Oregon City family gets washed out

Family loses their link to the outside world after hillside collapses during storm

By Ellen Spitaleri

The Oregon City News, Jan 20, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (3 Reader comments)

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They considered a flatcar bridge, which is essentially an old railroad car used as a bridge, but found they could not do that either, because of the hillside and the impossibility of getting equipment to the other side of bank.

Any span would have to go 27 feet across the creek, which is 13 feet down, and take into account the two 40-foot-long culverts and the steepness of the hill, Stacy Younger said.

“We are looking at getting an ATV with a tiny truck bed,” to haul goods and people up the driveway, Jay Younger said, adding that ultimately they are looking for a solution that will not “devastate” them financially.

“We are looking at a [Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board] grant through the Department of Fish and Wildlife, which helps find fish-friendly solutions,” Stacy Younger said, adding that the grant would only pay part of the expenses, and they won’t find out until the end of March if they have received the grant.

“There are huge water-rights issues — we can’t mess with the creek,” she noted.

So, for now, they walk.

On a nice sunny day, Stacy Younger said, she would not mind the hike up the driveway, but on a cold, dark, rainy day, laden with groceries and accompanied by two young, tired children, it’s exhausting.

In addition, Younger is recovering from major surgery and chemotherapy treatments for ovarian cancer that have led to a nerve disorder in her feet.

“That makes it extra hard. The solution for the feet is not to be on them,” she said.

“The family has gone through a challenging time [since November of 2007, when she discovered she had cancer], and then this happened,” she added.

Their neighborhood has pulled together to help them, the Youngers said.

“We have great neighbors who came out and helped with sandbags, and helped pull debris out of the creek,” Jay Younger said.

The hillside, driveway and culverts “withstood the ’96 flood,” Stacy Younger said, adding, “Our neighbor has lived here for 40 years, and has never seen anything like it.”

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Reader comments

Re: Oregon City family gets washed out

Another sad story that the environmentalist created with their policies and don't care who they hurt.

The environmentalists are not around when people like this need help, because of the policies they have created.

We need exceptions for emergencies like this.

You have to think how could anything they do, add more soil to a creek, than the hill side that just fell into the creek.

""

(email verified)

Thu, Jan 22, 2009 at 06:55 AM

Re: Oregon City family gets washed out

If this disaster is the owner's problem because it occurred on "private property", then the owners should be allowed to resolve "their" problem any way they want to resolve it? Are we, as a society, placing a higher priority on fish than the lives of human beings? How is this family suppose to survive when the father can't even get building materials to his business? I agree with the previous writer's comments - where are the environmentalists when you NEED them?

"Brenda Brackett"

(email verified)

Mon, Jan 26, 2009 at 06:08 PM

Re: Oregon City family gets washed out

Here's to hoping the Fish and Wildlife Department comes through with the "fish-friendly" grant. The funds to rebuild the creek crossing would sure help the Younger family -- the environment and family's interests are aligned on that!