Oregon City Landslides Has City On Alert

A series of landslides recently has Oregon City on alert. The city says the landslides are due to the snow, ice, and record rainfall events this season.

Two of the landslides are considered significant.

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One happened on Feb. 16. City officials were told of a water main break on Trillium Park Drive. It has since been attributed to a landslide and is now closed from Swordfern Court to Canyon Court.

One single family home near the slide has experienced structural damage including cracking of the foundation. The home is now considered a "dangerous building" and the Red Cross is helping the family.

The city is assessing what the next steps are.

The second landslide was on private proeprt north of Barclay Hills park between Alden Street and Peter Skene Way. A city-owned 8" sewer line was affected by the slide forcing the city to abandon the line and establish a temporary bypass plan to provide service to homes in the area.

Oregon City has hired an emergency consultant to design a new route so that work can begin on a new sewer line.

That landslide caused a sanitary sewer overflow into the Newell Creek Canyon watershed.

The sewer leak has been stopped with the installation of the sewer bypass. The City has notified the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) of the overflow and will be reporting any findings to DEQ as mandated by State and Federal law.

The City is instructing residents to avoid contact with water associated with the Newell Creek Canyon as a result of this sewer main break.

Three other known slides involving private property damage within the City limits of Oregon City continue to deteriorate under current winter weather conditions. Although these sites do not involve damage to public facilities or rights-of-way, City staff remains apprised of these landslides and is acting as a resource to affected property owners.

Oregon City says that to report landslide activity or for more information on landslides, contact the city's public works direcotr, John Lewis at 503.657.0891.

Photo Colin Miner