Willamette/Clackamette Pics 2/1/03

[Hogmaster]

Thought I would give everyone some additional picture detail. The Clack did go over flood stage, but the Willamette has stayed a little below. Since it is peaking today I took a few shots for reference.

First, for perspective, remember December 8th?


http://www.ifish.net/uploads/352909341.jpg

And this shot, which was taken December 18th, is pretty close to what it looked like a week ago. Actually a little higher than last week...

http://www.ifish.net/uploads/101418351.jpg

Here is today:

http://www.ifish.net/uploads/30431331.jpg

I think the big log on the bank at Clackamette may be gone! (Notice the top picture)Definitely up, but nowhere near a problem. Some people have wondered if my house is staying dry. This might explain a bit better. Here is one for perspective. In 96, the river was up to the top step! :shocked:

http://www.ifish.net/uploads/3502170.jpg


http://www.ifish.net/uploads/59351331.jpg

Can almost cast a plunking rig from the top of the stairs now! :grin:

Now keep in mind that in 96, not only was it to the top step, but think about how much across the river had to be submerged to get that high. Downtown OC was under 6' of water in many places, and Clackamette would have been about 20' under.

[Jettin' Fool]

My folks live in the neighborhood by the Oakgrove boat ramp and in '96 there was water up to the gutter line on some houses! We have a ways to go at this point.

Thanks for the pic update Hog...

Fool :cool:

[Hogmaster]

Here are some Clackamette shots. The gates are closed today.

First, here is the RV campground from my side of the river. Notice the line of trees. The RV park is where the water is just beyond them...
http://www.ifish.net/uploads/23401331.jpg


No camping. Notice where the RV hookups are! :shocked:
http://www.ifish.net/uploads/36261431.jpg

Now, again for perspective, note the "normal" ramp:


http://www.ifish.net/uploads/572511348.jpg

And today:
http://www.ifish.net/uploads/26321431.jpg

May not look like much except two points.

1) Count the pilings. There is an extra one in photo 2! In photo 1 it is not in the picture because it wasn't even in the water!!

2) Not even mother nature likes the pilings. Notice the angle on the one furthest out and the debris pile. Maybe a few more high waters and the pilings won't be a problem anymore!

Finally, anyone for fishing the blacktop at Dahl Park? For those of you that know, you could plunk in the lower parking lot from the upper! :shocked:
http://www.ifish.net/uploads/54371431.jpg

:cheers:

[Reel Crazy]

Great pics. Thanks graemlins/applause.gif

[ultralight]

Thanks for the pics! :cheers:

[David Johnson]

Here's a few more....

http://www.ifish.net/uploads/16571631.jpg
Willamette Falls

And...
http://www.ifish.net/uploads/08011731.jpg
Ramp @ Sport Craft

[1pump]

Thanx! I was gonna run down there and gawk today but you saved me the trouble! :smile:

[oregonwrestler]

Hogmaster-

i'm not sure if you noticed it or not, but you happened to catch a greenhead with his landing gear down coming right at you. was that coincidence or on purpose? or even worse, i'm i just seeing things?

oregonwrestler

[omnivore]

I think I can go over the fall if it comes up another few inches :shocked:

[Hogmaster]

DJ, thaks for adding those shots! The falls are really ripping. Not a good day for hanging at Black Point! :shocked: :shocked:

The falls don't look like they drop that much until you see a huge log just disapear as it tumbles into the abyss.

oregonwrestler -

I think you are seeing thing. The last shot has a big piece of rootwad flotsam that looks sort of "duckie". Is that it?

Now wait a minute. I think I see an elk in one oof those shots! :grin: :grin: :grin:

[David Johnson]

We were watching full size trees float down the river and over the edge of the falls, they wouldn't surface for half a minute or more.

What power :bowdown:

[Firedog]

Great pictures. I think that is a duck coming in to land in the picture looking towards Dahl park. Last pic in your second post I think. right at the bottom of the pic, just left of the center.

[ 02-01-2003, 09:08 PM: Message edited by: firedog ]

[KingFisher85]

In that picture of the falls. what is that building thats like on the water? It looks like a mill or something? I've never been up there.

[Hogmaster]

firedog (and oregonwrestler) -

No, that is a log. If you look carefully you can see where it extends in the water.

But now I see a whole herd of elk!

And above the falls at the far upper right - Is that the black of a flying fuselage? :shocked:

Mike, that is a paper mill, yes. DJ took that shot from an overlook on HWY 99 on the Oregon City side. There is a mill on that side too. Below and to the right (out of frame) is the remants of the first hydro electric power plant built west of the Mississippi (in the late 1800s). A little Oregon history for ya. Now I think it doubles as a helicopter landing pad. :shocked: :shocked:

You'll have to get in the Willie and I will take you up there sometime. But only when there is a little less water coming over!

:cheers:

[KingFisher85]

Thanks Hogmaster

Now, look there at the falls once more and tell me that that is not a herd of elk trying to swim up stream of the falls? :grin:

[Sirprize Sirprize]

Thanks for the post and pics...impressive.

[Hogmaster]

Here's a bit more history for those that might not be aware.

This is pretty unusual, but when they put that mill in on the West Linn side, they put in a fish ladder. You can see it in Dave's photo. Look to right of center and you will see a concrete partition and then another stream of flow. That is the ladder.

Before the ladder was there, fish could only migrate above the falls when there was very high water conditions. This made for very unpredictable runs for the native indians because if there was a dry spring, springers would have few places to go except for "Sucker Creek" (Oswego Creek's original name prior to the dam that enlarged Lake Oswego), the Clack, Johnson Creek and a few other small tribs. The Tualatin, Santiam, Molalla, Mckenzie upper Willamette and other fish in those years couldn't get up. So not only did it impact an important food source upriver, but the returns were abysmil 4 years later. This is why the falls were a huge gathering place. The fish could go no further much of the time.

So the unusual part is that the ladder significantly enhanced the upstream fishery because it allowed fish to get upriver every year.

Native fish? Sure. But aided...

:cheers:

[LIV2FISH]

Great pics!! Kinda puts things into their proper perspective!! Thanks for the effort!! :smile:

[Hogmaster]

Sunday update:

Just got this shot of the Sternwheeler as it went by the mouth of the Clack. They are log bronkin'!

It is hard to see in this smaller shot, but they are cheating! There is a kicker on the back!

Didn't see an electric on the bow though...

http://www.ifish.net/uploads/06181032.jpg

:cheers:

[Hogmaster]

OK, last one. I couldn't resist. Can you imagine what it must have been like back when...

http://www.ifish.net/uploads/16181132.jpg

[David Johnson]

I don't know, I could emagine it but maybe we should just ask Giz, he can tell us how it was :smile:

[ 02-02-2003, 03:06 PM: Message edited by: David Johnson ]

[KingFisher85]

Hey hog, I see you been working with photo shop :hoboy:

[Fast Water]

A few years back I worked with an engineering firm trying to figure out a way to clean all the chamber in the ladders.

There is actually three ladders two of wich are covered by the falls during higher water.

http://www.ifish.net/uploads/32181732.jpg

http://www.ifish.net/uploads/37191732.jpg


:smile:

[Sturgeon Tom]

Hogmaster, I was down at Sport Craft yesterday and thought you could just go fishing from your steps. I had to walk down the hill and down a plank in order to get to Sport Craft. The water had the entire parking lot underwater and up the hill.

[Hogmaster]

No worries, Tom, as the stair photos attest.

Thanks Fast Water, for the ladder clarification. Obviously I am in error in my comment in the earlier post. The ladder I was referencing is totally buried under water, though the route for escape from it appears to be near the oip of where I was pointing out...

Also, I always figured fish could escape up the right side (why the hog line always forms over there no doubt), but had never had it shown to be true. And I had no idea about the one on the OC side. Did the ladders get cleaned out?

[Fast Water]

Hogmaster,

I didn't know squat about the facility until I saw the blue prints. I have done work for both mills and had no idea there were ladders under the falls.

(trying to remember)(difficult thing that it is....)
The whole project had/has 3 or 4 phases to it. The first was to repair the fish entrances/attractors which, I believe was complete at the time I was considering the project.

The company Navigant Consulting (?) was trying to figure out how to remove the build up on the underflow grates in each 10' x 15' chamber in the first third of the ladders. This was a logistics nightmare as all the water and solids removed could not be placed back into the river where they came from in the first place. The material had to go on land on the other side of the ?powerhouse? for dewatering and classification for proper disposal. :hoboy: Probably just landfill it in the end.

Our company made a decision to bow out of the bid. So, to anwser your question, I haven't a clue as to whether the project was completed or not.

I would have loved to work on the project. It was/is full of engineering challenges to keep anyone on their toes but we were concerned about the amount of red tape we would have to digest. :shrug:

Even with the best intentions and carefull planning, drawing down the ladder and shutting it off can have some nasty consequences:

Click here for the story from last August. (http://www.dfw.state.or.us/public/NewsArc/2002News/August/082602anews.htm)