of the project has
Smay said that some of the off his construction job on the new
tim e,’ I kept asking myself "
this anger in me."
basket of food arrived. Then the
been guarded Smay said that he
developers are "le g itim a te " while Hoodland Sewage Treatment Plant
Word soon spread around the
That was Monday, Dec. 21. That
cards with the money
even c o n ta cte d the p r o je c t’ s
others are just hoping to make a in Welches
mountain about the Barbres' m isfor
n ig h t she had a d re a m and
developer, Charles Pegar, before
buck.
Barbre said that she appreciated
This was Dec. 21. There were hills
tune
everything began to change It was
releasing his name to The Post last
The economic incentives, either to pay, food to buy for two kids, and
everyone’s love and concern, hut had
An
emergency
meeting
was
held
no ordinary dream, according to Bar
June
to return everything.
directly through the plant's opera Christmas presents On top of all
amongst members of the Hoodland
bre. It was one of those rare, once-in-
"Do you protect those who come in
tion, or through tax write-offs, has this, relatives were coming in from
And, she said she finally knew the
Women’s Club board, with assistance
a-lifetime
ones,
with
a
message.
to exploit," asked Edna Lamereaux
created a boom.
out of town to spend Christmas,
to the fam ily being discussed
meaning of the dream.
Barbre said that she dreamed that
"T h a t’s what it sounds like.”
On the Clackamas River there are unaware that the Barbres were of
Neighbors and church members
angels were stringing silvery, watery
Barbre said that "a ll the wonderful
Smay said that he "was aware of
over fifty sites being looked at for ficia lly broke
g o t to g e th e r
food b a ske ts.
cold stars on a thin, silver thread.
people all over the mountain, each
some potential conflicts between
possible hydroelectric plants.
Barbre and her fam ily traced back
Anonymous Christmas cards with
The silver string was molded in
one brought me stars in their own
domestic use and power production,
In the Mt Hood area there are their steps and remembered seeing
money enclosed were mailed.
their hands from the stars. As she
way They were love stars."
hut didn't know who to talk to."
eight, four on government land
the purse on a chair by the front door
Pegar told The Post last summer
"This same thing happened with on Dec 18 When she called the
that he has been studying the site for
geothermal energy," said Smay
Clackamas County sheriff’s office to
two years, but has not indicated any
"Everybody wanted to get in on report the possible theft, she was in
move towards construction.
it.”
formed that six other houses had
Hydro developme
called speculating
Couple discover that people do eg re
Hoodland Happenings
CPO organizational meeting set
inursaay, Jan. 7
A senior citizens lunch, sponsored
by Loaves and Fishes, w ill be served
at 11:30 a.m. at the Welches School
library. Transportation and further
information ia available by calling
622 3331
Monday, Jan. II
A senior citizens lunch, sponsored
by Loaves and Fishes, w ill be served
at 11:30 a m. at the Welches School
library. Transportation and further
inform ation available by calling
The Hoodland Women’s Club w ill
hold its annual monthly meeting at
the A lpine Hut re s ta u ra n t in
Rhododendron this morning at 11:30
The meeting w ill include lunch and a
special presentation by the Forest
Service For reservations members
should call Renee Knapp at 622-4671
or Pauline Beckoff at 622-3252.
Hoodland Women's Club today begi
ning at noon The luncheon w ill I
served by Women's Club member
For more information, or transport
tion to the potluck, call Maxii
Worley at 622 3331,
Beginning at 7 30 p m a speci,
meeting w ill be held at Welch
Grade School for residents of If
mountain area. Participants wi
Tuesday, Jan. 12
have an o p p o rtu n ity fo r pri<
clarification of the ECOS organ1'!
The senior citize n s m o n th ly
tional bylaws before the count]
sponsored meeting of Jan 28 to e l«
officers for a local Community Plai
ning Organization (CPO) Call Patt
Cook at 622 3121 for additional infoi
mation
Wednesday, Jan. 13
Welches Community School Tiny
Tots group meets from io a m. til
noon Call Lxaiise Hoyt. 622-3752. fo
information and meeting location
At 7 30 p m the Welches PTA wil
sponsor a special program on druj
abuse Niki Johnson, a counseloi
with CODA. Comprehensive Optioni
for Drug Abusers, w ill be the gues
.. ' • n ,
speaker Topics to be discussed in
*W
elude: "W hat is drug abuse.’
D rugs-W hat are the fa cts:’’ My
son is smoking pot - what should I
do: " and "What help is available " A
question and answer period will
follow the program This program
w ill be open to the adult public, and
w ill be held in the "o ld ” school
library For more information call
Dawn Morrison at 622 3538
The Mountain Music Society has
planned a Valentine's Day Concert
for Monday, Feb 15, at 7 :» p m in
the Hoodland Women's Club Linda
Waterfall, a contemporary music
vocalist and song w riter, w ill be
featured For ticket information call
Will Frank at 622 3130
To piare an event in Hoodland Hnp-
At left: A
truck going doun the hill tn Meinig Park A ^ * H u t i ! ' \ i ? H |
penings. rontart Dawn Morrison at
and son Shaun enjos the outdoors on a Honda three uheeler
«22 1538.