WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2022
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HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A9
OUTSKIRTS ECHO
Echo seeks $1.5M to help with river flooding
BY MARCO GRAMACHO
Hermiston Herald
The city of Echo is requesting $1.5
million in state and federal funds for
restoration work and protection of the
southern part of the town and north-
ern part of the shoreline caused by the
high waters in the Umatilla River last
June.
“If we don’t get protection by the
end of this year, and if we get a nor-
mal high water event, next spring we
can have significantly more damage,”
warned Echo City Administrator Da-
vid Slaght. “And we won’t have a way
to stop it.”
He submitted two permits to work
on three areas developed by the engi-
neering company Anderson Perry &
Associates.
“Oregon Emergency Management
has championed our projects and
took them to the
Emergency Board
in Salem when they
meet in late Sep-
tember to decide on
approving them or
not,” Slaght said. “If
we get $1.5 million,
Slaght
we are planning to
return $475,000 to Umatilla County
that funded the emergency repairs last
June, and use the remainder to finalize
the first phase of the project.”
To combat rising water, approxi-
mately 560 feet of riprap was placed on
the shoreline. The rocky material was
put on the west bank to protect homes.
In the next phase, large logs will be
placed under the rocks. This will in-
volve first pulling the rocks up and
Mackenzie Whaley/Hermiston Herald
The Umatilla River runs low through Echo on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022. The small city is seeking $1.5 million in state and federal
money to help abate the river’s annual spring floods.
placing the logs at the riverbank and
then setting the rocks on top.
According to the city administra-
tor, this setup will protect the habi-
tat of fish. Other structures, Slaght
added, may be constructed on the
river to divert flows. These struc-
tures, and the log setup, will be the
first stage. There are other actions to
be taken, though, he said.
The project also will repair prop-
erties, shoreline and river area to
the north of the bridge, the eastside
of the river and the south end of
Echo, Slaght said.
In addition to these goals, the city
administrator said the project will in-
crease plantings in the area of the river.
Different plant species, including wil-
lows and cottonwood, are planned.
The second phase is the construc-
tion of a levee system. The engineers
of Anderson Perry are working on the
project. Slaght said there are federal
funds for the construction of levees.
“The team effort to protect Echo
city involves Sens. Ron Wyden and
Jeff Merkley, Rep. Bobby Levy, Uma-
tilla County administration, local
landowners, engineers, such as Kyle
Wagner, and Echo City Council mem-
bers,” he said.
According to engineers working
in the project, a levee system is a long
term solution for the flooding.
“It takes a lot more money and a lot
of design to make a functional levee to
protect the city,” explained Slaght.
Besides threatening residential areas
in Echo, the flooding and high water
of the Umatilla River has eroded the
signs of the archaeological site of Fort
Henrietta.
“Several artifacts were damaged and
new ones were found by archeologists
in the area,” Slaght said.
Fort Henrietta Park is on Main
Street adjacent to the Umatilla River
and it is on private property. One of
the few public access points to the river
in several miles is in the park. The park
was named for the Fort Henrietta Mi-
litia stockade which was located across
the river from the park site in 1855-56.
The National Park Service has listed
the park as a National Historic Trail
Site because it was a campsite and river
crossing for Oregon Trail emigrants.
The river ford, known as the Lower
Crossing (Pendleton was the site of the
Upper Crossing), was at the south end
of the park. The crossing also was used
later as a stage and freight road.
The park includes several historic
displays, including a covered wagon
museum and antique fire equipment
museum. The museums are un-
manned with push button recorders
that provide information to visitors.
The first Umatilla County jail is in the
park as is a replica blockhouse. Inter-
pretive panels provided by the Na-
tional Park Service and story boards
with information on Echo history also
are in the park.
Echo students take to first day of school
Students settle in to a new classroom Monday, Aug. 29, 2022, on the
first day back to school in Echo.
Photos by Mackenzie Whaley/Hermiston Herald
Echo School students on the first day of fall term Monday, Aug. 29, 2022, talk with their teacher about what activities they participated in during
the summer.
Echo grade school students find the playground hot spot Monday,
Aug. 29, 2022, on the first day of school.
Students get ready to line up Monday, Aug. 29, 2022, after recess gets
called to an end in Echo.
Echo School students spend some time on the playground Monday,
Aug. 29, 2022.
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Students run to the playground Monday, Aug. 29, 2022, for the first day
back to school in Echo.
E CHO
BY :
C OME V ISIT
E CHO IS KNOWN FOR
E CHO
K OONTZ M ILLER IS
ITS RICH HISTORY ,
L OCATED 188 MILES EAST
OF P ORTLAND , THE C ITY OF
E CHO IS SITUATED ALONG
THE U MATILLA R IVER WITHIN
A TREE - LINED VALLEY KNOWN
AS THE E CHO M EADOWS .
H UNTING , FISHING , HIKING ,
MOUNTAIN BIKING , GOLF ,
BOATING , BIRD - WATCHING
FEATURED IN OUR CITY
AND OTHER NATURE ACTIVITIES
LOGO .
ABOUND .
D AUGHTER OF
J.H. K OONTZ , WHO
PLATTED THE TOWN IN
1880.
541-376-8411
E CHO IS A POPULAR
STOP FOR O REGON T RAIL
ENTHUSIASTS AND OTHER
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