DRAINAGE DISTRICTS HISTORY This information has been compiled to give you a brief history and overview of the four drainage districts in the Columbia Corridor area. If you have other questions, feel free to contact Bob Eaton or, Dave Hendricks, at: 503-281-5675. THE DRAINAGE DISTRICTS: There are four drainage districts along the Columbia River from west of I-5 to Troutdale. Three of the Districts are organized under ORS Chapter 547, one under ORS 554. Each District has its own Board of Supervisors who must be landowners in the district and elected by the district landowners. Multnomah County Drainage District #1 (MCDD), the largest in area and budget, contracts to manage the affairs and operations of the other three drainage districts. THE DISTRICTS MISSION: The Districts are charged with maintaining and improving the managed flood plain that includes the mid and upper Columbia Slough, and some 35 miles of ditches that serve as both conveyors and storage of groundwater. Landowners expect that high waters from the Columbia and Willamette Rivers, as well as storm water run off, will not flood their property, and that storm waters that accumulate in the basin will be removed before they become a flood hazard. The Districts operate a state of the art system that is used as a national model and that has within it eleven pump stations with a million gallon per minute pumping capacity. The complete system is electronic and can be operated from specially programmed laptop computers from anywhere there is a telephone line.
A. Peninsula Drainage District No. 1, the western most of the districts, was formed in 1917. The elected Board of Supervisors are: Christopher Bailey, Mark Wigginton, David Ernst, Bill Briggs and Kurt Redd . B. Peninsula Drainage District No. 2 was formed in 1917. The elected Board of Supervisors are: Richard (Dick) Shafer Jr , Victor Stibolt, Walter Valenta, Karen Myers and Jason Ashe. C. Multnomah County Drainage District No. 1 was formed in 1917. Its elected Board of Supervisors are: J. Tim Warren, Larry Cooper, George Donnerberg, George Lingelbach and Bruce Holte. Although this drainage district carries the name, it is not a part of Multnomah County.
D. Sandy Drainage Improvement Company the eastern most of the districts was formed in 1939. In a re-organization in 1998, it incorporated under ORS 554. The elected Board of Directors are Larry Medearis, Dale Shamp and Robert (Bob) Fowler. ORS 190 AND 195: ORS Chapters 190 and 195 require that Drainage Districts and the numerous local governments with jurisdiction in the area cooperate and coordinate their activities. Chapter 195 requires local governments and special districts to enter into agreements to define which agency provides what services. STATE LAW: ORS 547 and 554 indicate the districts are responsible for all water within the boundaries of the districts and all water that flows into the districts from outside the boundaries of the Districts. If any public or private entity increases the flow to the district from within the tributary areas, they are required to pay the Districts a reasonable compensation for that impact. Over the last ten years, the Districts have experienced a 40-50% increase in outside flows into the Districts from adjacent communities. FINANCIAL SUPPORT: The four drainage districts are supported financially by assessments paid by landowners. These assessments are used in developing the District’s annual budgets. Each of the Districts must formulate an annual budget in accordance with Oregon State budget law. The total budget for the MCDD is approximately $4 million dollars. VALUE: The combined districts have over 2,000 landowners, 12,000 acres within their boundaries. The value of the land within the four districts is estimated to be in excess of $20 billion. HISTORY: When the MCDD was formed in 1917, the land in and around the district was primarily agricultural. In fact, in the tributary area (watershed area outside the district) there were fewer than 500 houses and just a few streets. There was only 2% impervious area within the districts and tributary at that time. It is estimated that flows have increased into the districts by 40-50% over the past 10 years due to development in the tributary area. Certain peak flows have increased 200 percent. Development of the nearby communities and within the districts themselves has increased the impact on the districts. FEMA & COE: The Districts are responsible for flood protection in the floodplains designated by FEMA as special flood hazard areas. In addition, the Districts come under the Flood Protection Maintenance Requirements of the Corps of Engineers and, as such, are inspected annually and required to maintain certain standards for levees and pump stations. In recent years, including 2006, all four Districts have earned ratings of “excellent”. THE ENVIRONMENT: Mirroring the greater public concern for water quality that supports fish and wildlife habitat, the Districts have partnered with other agencies (Corps of Engineers, City of Portland, Port of Portland) to demonstrate innovative and cost effective ways to perform both the flood control mission and to improve the environment. In a project begun in 2003 and scheduled for completion in 2008, MCDD will have dredged 7.5 miles of mainstem Columbia Slough to both improve water flow and create an additional 15 acres of emergent marsh habitat. SUCCESSFUL COST EFFECTIVE COOPERATION: Over the past few years the Districts have cooperated with others to save money and enhance the local environment. Here are some examples of those efforts. 1. Assisted the City of Portland save $480,000 in culvert and bridge work.
2. Assisted newly locating businesses in Gresham deal with flood plain issues with less expense and impact on the businesses.
3. Assisted the cities of Fairview and Gresham deal with the removal of a railroad crossing saving the cities money.
4. In rebuilding a pump station, provided an additional, empty pump well that can be activated by the Port of Portland as some of their lands develop in the future.
The Districts are proud of their heritage and look forward to a promising future. | 
