Recent News Plan to Strengthen the Portland Metro Levee System Approved For the last three years, we have been working with the US Army Corps of Engineers to complete a congressionally authorized feasibility study of the local flood safety infrastructure.  The final study, which includes the Corps’ recommendations to make the system more reliable and resilient for the next fifty years and beyond, was recently approved by the Chief of Engineers, marking a major milestone in our efforts to secure federal funding for levee improvements.  Next, the study will go through additional review to determine if it will go to Congress for authorization and funding. If approved, the recommended improvements will: Address points of weakness that could result in levee breaches or overtoppingReduce the risk of internal floodingBuild a levee next to the railroad embankment that breached in 1948 leading to the destruction of the City of Vanport and displacement of more than 18,500 people Click here to learn more about the study. Life Along the Columbia: Stories from Behind the Levee   With the start of the rainy season comes an increased risk of flooding within the drainage districts.  As MCDD staff prepare for the flood season, now is a good time to prepare yourself as well by making a plan, building a supply kit, and staying informed This Fall, we are building awareness around flood risk in the area by showcasing a collection of stories called Life Along the Columbia.  These stories are told by a diverse group of individuals who live, work, or recreate within the levee system. From October 4th to November 22nd, you can follow a new story each week on our social media platforms to learn more about how these individuals relate to the floodplain, and reflect on your own relationship to the area. Interact with these posts on social media (see links below) and be entered to win a free emergency kit! This collection was recorded at the 2019 Columbia Slough Regatta, and was created in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Follow Multnomah County Drainage District! Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram (LRC) Get Involved Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan Survey As we work to be added to Multnomah County’s Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan update, we are seeking input from people who live, work, or own property within the levee protected area.  Please complete this survey by October 31st to share your thoughts about natural hazards and potential ways to mitigate their impacts.   The draft plan is anticipated to be available for public comment in January. Click here to learn more. Upcoming Events! Join us for these upcoming events in partnership with SOLVE to help clean-up areas important to ongoing flood safety along the Columbia River and the Slough. Schmeer Road Clean-up When: Thursday, October 14th from 10am to 1pm  Meeting Location: 1501 N Schmeer Road Register Here 142nd Cross Levee Clean-up When: Thursday, October 21st from 10am to 1pm Meeting Location: West of the Javlin Logistics Building at 5545 NE 148th Ave, Suite B. Register Here   From Our Partners Green Infrastructure Landowner Survey Our partners with the Columbia Slough Watershed Council, a local nonprofit working to protect and enhance the Columbia Slough, are looking to hear from local businesses and landowners as they work to better include commercial and industrial lands into their habitat restoration efforts, while helping preserve and enhance operations for businesses along the Slough.   If you operate a business or own land in the area, please complete this short, anonymous survey to help the Council better understand how they can work with you to protect clean water and a healthy environment for those who work, live, and recreate in the watershed. Local businesses and landowners who complete this survey by December 1st, 2021 will be invited to enter into a random drawing for a chance to win one of two prizes!    Take the survey here https://www.columbiaslough.org/blog/survey    For interested businesses and landowners, the Council is also offering free site consultation to identify methods and cost share incentives to help enhance the Slough on your property! Find out more at the link above.   Our Mission: To enhance community safety and support the region’s vitality by reducing flood risk, maintaining our levee system, managing drainage, and responding to emergencies. Peninsula Drainage District #1 | Peninsula Drainage District #2 Multnomah County Drainage District #1 | Sandy Drainage Improvement Company   Copyright © 2019 Multnomah County Drainage District #1, all rights reserved.

On 10/26/21, Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods and North Portland Neighborhood
Services will host a public meeting to address the concerns about air toxics and health risk
from four North and Northeast Portland Industrial Facilities. These industrial sites are
currently in evaluation by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) through
the Cleaner Air Oregon Program. Clustered along the North edge of Portland, along the
Columbia River, the sites are located in three neighborhoods: Cully, Kenton, and St. Johns.
Cleaner Air Oregon is a DEQ program that regulates emissions from industrial and
commercial facilities based on health risks to surrounding communities. There are four
facilities in North and Northeast Portland in various stages of the Cleaner Air Oregon
permitting process. DEQ will present information about the Cleaner Air Oregon program,
provide details on each facility, and describe how community members can be involved.
DEQ staff will compare the 4 facilities and share reports on new air toxics and health risk
data, updated CAO time frames, and identify opportunities to engage in the process.
The Facilities
Owens Brockway: 9710 NE Glass Plant Rd, 97220
Hydro-Extrusions North America: 5325 NE Skyport Way, 97218
Ecolube Recovery: 11535 N Force Avenue, 97217
Columbia Steel Castings Corporation: 10425 N Bloss Ave, 97203
Local Air Quality advocacy groups will also offer opportunities to engage on air quality
issues specific to these sites and in the wider metropolitan area as well. NECN and NPNS
welcome the public to participate in this Land Use and Transportation meeting as well as
future meetings – these meetings address a wide range of issues that impact livability –
your input is valued! Live Q & A! All written submitted questions will be addressed during
or after the meeting.
All are welcome to attend this public Land Use and Transportation Meeting.
DATE: October 26, 2021
TIME: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
VIRTUAL MEETING ACCESS
ONLINE: Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87475702681?pwd=MGRsMkdEbkQwbEQrS2xocTlOTHlOdz09
Meeting ID: 874 7570 2681
Passcode: 520734
PHONE:
One tap mobile: +16699006833,,87475702681#,,,,*520734#
Dial by your location: +1 669 900 6833
For more information: contact Charlotte MacDonald charlotte@necoalition.org

I was recently notified that the Malarkey Roofing Company in Portland’s Kenton neighborhood will soon receive some enforcement actions from DEQ, including a financial penalty. This is expected to occur in mid-October. Lauren Wirtis, DEQ’s Northwest Region Public Affairs Specialist, has already notified the Kenton Neighborhood Association.

This facility is in Group 3 for the Cleaner Air Oregon program, which means that it will be called into the program at a later, undefined date. However, given the timing of this enforcement action we are preparing to discuss it and respond to questions during our October 26 meeting.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Best,

Courtney

Courtney Fultineer, MPH (she/her)

Program Coordinator

Environmental Health Assessment Program

Oregon Health Authority

Cell: 971.388.4711 2 Attachments

With the help of individuals who have a connection to the Columbia Slough floodplain, the Multnomah County Drainage District (MCDD), in coordination with FEMA Region 10, created a storytelling collection called Life Along the Columbia: Stories from Behind the Levees (English) or Historias De La Vida A Lo Largo Del Río Columbia (Spanish). The collection was recorded during the Annual Columbia Slough Watershed Council’s Regatta in August 2019 and features 8 stories from people who live, work, and recreate within our levee system.  

From October 4^th to November 22^nd, we will be featuring one story per week on our social media channels every Monday. Our hope with these stories, told in a mix of English and Spanish, is for our community to better understand the watershed and its many benefits, while also illuminating the flood risk that remains and the work that MCDD is doing to prepare for future floods.

Through this campaign, MCDD is incentivizing people to sign-up for our newsletter by 11/24 to be entered to win an emergency kit. We ask that you consider featuring this campaign in your upcoming newsletters and also re-posting on social media platforms (Facebook (MCDD), Facebook (Levee Ready Columbia), LinkedIn, Instagram (Levee Ready), Twitter (MCDD)).

Below is our schedule for the social media campaign. Feel free to focus your outreach efforts on the videos that feel most relevant to your organization and your community constituents. The stories that will be promoted in Spanish are highlighted below in orange.

• October 4 – Jennifer Starkey – Columbia Slough Watershed Council Education Director
• October 11 – Mauricio Somilleda (Español)– Volunteer from Columbia Slough Watershed Council (CSWC)
• October 18 – Brian Eberhardt – Project Manager & Emergency Program Manager at MCDD
• October 25 – ABC (Andando en Bicicletas y Caminando) Group Members (Español)
• November 1 – Susan Barthel – Former City of Portland Employee & Former CSWC Board member
• November 8 – Sunny Simpkins – Former Deputy Director at MCDD
• November 15 – Ubaldo Hernandez (Español) – Community Organizer for Columbia Riverkeeper
• November 22 – Colin Rowan – Levee Ready Columbia Program Director & MCDD Deputy Director

As noted above, stories are told in a mixture of English and Spanish and are viewable on our project pages above or on YouTube (MCDD). Stories include captions in the language being spoken, but there are transcripts available in English and Spanish on the project pages.