7A
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015
Site: It was named shortly after Lewis and Clark bicentennial
Continued from Page 1A
Lewis and Clark National
Historical Park has not en-
dorsed any theory regarding
Dismal Nitch, although the
rest area is a part of the park.
Superintendent Scott Tucker
insists the park is more inter-
ested in helping the historians
foster the discussion.
When the Washington State
Transportation Commission
approved changing the rest
area’s name in 2005, commis-
sion Chairman Dan O’Neal
expressed the same encourage-
ment for more research.
“The commission recog-
nizes the importance of this
site and encourages the further
development of interpretive
information about the histori-
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this area,” O’Neal said.
The Dismal Nitch Rest
Area was named shortly after
the Lewis and Clark bicenten-
nial.
Sayce said he always see
an effect during an anniversary
that he calls the “ennial effect.”
Essentially, he said, anniversa-
ries increase people’s curiosity
and efforts for interpretation.
Then in off years after the ex-
citement, the focus on histori-
cal work slows down.
“We need to learn to take
advantage of that quiet peri-
od,” Sayce said. “That allows
us to focus on the story under The three sites that historians think may have been in the Dismal Nitch area.
the story. It allows historians,
researchers and writers to take
one step back and see what
was really happening. That’s
what I do.”
In the years since the bicen-
tennial, Sayce has continued
his work on the Dismal Nitch
site.
He has camped under the
cliffs and walked along the
streams to replicate the Corps’
experience.
The area around Hungry
Harbor, where Sayce believes
the Corps camped, matches
VSHFL¿F GHVFULSWLRQV LQ WKH
journals. The expedition writes
about a high cliff rising 500
feet, which Sayce has identi-
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historically known as Eagle
Cliff.
Near the cliff is a logging
road through a canyon, that
Sayce said, the Corps called a
“small holler,” or an intimate
canyon. The small holler is
where the Corps stored their
gear and weighed down their
canoes. They also stored be-
longings on a “rock above the
tide,” which Sayce may have
found among the new rocks
lining the highway.
The journals claim two
salmon-bearing streams sur-
rounded the small holler.
Sayce has found two streams
on each side of the canyon that
he believes matches the jour-
nals.
“There are not many places
like this in this area that have a
salmon-bearing stream on both
sides, a small holler and a rock
Jim Sayce walks along the shore of the Columbia River near Dismal Nitch Wednesday.
above the tide,” Sayce said.
Google Maps
Photos by Joshua Bessex/The Daily Astorian
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT PHOTO: A high point on the
shore along U.S. Highway 101, historically called Eagle Cliff,
looms over a portion of land where Jim Sayce believes Lew-
is and Clark camped during the first few days of the Corps of
Discovery’s five-day stay in November 1805 at Dismal Nitch.
Jim Sayce crosses a small stream on the western side of
Eagle Cliff that he believes is one of the two streams that
flanked Dismal Nitch in the Corps of Discovery journals.
Jim Sayce shows a logging road where he believes the “hol-
ler” described in the Lewis and Clark journals is located. The
sloped areas on each side of the road and adjacent salm-
on-bearing stream provide clues that brought Sayce to this
conclusion.
Review: Transportation is one of Gov. Brown’s top priorities
Continued from Page 1A
Kristen Grainger, Brown’s
communications
director,
Tom Fuller, ODOT’s com- wrote in an email that this is
munications manager, said “the reason Governor Brown
staff will work with the trans- asked the Commission to play
portation commission to se- a lead role in it. The Commis-
lect a consultant over the next sion’s role and charge include
couple months. “The (Oregon oversight and stewardship of
Transportation Commission) ODOT, so their involvement
is in the driver’s seat on this in the review is critical.”
study and will receive regular
During the meeting, Brown
reports and hold the agency said transportation is one of
accountable for implementing her top policy priorities, along
changes it deems appropriate with education and affordable
from the study,” Fuller wrote housing. Brown and a group
in an email.
of eight lawmakers negotiated
Karmen Fore, Brown’s a deal during the legislative
sustainable communities and session that would have raised
transportation policy advis- the state gas tax and vehicle
er, explained the importance registration fees to generate a
of the management review to total of $202 million annually
transportation commissioners for state and local roads and
and agency administrators in UHSD\ PLOOLRQ LQ ERQGV
DEULH¿QJEHIRUHWKHFRPPLV- IRU VSHFL¿F KLJKZD\ SURMHFWV
sion meeting.
listed in the bill. However, the
“It’s that when we walk in proposal died soon after it was
the (capitol) building with an unveiled, when ODOT direc-
DVN WKH ¿UVW TXHVWLRQ LV µ,V tor Matt Garrett said during a
the agency well run?’” Fore hearing the plan would not re-
said.
duce carbon emissions by the
During a break in the amount initially promised.
meeting, Fore said she could
This was a key revelation,
not comment on the record because Republicans had re-
regarding whether it would fused to vote for an increase
be a problem for ODOT to be in the gas tax unless the state’s
involved in hiring the consul- low-carbon fuel standard was
tant who will review the agen- repealed. Democrats were
cy. Fore referred questions looking for alternatives that
to Brown’s communications would achieve the same car-
staff.
bon reduction.
“Oregon desperately needs
a transportation package,”
Brown said during the com-
mission meeting Thursday.
A funding package should
pay for seismic upgrades to
bridges and other transporta-
tion infrastructure, allow the
state and local governments
to catch up on long overdue
road maintenance and reduce
WUDI¿F FRQJHVWLRQ %URZQ
said. Most drivers dealing
with congestion live in the
Portland metropolitan area,
but Brown said other areas of
the state are not immune.
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Harry & David Corporation
has been challenged by freight
delays to Portland,” Brown
said. Eighty to 100 trucks de-
part daily from the company’s
Medford headquarters during
the busy holiday season, but
sometimes the company had
to divert them to the Port of
2DNODQGGXHWRVHYHUHWUDI¿F
“In my mind, this is unac-
ceptable,” Brown said.
Brown spoke about the
ODOT review while she was
delivering her charge to the
transportation commission.
The governor said she wants
the commission to focus on
three things: setting trans-
portation policy, oversight of
ODOT and engaging the pub-
lic.
Susan Morgan, a member
of the commission who is also
a Douglas County Commis-
VLRQHUVDLGHI¿FLHQF\PXVWEH
an ongoing effort.
“I totally agree with you
that being able to present a
case to the people of Oregon
WKDWWKLVLVDQHI¿FLHQWO\UXQRU-
ganization, that we make good
decisions, that we do it in a
good way, is something to nev-
er lose sight of,” Morgan said.
Hillary Borrud is a report-
er for the EO Media Group/
Pamplin Media Group Capi-
tal Bureau and Oregon Cap-
ital Insider.
I Am Thankful
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