Lower Willamette Watershed
City of Scappoose, Oregon
August 9, 2012; 1:30pm Pacific Time
City of Scappoose
Brian Varricchione – City Planner
FEMA Region X
David Ratté – Regional Engineer
Oregon DLCD
Steve Lucker – State Risk MAP Coordinator
STARR (FEMA Contractor)
Becca Croft – Interviewer
Jonathan Johnson – GIS Specialist
Gregg Pickett – Recorder
The following information was collected during the Interview. Unless otherwise noted, all comments are from the City of Scappoose representative.
I.
Contacts

The contact list was checked and was determined to be correct.
STARR (J. Johnson) reviewed the GIS data that has been collected for the city of Scappoose and explained the types of additional data that could be beneficial to the project: parks, environmentally sensitive areas, critical habitats, building footprints, parcels, topographic data (LiDAR, etc.).
II.
III.
Topography, LiDAR, and GIS
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The City of Scappoose is not part of the Metro Regional Land Acquisition System
(Metro), so any data from them may not be accurate.

The city boundaries on the presentation map were slightly out of date, and can be obtained from the City.
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Parcel data is available from Columbia County and is distributed freely.
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An outside GIS source (not named) is currently generating contours for the city.
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The City has no data with building footprints.
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DOGAMI just sent the city new data for the Dixie Mountain Quad, just south and west of city.
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The GIS data contact for the City is B. Varricchione.
Planning
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Critical buildings and bridges for the city are located along South Scappoose Creek.
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Although not flood-prone, the Fred Meyer store is critical when it comes to supplies for the residents of the cities.
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The city fire station is located very near or in the floodplain, and that is a concern for the city.

Risk MAP Discovery Interview – Lower Willamette Watershed
City of Scappoose – August 9, 2012
Page 2 of 4

The city does participate in the 2009 Hazard Mitigation Multi-Jurisdictional Plan for
Columbia County.
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One house has been elevated in the city, but this was not a city-initiated project.
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There is a provisionally-accredited levee in the city.
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Scappoose Bay Watershed Council is working on some stream enhancement and natural habitat, flood storage, etc… This work is being done using grant funding. The Director,
Janelle St. Pierre, would be the primary contact for the SBWC.

There are several repetitive loss properties on Wickstrom Street, one of which has been elevated. Another property on Smith Road is a repetitive loss property, but it is unmitigated.
IV.
Earthquakes
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The western side of town has some slope, and therefore some potential for liquefaction in the event of an earthquake. This area has not been mapped very well. New data for
V.
this “would be super”.

No known historic earthquakes.
Wildfires
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The wildfire threat is somewhat minimal. The exception might be the steeper areas on the west side of town where there is some timber. It is primarily residential in that area. Water towers and a water treatment plant are also located in that area.
VI.
Landslides
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The west end of town has some modest landslide potential. 10 to 15 years ago there was a minor landslide, plus an area just outside of the city on E.J. Smith Road got washed out in a high rain event. The damage has since been repaired.
VII.
Severe Storms
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Severe storm damage is infrequent. Every few years trees get knocked down, or perhaps a major snowstorm occurs.
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Power outages occur once in a while, with an occasional damaged roof or car port from downed tree(s). No need to shelter people.
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No system in place for public outreach in the event of a major storm.
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The Scappoose Rural Fire Protection District is its own separate entity from the city and can do Reverse 911, but it may have never been used.
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The fire chief should be invited to the upcoming Discovery Meeting.
VIII.
Flooding
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There is an overflow area shown on the FIRM as being flood-prone, but this area is unlikely ever to flood. A LOMR was initiated 2 years ago, but participants could not afford any new modeling, so it went nowhere. Columbia County should be contacted to potentially re-start the conversation about this area and LOMR.

Much of the city got wet in 1996, even areas well outside of the flood zone.
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Several flood insurance policies in the city are located well outside of existing flood zones, probably a result of 1996 flooding.

Risk MAP Discovery Interview – Lower Willamette Watershed
City of Scappoose – August 9, 2012
Page 3 of 4
IX.
X.
XI.

There is an aerial photo from ACOE that shows the flooding in 1996, with lots of standing water in the city, mostly on east side. The topography of city mainly slopes west to east. The photo is not digital, but it is hoped that a copy can be found for use.
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Most development is well away from the floodplain.
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The city does not typically experience any problems due to storm runoff.
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There is an extensive area on the north side of the city zoned for potential development.
The city’s comprehensive plan allows for growth there, but city officials say that it is not a good place for the city to grow.
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There are a number of flood insurance policies, but no claims, along the east side of the city.
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The SFHA ends abruptly at the corporate limits. This is due to a large mine in that location.
Levees

There is a provisionally-accredited levee in the city, owned and maintained by the
Scappoose Drainage Improvement Agency.
Environmentally Sensitive Areas

There is a riparian area located around South Scappoose Creek, and some other local wetlands. The city has paper maps showing the location of them.

South Scappoose Creek is a salmon-bearing stream
Communications and Outreach
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Annual flood hazard newsletters are sent to homeowners in the flood areas. Banks and lenders also receive these mailings.
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It is unknown whether the city is participating in the Community Rating System.
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The city would like to know more about training opportunities, as well as potential for outreach.
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There are no known organizations that could support an outreach project.
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Community awareness is generally good, and local residents understand where flooding occurs largely, but occasionally new people move to town that are less informed.
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The City Council meets twice a month and would probably like to hear about potential projects and actions.
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Because the mayor is not a full-time position, the city manager is the best person to contact from the city.
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The floodplain administrator is B. Varricchione. Any development located in a floodplain requires a special use permit.
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The city is already aware of training and webinar opportunities, and reads the newsletters sent to them by Region X.
XII.
Other
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Residents are very interested in the levee accreditation situation. B. Varricchione referred to information about the levee as a “black box”.

Risk MAP Discovery Interview – Lower Willamette Watershed
City of Scappoose – August 9, 2012
Page 4 of 4

The city mentioned that they typically do not know who to call at the State or FEMA when questions arise. Christine Shirley was mentioned as a good person to contact from the State, as well as the Region X Help Desk for questions involving FEMA.