Middle Columbia Hood Discovery Report - fortress.wa.gov · Oregon, Washington . Discovery Meetings...

Discovery Report FEMA Region X Middle Columbia-Hood Watershed Oregon, Washington Discovery Meetings July 20 – 22, 2015

Prepared by

MIDDLE COLUMBIA-HOOD DISCOVERY REPORT – OCTOBER 2015 i

Table of Contents

Executive Summary ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… ii

I. Discovery and Risk MAP ................................................................................................... 1

II. Watershed Description ..................................................................................................... 1

III. Project Description and Methodology ............................................................................. 3

Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Reservation .......................................................................... 3

Discovery Phases ............................................................................................................................... 4

IV. Risk Map Needs ............................................................................................................... 10

Resilience .......................................................................................................................................... 10

Floodplain Studies and Risk Assessment .......................................................................................... 13

Mitigation Projects ........................................................................................................................... 19

Compliance ...................................................................................................................................... 23

Communications ............................................................................................................................. 23

V. Close ................................................................................................................................. 26

VI. Appendix – Discovery Files ............................................................................................. 28

Table of Illustrations Map 1: Middle Columbia Hood Project Area........................................................................................ 2 Table 1: Data Sources for Region X Discovery ...................................................................................... 3 Figure 1: Fact Sheet for Wasco County, Oregon .................................................................................. 4 Map 2: Community Interview Map for Wasco County, Oregon ......................................................... 6 Map 3: Discovery Meeting Map for Wasco County, Oregon ............................................................... 7 Map 4: Final Discovery Map for Wasco County, Oregon .................................................................... 8 Map 5: Project Area LiDAR Coverage (DOGAMI, July 2015) ............................................................... 9 Table 2: Middle Columbia-Hood Watershed Contribution to Resilience ......................................... 10 Figure 2: Discovery Meeting, Stevenson WA, July 20, 2015 ................................................................ 12 Figure 3: Discovery Meeting, The Dalles OR, July 21, 2015 ................................................................. 12 Figure 4: Discovery Meeting, The Dalles OR, July 21, 2015 ................................................................. 13 Table 3: Middle Columbia-Hood Watershed Most Recent FIRMs and FIS ....................................... 13

MIDDLE COLUMBIA-HOOD DISCOVERY REPORT – OCTOBER 2015 ii

Table 4: Middle Columbia-Hood Watershed Risk Assessment ......................................................... 14 Table 5: Middle Columbia-Hood Watershed Hazard Mitigation Plans ............................................. 19 Table 6: Additional Community Hazards ........................................................................................... 21 Figure 5: Flood Risk Data Development Lifecycle ............................................................................. 27

MIDDLE COLUMBIA-HOOD DISCOVERY REPORT – OCTOBER 2015 iii

Executive Summary Middle Columbia-Hood Watershed, WA

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Middle Columbia-Hood Watershed Discovery Report provides users with a comprehensive understanding of historical flood risk, other natural hazards, and current mitigation activities within the watershed, which straddles the border between Oregon and Washington. This report also provides users with a summary of the communities’ natural hazard concerns and priorities for mitigating risk. As a result of the Discovery process, FEMA may select areas in the Middle Columbia-Hood watershed for advanced study, other products, or mitigation activities under FEMA’s Risk Mapping, Assessment, and Planning (Risk MAP) program.

The Middle Columbia-Hood Watershed is formed mainly by the Columbia River as it carves a deep gorge through mountainous terrain. Most of the incorporated communities within the watershed are along the river. Additional rivers and streams carve a complex network of valleys through rugged, mountainous terrain on their way to the Columbia River. Several rural communities are dispersed throughout this landscape, and large portions of the watershed are managed by National Forests, State Parks, and other protected or recreation areas. As a result, a key part of this unique watershed is protected by Federal legislation and managed by the U.S. Forest Service and the Columbia River Gorge Commission.

Like all Risk MAP projects, FEMA’s evaluation of the Middle Columbia-Hood Watershed’s flood risk begins with partnering with community stakeholders to collect and review extensive data about the area during an in-person or telephone interview with the FEMA Risk MAP team. These discussions with communities and other stakeholders provided an overall understanding of the watershed, local economy, floodplain mapping needs, desired mitigation projects, and areas in the community that are vulnerable to other hazards.

The results of the data collection and interviews revealed information about the current community resilience and needs for future resilience that may be addressed with Risk MAP projects. As such, this report includes Risk MAP needs that exist in the Middle Columbia-Hood Watershed communities. Details and background on all issues can be found in the interview notes, meeting notes, and other files included in Appendix C and D.

As part of the Discovery process, local Hazard Mitigation Plans were reviewed to better understand the existing risks associated with all hazards identified within the communities. These plans also list potential strategies and actions that have been developed as part of the local planning processes to mitigate the risks. By first obtaining a better understanding of existing local risks and mitigation actions during the Discovery phase, FEMA’s intends to work with communities to identify new and strengthen existing mitigation actions throughout the watershed.

The Discovery process revealed that earthquake, flood, landslide, and wildfire hazards are the highest priority hazards across the watershed. Each community developed a list of priority mitigation actions in response to these hazards, along with a list of potential desired mitigation projects.

The overall goal of Risk MAP is to deliver quality data that increases public awareness of the current flood risk and empowers communities to take action to reduce future risk. The Discovery process is the first of many collaborative steps toward this goal. FEMA encourages stakeholders to remain involved through the entire Risk MAP process and will continue to partner with the Middle Columbia-Hood

MIDDLE COLUMBIA-HOOD DISCOVERY REPORT – OCTOBER 2015 iv

Watershed community members to identify potential partnership opportunities to achieve resilience through mitigation action.

MIDDLE COLUMBIA-HOOD DISCOVERY REPORT – OCTOBER 2015 1

I. Discovery and Risk MAP FEMA’s Risk Mapping, Assessment, and Planning (Risk MAP) program helps make communities stronger by identifying actions they can take now to reduce their risk to natural hazards. Through Risk MAP, FEMA provides information to enhance local plans to reduce risk, improve outreach about what communities can do to address that risk, and increase local resilience to hazards.

During Discovery, FEMA

• gathers information about local hazards and hazard risks; • reviews mitigation plans to understand local mitigation capabilities, hazard risk

assessments, and current or future mitigation activities; • supports communities within the watershed to develop a vision for the watershed’s future; • collects information from communities about their hazard history, development plans,

daily operations, and hazard management activities; and • uses all information gathered to determine which areas of the watershed require mapping,

risk assessment, or mitigation planning assistance through a Risk MAP project.

II. Watershed Description The Middle Columbia-Hood Watershed straddles the border between Oregon and Washington. Within Oregon, portions of Sherman, Hood River, and Wasco Counties intersect the watershed boundary. In Washington, the watershed includes portions of Skamania and Klickitat Counties. (Small portions of Multnomah County, Oregon and Yakima County, Washington are part of the watershed, but they are not discussed in this report). According to the 2010 Census, about 80,700 residents reside in the five watershed counties.

The Columbia River, the primary waterway in this watershed, carves a deep gorge through the mountainous terrain. This unique landscape is protected by Federal legislation and managed by the U.S. Forest Service and the Columbia River Gorge Commission. Interstate 84 follows the route of the Columbia River, along with the BNSF Railroad and various other State highways. Most of the highly-developed incorporated communities within the watershed are located along the gorge and make use of the river for transportation and recreation.

Away from the gorge, the terrain is mountainous and rugged, with some rolling agricultural land and small communities. Various rivers and streams carve a complex network of valleys through this landscape on their way to the Columbia River. Large portions of the watershed are taken up by National Forests, State Parks, and other protected or recreation areas. Mt. Hood is the tallest peak within the watershed, rising to 11,249 feet. A severe drought has persisted throughout the region for several years, and record-breaking wildfires are a regular threat.


Map 1: Middle Columbia Hood Project Area


III. Project Description and Methodology FEMA Region X initiated the Discovery effort for the Middle Columbia-Hood Watershed in February 2015. Risk MAP Discovery is a process of data collection, map-making, and cooperative information exchange with community stakeholders to understand a watershed area, decide if a flood risk project is appropriate, and, if so, collaborate on project planning.

Discovery is a rich collaboration between FEMA, consultants, and elected and appointed leaders at the State and local levels of government, leading to a thorough understanding of the natural and manmade hazards that communities face. This understanding leads to long-term strategies for mitigating the risk from these hazards.

Table 1: Data Sources for Region X Discovery

ESRI

FEMA Community Information System (CIS)

FEMA Coordinated Needs

Management System (CNMS)

FEMA Map Service Center (MSC)

FEMA Publications

FEMA Regional Office

National Atlas of the United States

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

National Levee Database

U.S. Department of Agriculture

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Geological Survey

Hood River County, OR GIS Department

Klickitat County, WA GIS

Department

Skamania County, WA GIS Department

Wasco County, OR GIS

Department (including Sherman County, OR)

The Confederated Tribe of

Warm Springs

Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI)

State of Oregon Spatial Data Library

State of Oregon Department of

Transportation

Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development

Washington State Department of

Ecology

Washington State Department of Natural Resources

Washington State Department of

Transportation

Washington State Geospatial Portal

i. Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Reservation

The Discovery project team met with Warm Springs tribal leadership officials on July 22, 2015, to discuss Risk MAP goals, the Discovery process, and potential risk mitigation projects. Warm Springs has several projects either underway or in the planning stages that could eventually be coordinated with a Discovery project, including hazard mitigation plans, wildfire management studies, and a first-order approximation floodplain study. These will be available to the project team once they are completed.

Further coordination and preliminary work is necessary for Warm Springs to proceed with the Discovery process, and FEMA continues to assist the tribal leadership with this effort.


ii. Discovery Phases

The Discovery process includes four phases. First is a comprehensive collection of tabular (databases, spreadsheets) and spatial (maps, GIS layers) data from local, State, and Federal sources for all communities in the Middle Columbia-Hood Watershed, as shown in Figure 1. These data are later matched with information collected through interviews with each community. Using this information, the Risk MAP team develops Community Fact Sheets and Discovery Maps (included in Appendix C).

Figure 1: Fact Sheet for Wasco County, Oregon


Community officials receive copies of these materials prior to Phase 2, when they are asked to review and comment on this initial analysis during an in-person or telephone interview with the Risk MAP team. Through their local knowledge and experience, community officials add tremendously to the overall understanding of the watershed and its history, economy, hazards, and opportunities. Specific “Areas and Points of Concern” are identified during Phase 2. These can include floodplain mapping needs, desired flood mitigation projects, and the identification of areas in the community that are vulnerable to particular hazards.

Phase 3 opens up the Discovery process to the public through the Discovery Meeting, which is designed to facilitate discussion and build consensus about study needs, mitigation project needs, desired compliance support, and local flood risk awareness efforts. Attendees—including representatives from all watershed communities and other stakeholders—cooperatively identify possible solutions for the “Areas and Points of Concern” shown on the Discovery Meeting Map. These might include floodplain studies, flood mitigation projects, enforcement of various regulations, and training for community officials. New issues for further study might also be identified through this discussion.

The fourth and final phase of the Discovery Process integrates the ideas gathered from community interviews and Discovery Meetings with GIS mapping and data analysis into a set of recommendations for further action. These recommendations could include specific risk-management projects, mitigation strategies for communities to consider, identification of funding sources, and suggested priorities. If a Risk MAP project for this watershed is desired, the Discovery Process will lead to a project scope and project charters, indicating the roles and responsibilities of all affected stakeholders.


Map 2: Community Interview Map for Wasco County, Oregon


Map 3: Discovery Meeting Map for Wasco County, Oregon


Map 4: Final Discovery Map for Wasco County, Oregon


Map 5: Project Area LiDAR Coverage (DOGAMI, July 2015)


IV. Risk MAP Needs The results of the data collection and interviews were discussed thoroughly at the Discovery Meetings on July 20-22, 2015. The following sections include issues and situations that exist in the Middle Columbia-Hood Watershed communities that can be considered Risk MAP needs, to be addressed with Risk MAP projects. Details and background on all issues can be found in the interview notes, meeting notes, and other files included in Appendices C and D.

i. Resilience

During the July 20–22 Risk MAP Discovery Meetings in the Middle Columbia-Hood Watershed, community representatives were asked to introduce themselves and answer one of two questions:

1. How do you contribute to the resilience of your community? 2. How would you like to see resilience increased in your community?

Their responses are presented in Table 2:

Table 2: Middle Columbia-Hood Watershed Contribution to Resilience

Jurisdiction Representative Ways Contributing to Resilience

Ways to Increase Resilience

City of Bingen Jan Brending Notifications and communications -

City of White Salmon Leana Johnson Information and community outreach -

Skamania County Rick Hollatz Geographic Information Systems and data management

-

Skamania County John & Kathleen Carlson Hazard mitigation planning -

City of Stevenson Karl Russel Volunteer firefighter

City of the Dalles Dawn Hert Community awareness and public outreach -

Various jurisdictions Nick Kramer Engaging rural communities -

City of Rufus Jacklyn McCurdy - Planning evacuation routes from wildfires

City of Moro René Moore - Community wishes to have mapped floodplains

Wasco County Kristy Beechamp - Increasing citizen awareness

Wasco County Angie Brewer Local planning and ordinances that address local needs

-

Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries

Jed Roberts Landslide model ordinance and regulations

-

Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development

Steve Lucker Hazard mitigation and comprehensive plans -

Hood River County John Roberts - Better mapping for my community


Jurisdiction Representative Ways Contributing to Resilience

Ways to Increase Resilience

Hood River County Mike Shrankel GIS and risk assessment -

City of Cascade Locks Gordon Zimmerman Keep water and sewer systems operating -

Sherman County Dan Meter - Floodplain ordinances in smaller communities

Sherman County Georgia MacNabb - Updated floodplain mapping and data management

Army Corps of Engineers Paul Sclafani Inspecting and maintaining levees -

FEMA Region IX Maryam Hariri Translate resilience

FEMA Region IX Michael Bishop Risk mitigation program implementation -

FEMA Region IX Ed Curtis Floodplain mapping - FEMA Region IX Xing Liu NFIP regulations

FEMA Region X Kristen Myers Residential structure earthquake retrofitting -

FEMA Region X Kelly Stone Identifying community hazards and planning needs

-

STARR Becca Croft NFIP procedures -

STARR Kathleen Warren Residential greywater recycling -

STARR Adam Pooler Collecting and reusing rainwater -

STARR Andy Dobson Bicycling/active transportation planning -

STARR Marshall Rivers Actionable community outcomes -


Figure 2: Discovery Meeting, Stevenson WA, July 20, 2015

Figure 3: Discovery Meeting, The Dalles OR, July 21, 2015


Figure 4: Discovery Meeting, The Dalles OR, July 21, 2015

ii. Floodplain Studies and Risk Assessment

Table 3 lists the most recent Flood Insurance Studies, Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) updates, and whether the studies include detailed floodplain analysis.

Table 3: Middle Columbia-Hood Watershed Most Recent FIRMs and FIS COUNTY COMMUNITY LATEST FIRM LATEST FIS DETAILED

Hood River County, OR

Unincorporated Areas 9/24/1984 - No

City of Cascade Locks 9/24/1984 - No

City of Hood River 9/24/1984 - No

Sherman County, OR

Unincorporated Areas 9/24/1984 - No

City of Rufus 9/24/1984 - No

City of Wasco 9/15/1989 9/15/1989 Yes

Wasco County, OR

Unincorporated Areas 9/24/1984 9/15/1989 No

City of Dufer 9/24/1984 - No

City of Maupin 9/24/1984 - No

City of Mosier 2/17/1989 2/17/1989 Yes

City of the Dalles 1/18/1984 7/18/1983 Yes

Klickitat County, WA

Unincorporated Areas 7/2/1981 1/2/1981 Yes

Town of Bingen 9/24/1984 - No

City of Goldendale 8/17/1981 2/17/1981 Yes

Town of White Salmon 3/18/1985 - No


COUNTY COMMUNITY LATEST FIRM LATEST FIS DETAILED

Skamania County, WA Unincorporated Areas 8/5/1986 - No

Town of Stevenson 7/1/1986 - No

Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs 4/15/2002 4/15/2002 Yes

The final Discovery Map includes information regarding study needs. It also illustrates areas of concern expressed by State and local officials, critical facilities, existing floodplains, Letters of Map Change (LOMCs), dam failures, erosion, landslides, new mapping, historic fires, and historic floods.

Table 4 lists various flood mapping needs, flood hazard risks, and other natural hazard concerns described by Discovery Meeting participants. It also includes comments from telephone interviews with community officials.

Table 4: Middle Columbia-Hood Watershed Risk Assessment

COUNTY STUDY AREA STUDY

LENGTH (miles)

DESCRIPTION RISK ASSESSMENT

Hood River Columbia River - Hood River County 27.1

Potential updated study developed by USACE for the entire river within the county.

Updated Approximate

Hood River Dry Creek - Cascade Locks/Hood River County

3.9 Entire stream within the City of Cascade Locks, along with portions upstream in the county.

Updated Approximate

Hood River East Fork Hood River - Hood River County 27.3

Entire stream within county; however, only requested mapping updates for areas outside Federal Lands.

Updated Approximate

Hood River Emil Creek - Hood River County 3.4

Entire stream within semi-populated area, unknown risk. Currently not mapped.

Approximate

Hood River Evans Creek - Hood River County 9.7


Approximate

Hood River Griswell Creek - Hood River County 4.2


Approximate

Hood River Herman Creek - Cascade Locks 2.1 Entire stream within the City of Cascade

Locks. Currently not mapped. Approximate

Hood River Hood River NA Rock falls and landslides regularly block access to community from SR 35. Landslide Risk

Hood River Hood River NA Wildfire risk in orchards outside of city. Wildfire Risk

Hood River Hood River NA Silt buildup at confluence of Hood River and Columbia River.

Channel Migration

Hood River Hood River - Hood River County 12.7

Entire stream within county; however, only requested mapping updates for areas outside Federal Lands.

Updated Approximate

Hood River Indian Creek – Hood River/Hood River County 4.5

Entire stream within City of Hood River and portions upstream in county. Development concerns in populated area.

Updated Approximate



LENGTH (miles)


Hood River Mt. Hood NA Increased seismic activity recorded, increased risk for volcanic event. Volcano

Hood River Phelps Creek - Hood River/Hood River County 1.7

Entire stream within City of Hood River and portions upstream in county. Currently not mapped.

Approximate

Hood River Rudolph Creek - Cascade Locks 2.1 Entire stream within the City of Cascade

Locks. Currently not mapped. Approximate

Hood River SR 35 - Hood River County NA Landslides and debris flow risk along

corridor. Landslide Risk

Hood River Trout Creek - Hood River County 7

Entire stream within semi-populated area, unknown flood risk, not mapped. Development concerns in populated area. Currently not mapped.

Approximate

Hood River West Fork Evans Creek - Hood River County 2.4


Approximate

Hood River Wisehart Creek - Hood River County 3.1


Approximate

Klickitat Bingen NA Impact on surrounding properties and roadways from SDS quarry landslides east of town.

Landslide Risk

Klickitat Bingen NA Constant wildfire threat from hillsides surrounding town, exacerbated by drought conditions

Wildfire Risk

Klickitat Bloodgood Creek - Goldendale/Klickitat County

0.4

Detailed portion in Goldendale and Klickitat County. Development concerns in populated area, as well as erosion issues.

Detailed -Redelineation

Klickitat Bloodgood Creek – Goldendale/Klickitat County

2 Approximate portion upstream of the detailed study. Development concerns in populated area.

Updated Approximate

Klickitat Cave Creek - Klickitat County 3.8

Trout Lake Area – from confluence with White Salmon River to Jennings Rd. Development concerns in populated area.

Updated Approximate

Klickitat Columbia River - Klickitat County 48.4


Updated Approximate

Klickitat Dry Creek - Bingen NA Concern with stormwater runoff at West Steuben Street crossing.

Storm Flooding

Klickitat Dry Creek - Bingen/Klickitat County 2.1

Entire stream within the City of Bingen, along with portions upstream in the county. Floodplain not valid due to enclosed stream.

Updated Approximate

Klickitat Goldendale NA Large areas of dying trees in forested areas north of town increase hazard from wildfire.

Wildfire Risk



LENGTH (miles)


Klickitat Jewett Creek - White Salmon/Bingen, Klickitat County

2.8

Entire stream in Bingen and White Salmon, as well as portions upstream of White Salmon boundary. Development concerns in populated area. Bridge updates.

Updated Approximate

Klickitat Klickitat River - Klickitat County 4.7

Detailed portion near Klickitat Village. Development concerns in populated area.

Redelineation

Klickitat Little Klickitat River - Goldendale, Klickitat County

2.9 Detailed portion in Goldendale and portions outside in county. Updated bridges, updated study needed.

Updated Detailed

Klickitat Snyder Creek - Klickitat County 0.6

Unknown flood risk from flow into Klickitat River near Klickitat Village. Development concerns in populated area. Currently not mapped.

Approximate

Klickitat Trib. to White Salmon River - Klickitat County 3.9

Trout lake area, floodplain needs restudy. Carr Rd. to White Salmon River. Development concerns in populated area. Currently not mapped.

Approximate

Klickitat Trib. to White Salmon River - Klickitat County 1.9

Trout lake area, floodplain needs restudy. Mt. Adams Rd. to White Salmon River. Development concerns in populated area.

Updated Approximate

Klickitat Trout Lake Creek - Klickitat County 8.2

Trout lake area, floodplain needs restudy. County border to White Salmon River.

Updated Approximate

Klickitat White Salmon River - Klickitat County 7.1

Trout Lake area, floodplain needs restudy. Mt. Adams Rd. to Strong Rd. Development concerns in populated area.

Updated Approximate

Klickitat White Salmon NA Bluff outside of town vulnerable to wildfire and landslides—also development pressure in area.

Wildfire/Landslide Risk

Sherman China Hollow/Girkling Canyon - Rufus/Sherman County

1.3 Completely within community boundary. Development concerns in populated area.

Updated Approximate

Sherman Columbia River - Sherman County 12.1


Updated Approximate

Sherman Girking Canyon Creek - Sherman County 2.5

Upstream of City of Rufus, development concerns, unknown flood risk. Currently not mapped.

Approximate

Sherman Moro NA Unregulated agricultural levees outside of town create flash flooding concern.

Flooding/Erosion

Sherman Scott Canyon Creek - Rufus/Sherman County 2.6 Completely within community

boundary up to Helms Lane. Updated Approximate

Skamania Columbia River - Skamania County 22.6


Updated Approximate

Skamania Kanaka Creek - Stevenson 0.3 Columbia River to within community boundary.

Updated Approximate



LENGTH (miles)


Skamania Rock Creek - Stevenson/Skamania County

3.9 Columbia River to upstream of spring creek

Updated Approximate

Skamania Wind River - Skamania County 18.2

Columbia River to upstream of Hollis Creek. Development concerns in populated area.

Updated Approximate

Wasco Badger Creek - Wasco County 2.7

Tygh Creek to upstream of Fairgrounds Rd. Development concerns in populated area..

Updated Approximate

Wasco Brown Creek - Wasco County 3.4

Chenoweth Creek to Downstream of Browns Creek Rd. Development concerns in populated area.

Updated Approximate

Wasco Chenoweth Creek - Wasco County 2.1

Columbia River to Confluence with Badger Creek. Development concerns in populated area, fire risk – landslides.

Updated Approximate

Wasco Columbia River - The Dalles 3.2



Wasco Columbia River - Wasco County 31.8


Updated Approximate

Wasco Deschutes River – Maupin/Wasco County 2 Entire stream within Maupin. Flooding

concerns in RV park. Updated Approximate

Wasco Fifteen Mile Creek – Dufur/Wasco County 3

Entire stream within the City of Dufur, along with portions upstream in the county. Development concerns in populated area.

Updated Approximate

Wasco Fifteen Mile Creek - Wasco County 7.9 From Columbia River to Company

Hollow Road. Updated Approximate

Wasco Highline Ditch - Wasco County 4.8 Between Tygh Creek. Development

concerns in populated area. Updated Approximate

Wasco Jordan Creek - Wasco County 0.6

Tygh Creek to half –mile upstream. Development concerns in populated area.

Updated Approximate

Wasco Kelly Gulch - Wasco County 2.2 Existing Zone A – populated area. Updated

Approximate

Wasco McCubbins Gulch - Wasco County 1.4 Existing Zone A – populated area. Updated

Approximate

Wasco Mill Creek - The Dalles 1.6 Completely within community boundary–culvert creates pinch-point.


Wasco Mill Creek - Wasco County 6 Existing Zone A – populated area. Updated

Approximate

Wasco Mosier Creek – Mosier/Wasco County 1.2

Entirely within City of Mosier and outside in county until Dry Creek. Development concerns in populated area.

Updated Approximate

Wasco Oak Creek - Wasco County 0.7 Existing Zone A – populated area. Updated

Approximate



LENGTH (miles)


Wasco Parkdale NA Entire town susceptible to landslides. Landslide Risk

Wasco Pine Hollow Reservoir - Wasco County 1.3 Existing Zone A – populated area. Updated

Approximate

Wasco Rock Creek - Wasco County, City of Mosier 1.2

Columbia River to downstream of Campbell Creek. Detailed portion within Mosier.

Updated Approximate-Detailed

Wasco Shaniko NA Community does not have an easily accessible Fire Department; facility is available.

Critical Facilities / Wildfire

Wasco Starveout Creek - Wasco County 1.4 Existing Zone A – populated area. Updated

Approximate

Wasco The Dalles NA Manufacturing facility with hazardous materials on site.

Hazardous Materials

Wasco The Dalles NA Area of wildfire concern northwest of city. Wildfire Risk

Wasco Three Mile Creek - The Dalles 0.3

Columbia River to the Mosier-The Dalles Highway. Development concerns in populated area.

Redelineation

Wasco Three Mile Creek - Wasco County 7.3

Dry Creek to upstream of Three Mile Rd. Development concerns in populated area.

Updated Approximate

Wasco Trib. to Wapinitia Creek - Wasco County 1

Wapinitia Creek to 1 mile upstream. Development concerns in populated area.

Updated Approximate

Wasco Tygh Creek - Wasco County 8.4

White River to confluence with Jordan Creek. Development concerns in populated area.

Updated Approximate

Wasco Wapinitia Creek - Wasco County 7.2

Downstream of Reservation Road to Endersby Rd. Development concerns in populated area.

Updated Approximate

CTWS Deschutes River - Warm Spring Reservation 24.3 Entire river within Jefferson County and

Warm Springs Reservation. Updated Approximate

CTWS Dry Creek - Warm Spring Reservation 5.1

Columbia River to upstream of NW Agency Hot Springs Road. Unknown flood risk. Currently not mapped.

Approximate

CTWS Metolius River - Warm Spring Reservation 13.5 Existing Zone A upstream of Deschutes

River. Unknown flood risk. Updated Approximate

CTWS Shitike Creek - Warm Spring Reservation 4

Deschutes River to upstream of NW Old Seekseekwa Road, existing detailed study.

Redelineation

CTWS Tenino Creek - Warm Spring Reservation 1.2

Shitike Creek to upstream of NW Old Seekseekwa Road, existing detailed study.

Redelineation

CTWS: Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs


iii. First Order Approximation

First Order Approximation (FOA) is the process of estimating flood hazard boundaries at multiple recurrence intervals and producing water-surface elevations at a large scale. The results give local officials and stakeholder groups a better understanding of possible changes in identified flood hazards and help them determine whether to pursue future Risk MAP studies. Results are used to determine the validity of effective Zone A studies and are the starting point for several regulatory and non-regulatory products. They are also a tool for outreach and communication, and can be used as best available data for MT-1 processing.

For the Middle Columbia Hood Watershed, the FOA analysis will provide a first attempt at simulating a 1-percent- annual-chance flood in identified streams. FOA is being developed across all five watershed counties (see Map 5 for areas where LiDAR data will be collected). The results will give local officials and stakeholder groups a better understanding of possible changes in identified flood hazards and will help them determine whether to pursue future Risk MAP studies.

iv. Mitigation Projects

Mitigation projects for communities throughout the Middle Columbia-Hood Watershed are described in county-level Hazard Mitigation Plans. These plans typically include the incorporated municipalities and unincorporated areas within the county. Some will have specific appendices for larger cities with detailed mitigation considerations.

Table 6 lists the participating counties in the watershed and the most recent hazard mitigation and emergency management plan documents.

Table 5: Middle Columbia-Hood Watershed Hazard Mitigation Plans

JURISDICTION PLAN EFFECTIVE DATE

Hood River County, OR Hood River County Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan 2012

Sherman County, OR

Sherman County Multi-Jurisdictional Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan 2008

Sherman County Community Wildfire Protection Plan 2009

Wasco County, OR

Wasco County Multi-Jurisdictional Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan 2012

Wasco County, Oregon Community Wildfire Protection Plan 2005

Mt. Hood Coordination Plan 2005

Klickitat County, WA Klickitat County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan* 2008

Klickitat and Skamania County, Washington Community Wildfire Protection Plan* 2006

Skamania County, WA Skamania County Multi-Jurisdictional Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan 2010

*plans do not include hazard mitigation strategies


Highest-priority natural hazard concerns across all five counties • Earthquake • Flood • Landslide • Wildfire

Hood River County Priority Mitigation Actions

• Identify and pursue implementation funding for mitigation actions and creation of part-time position to coordinate efforts (NHMP and CWPP).

• Develop public outreach/educational programs. • Develop and maintain comprehensive impact database. • Create County position for volunteer coordination and planning. • Form an all-hazard overhead team. • Establish countywide wildfire protection group. • Ensure proper road continuity, numbering, and naming.

Sherman County Priority Mitigation Actions

• Include information regarding earthquakes, flooding, landslides, and wildfires in a brochure of natural hazards and distribute to county residents and the public.

• Ensure continued compliance in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) through enforcement of local floodplain management ordinances.

• Develop a database of repetitive flood loss properties not covered by the NFIP. • Develop and implement a countywide Community Wildfire Protection to reduce the risk

of fire in the Wildland-Urban Interface. • Provide the County Road Department with firefighting training and equipment.

Wasco County Priority Mitigation Actions

• Pursue regional funding for mitigation actions and coordination of efforts. • Develop public outreach/educational programs. • Annual review and updates to the county emergency operations plan, wildfire protection

plan, and natural hazards mitigation plan. • Create systems to support and maintain at-risk populations. • Ensure long-range water resources development and quality. • Mitigate flood events resulting from naturally induced dam failure. • Retain NFIP Community Rating System status. • Address repetitive loss properties. • Update FIRM. • Continue to update county flood ordinances as required. • Rehabilitate identified (earthquake) vulnerable schools, emergency facilities, and public

buildings/lifelines. • Update county landslide ordinance. • Develop partnership programs to reduce vulnerability of public infrastructure from severe

winter storms. • Encourage critical facilities to secure emergency power. • Support/encourage electric utilities to use underground construction methods. • Assess non-county roads for response to wildfire hazards.


• Increase wildfire prevention awareness and encourage wildland-urban interface areas to conduct Firewise workshops.

• Provide parcel/lot identification signs. • Create defensible space around structures. • Treat hazard fuels in the wildland urban interface, including in The Dalles municipal

watershed. Skamania County Priority Mitigation Actions

• General inspection of communication towers. • Reconstruct, strengthen, and/or retrofit local emergency communications structures. • Create fuel breaks around communities at risk. • Establish, improve, and maintain evacuation and response routes. • Firewise structure protection – create defensible space around homes and other critical

structures. • Develop a countywide communication plan for all-hazards disasters, to include backup

communication plans, such as use of amateur radio. • Establish an evacuation plan to include a public notification system and identification of

escape routes, escape areas, staging areas, and helicopter landing zones. • Evaluate and prioritize all county transportation infrastructure systems for needed seismic

retrofitting. • Develop a plan for all-hazards evacuation of special-needs populations during a disaster. • Prioritize residential fuel mitigation projects. • Update flood information and update floodplain maps. • Place programmable reader boards at specific points throughout the county to inform and

educate community members of wildfire danger, burn bans, evacuation routes, assembly points and other emergency information.

• Engage community members in "personal preparedness" activities through expansion of CERT program to include active groups in each unincorporated area and SERT within the school system.

• Expand the use of websites, mass email, news articles, editorials, brochure distribution, etc., to educate community members on all-hazards preparedness.

• Attain adequate communications equipment. • Achieve communication interoperability. • Develop common protocol, training, and standards among Skamania County Emergency

Responders (enhance mutual aid agreements). • Upgrade firefighting personal safety equipment to NFPA standards.

Besides the items listed above, Table 7 lists several potential desired mitigation projects that communities identified during the Discovery process.

Table 6: Community Hazards and Mitigation Actions

COUNTY HAZARD LOCATION DESCRIPTION MITIGATION ACTION

Klickitat Dry Creek – Bingen Undersized culvert beneath SR 141 Culvert Expansion


COUNTY HAZARD LOCATION DESCRIPTION MITIGATION ACTION

Klickitat Jewett Creek - White Salmon Jewett Creek pinch point under SR 141 Culvert Expansion

Klickitat Little Klickitat River – Goldendale

Undersized bridge culvert at North Mill Street crossing over Little Klickitat River Bridge Culvert


Undersized bridge culvert at Pipeline Drive crossing over Little Klickitat River Bridge Culvert


Sediment buildup adjacent to Columbia Street; bridge reduces channel flow Dredging

Klickitat White Salmon Concern that earthquake would demolish City Hall Building Retrofit

Klickitat White Salmon Landslide concern SR 141 Retaining Wall

Klickitat White Salmon Water lines from reservoirs are not earthquake resilient Water system upgrade

Sherman Moro Concern with stormwater runoff Berm Construction

Sherman Rufus Culvert replacements along Scott Canyon Road Culvert Expansion

Sherman Rufus Coordinate with citizens and jurisdictions on emergency plans/operations

Emergency Coordination

Sherman Rufus Concern with warning siren coverage Warning System

Sherman Wasco Spanish Hollow Creek running through town needs regular maintenance to maintain flow Creek Maintenance

Skamania Stevenson Existing fire station does not meet needs of the community Fire Station

Skamania Stevenson Shifting stream channel resulting from landslide impacts bridge, WWTP, and utilities Piper Road Landslide

Wasco Columbia River - The Dalles Water-surface elevation needed from USACE Water Surface Elevation

Wasco Deschutes River - Wasco County High-hazard dam safety concern Warning System

Wasco Mill Creek - The Dalles Bridge over Mill Creek at Sixth Street Bridge Culvert

Wasco Mill Creek - The Dalles Undersized culvert beneath US 30 Culvert Expansion

Wasco The Dalles Concern with access to medical center during emergencies Road Access

Wasco The Dalles Concern with access to nursing home during emergencies Road Access

Wasco Wasco County Concern with evacuating recreation area users during emergencies

Communication and Evacuation Plans


v. Compliance

Data collected from FEMA’s Community Information System indicates that Community Assistance Contact (CAC) outreach took place in 1985, 1991, 1994, 1996, 2003, 2005, and 2014 for communities in the Middle Columbia-Hood watershed. During a CAC visit in 2005, Wasco County, Oregon was noted for having floodplain regulations in excess of NFIP requirements. At the time, Wasco County was interested in participating in the Community Rating System.

The City of Antelope, City of Moro, and Town of Shaniko are not participating in the NFIP. Other hazards that exist within these communities were documented during the interviews and/or meetings, as available.

vi. Communication

Smaller communities across the Middle Columbia-Hood watershed have limited local media capacity and generally rely on larger nearby markets for broadcast media coverage. The Dalles, Oregon is the largest city and media market within the watershed, and Portland, Oregon is the largest in the region.

Some communities collaborate for emergency preparedness and communication. The Dalles works with Wasco County, Oregon and different State agencies, and Klickitat County, Washington handles emergency communication for all communities across the county. Large-scale planning efforts like the Cascadia Drills and Columbia River Shoreline Master Plan also contribute to better communication among participating communities. Other emergency notification methods used by watershed communities include:

• Reverse 9-1-1 • Media flash alerts • Everbridge opt-in notification program • Traditional outdoor sirens within communities • Pre-recorded messages residents can hear by calling in • Door-to-door notification in small communities

Local non-emergency outreach and communication strategies include:

• Utility bill stuffers • Local newspapers and community newsletters • Community websites and Facebook pages • School districts distributing information with students • Outreach from local non-profit organizations (The River Keepers, Friends of the Columbia

Gorge)

A variety of concerns and issues regarding community outreach and emergency notifications were discussed by Discovery Meeting participants and during community telephone interviews.

• Poor internet and cellular network service in rural areas limits the use of advanced telecommunications for outreach and emergency notification. In some areas, public safety


radio coverage does not function, and dispatchers cannot communicate directly with their personnel.

• Communities have difficulties engaging residents in meetings or workshops unless something controversial is being discussed.

• Some communities are served by traditional outdoor warning sirens, but maintaining and funding upgrades to these systems is difficult.

• Uncertainty about State of Washington public records requirements limits use of some online resources, like Facebook.

• Many watershed communities face changing demographics and expectations for how local government should care for its citizens—particularly elderly residents and non-English speaking populations.

• Several communities have increased need for bilingual communication and are looking to Canadian communities for examples.

• Updated floodplain mapping would improve flood hazard communication across the watershed.

Demographic Summary

The 2010 Census population of the five counties within the Middle Columbia-Hood Watershed is 80,708. Sherman County, Oregon has the fewest people (1,765 residents), and Wasco County, Oregon has the most (25,213 residents).


Median ages in the five watershed counties range between 37.6 years (Hood River County, Oregon) and 48.6 years (Sherman County, Oregon). The statewide median age is 38.4 years in Oregon and 37.3 years in Washington.

Sherman County, Oregon has the highest percentage of residents 65 years and older (21.8%) and Hood River County, Oregon has the lowest (12.6%). Statewide, the percentage is 13.9% in Oregon and 12.3% in Washington.

Sherman County, Oregon has the highest percentage of residents with a high school education or greater (92.4%), followed by Skamania County and Klickitat County, Washington. Hood River County, Oregon has the lowest percentage (84.1%). Statewide, the breakdown is 89.4% in Oregon and 90% in Washington.


Hood River County, Oregon has the highest percentage of residents with a bachelor degree or higher (30.5%), and Sherman County, Oregon has the lowest (16.5%). In the remaining three counties, approximately 20% of residents have a bachelor degree or higher. Statewide, the breakdown is 29.7% in Oregon and 31.9% in Washington.

Hood River County, Oregon has by far the most residents who speak a language other than English (28.2%). Sherman County, Oregon has the lowest percentage (2.6%).

All data: U.S. Census Bureau

V. Close The overall goal of Risk MAP is to deliver quality data that increases public understanding of flood risk, and leads to action that will ultimately make communities safer and stronger against future risk. FEMA wants to provide communities with the best possible flood risk data, along with resources and strategies for communicating this information to residents. The Discovery process in the Middle Columbia-Hood Watershed is the first of many collaborative steps toward this goal.


Figure 5: Flood Risk Data Development Lifecycle

Following this Discovery process, FEMA may select areas in the Middle Columbia-Hood watershed for advanced study. Products that can result from this type of study include Flood Risk Reports, Flood Risk Maps, and Flood Risk Databases. Other products include flood depth grids, maps that illustrate floodplain changes over time, and risk assessment analyses.

However, if FEMA does not select this watershed for advanced studies, the information gathered through Discovery can support many local and regional planning and mitigation projects, such as hazard mitigation plans, wildfire protection initiatives, and updated comprehensive plans. FEMA Region X officials can support and coordinate with Middle Columbia-Hood communities on these efforts.


VI. Appendix – Discovery Files

Appendix A – Project Team Contact Information

Appendix B – Stakeholder Contact Information

• Community Stakeholder Contact Information

Appendix C – Discovery Interviews/Meetings

• Community Factsheets • Community Interview Notes • Community Interview Reference Maps • Discovery Meeting Presentation • Discovery Meeting Summary

Appendix D – Discovery Report

• Areas of Mitigation Interest Database • Discovery Geodatabase • Final Discovery Map • Project Area Map

The Discovery Report appendices are stored digitally under their respective folders and can be downloaded at:

http://www.starr-team.com/starr/RegionalWorkspaces/RegionX/MiddleColumbiaHood_Discovery/Forms/AllItems.aspx

http://www.starr-team.com/starr/RegionalWorkspaces/RegionX/MiddleColumbiaHood_Discovery/Forms/AllItems.aspx

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