News
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, November 25, 25
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By Carl Sampson
Blue Mountain Eagle
CANYON CITY — Grant
County commissioners hud-
dled with staffers and their en-
gineer Nov. 25. Their goal: To
do everything they can to pre-
vent or reduce
Àooding along
Canyon Creek
next spring.
“The creek
has a history of
Àooding in the
spring,” said
Scott
Ted Williams,
Myers
the
interim
emergency
management
coordinator.
A winter of
heavy snow
followed by
a warm and
Doug
rainy spring Ferguson
could provide
the formula
for Àooding. In 2, and
as far back as , Àooding
along the creek has caused se-
vere damage to property.
But the ,-acre Can-
yon Creek Complex wild¿re,
which burned much of the for-
estland upstream in the water-
shed, has added more vulnera-
bility and uncertainty. Foresters
are predicting more runoff this
spring even if the weather con-
ditions are normal.
With that in mind, the coun-
ty is developing a two-stage
plan.
The ¿rst stage involves
preventing or minimizing the
area¶s exposure to Àoods next
spring.
The second stage would
involve developing a plan that
would permanently solve the
Àooding threat.
But next spring is weighing
most heavily on the commis-
sion. Engineer Doug Ferguson
is mapping Canyon Creek,
identifying areas within the
-year Àood plain that can
be blocked off using sandbags
or portable concrete structures
called Eco-Blocks and Jersey
barriers. They are pre-cast, por-
table and can be re-used.
“The idea is to pre-stage
them where they’ll be needed,”
Williams said.
The areas around Grant
Union Junior-Senior High
School, at the mouth of the
creek near the John Day Riv-
er and several other low spots
have Àooded in the past. Using
a new survey, Kenny Delano
Jr., Ferguson’s partner, is deter-
mining where exactly to place
sandbags and concrete struc-
tures.
“I’ve been concentrating on
Eagle photos/Carl Sampson
Canyon Creek is pictured near Fourth Avenue in John Day. Grant County
officials worry the dead trees along the bank could snag debris and worsen
flood conditions. They are planning to remove them in an effort to avert
flooding in the spring.
the location of the treatments,”
Delano said in an interview.
“This is more of a tactical
discussion than an engineering
discussion,” Ferguson said.
Next, the county will con-
tact property owners about
where the berms and concrete
structures will be placed, Del-
ano said.
The county plans to have
up to , sandbags and
2-foot-by-2-foot-by--foot
Eco-Blocks on hand. The coun-
ty already has 2 Eco-Blocks
and 2 Jersey barriers.
Of particular concern is the
number of dead trees along
the creek that could potentially
snag other trees Àoating down-
stream and create a dam.
“There are a lot from
the mouth of the river to the
school,” Ferguson said.
County Judge Scott Myers
and Commissioner Boyd Brit-
ton said an immediate priority
will be getting rid of those po-
tential snags.
“If we don’t do it we’re
hurting,” Ferguson said.
Myers said the county needs
to go to the Department of Fish
and Wildlife to secure permits
for the work.
“I think the conversation
needs to go that we’re going to
do it,” Britton said. “The time
for asking for permission is
passed.”
The commission also dis-
cussed two bridges, at Nugget
and Inland avenues, which are
particular concerns.
The Nugget bridge is
all-wooden and in poor shape,
Williams said.
The commission discussed
buying a -foot portable one-
lane bridge to have on hand
should a bridge fail during a
Àood.
In addition, Williams said he
will develop evacuation routes.
“We’ll plot out the areas
that would need to be evacuat-
ed ¿rst,” he said. He will also
identify buildings that can be
used as shelters and develop
the logistics for getting people
to safety should a Àood take
place.
Williams, a security and
search and rescue instruc-
tor who lives in John Day, is
working under a 2-week con-
tract with the county.
Ted Williams, the interim emergency management
coordinator for Grant County, inspects a map
of Canyon Creek that Ferguson Surveying and
Engineering is preparing which shows areas likely
to overflow if the creek has a 100-year flood and
locations where barriers will be placed to prevent
the flooding.
Call the John Day Golf Course Clubhouse
at 541-575-0170 and ask for Jessy or Ronda
02991
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27 TH
Doors open at 7am with Largest Discounts
Discount on regular priced items only.
Gourmet & Gadgets
340 N. Broadway, Burns, OR.
02982
Winter
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Take advantage of our low
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$39 99
Saturday, December 5th
Grant County Fairgrounds Pavilion
Mostly Handcrafted Items
Soup & Pie Available
Blue Mountain
Mary 541-620-4283
Hospital Auxiliary
721 W Main St., John Day
541-575-1850
Open Mon-Fri 7am-6pm
Sat 8am-5pm, close Sun
Pictures with Santa - Bring Your Camera!
Save up to 10% off
sturdy, reliable, and comfortable work
boots for the winter weather.
Mills Building
Supply
751 W Main St. John Day
541-575-1021 • Open 8am-5pm Mon-Fri
8am-4pm Sat • Closed Sun
02975
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6:00 pm
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Assisted Living
112 NW Valley View Dr.,
John Day
541-575-1648
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