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City briefs council on 40 Second Street levee risk, Corps feasibility study and $447,055 city share
Summary
Emergency management staff described a Dogami study showing channel migration threats to the 40 Second Street levee, outlined a Corps of Engineers feasibility study estimated at $894,110 (city share $447,055), proposed $151,000 in work-in-kind to reduce cash payments, and noted Corps construction cap of $10 million; councilors asked about federal ownership transfers and long-term costs.
Emergency Manager Ken Vogany told the council a recent state study and Corps review confirm a measurable risk of channel migration that could undermine the city-owned 40 Second Street levee and outlined a Corps of Engineers feasibility study the city is preparing to cost-share.
Vogany said the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (Dogami) mapped channel migration since 1964 and identified a high-risk migration band that lies on the 40 Second Street side of the levee. "Their study indicates that the river channel could move to and through and under the levee causing the levee to fail," he said, and noted the analysis used the 1964 flood as a baseline for inundation modeling.
On study scope and schedule, Vogany said the combined feasibility study estimate is $894,110, with a 50/50 cost share; "The city share of that is 50% or $447,055," he said, and the city is proposing roughly $151,000 in work-in-kind (public engagement, geotechnical borings and associated tasks) to reduce the cash payment the Corps will request to about $296,000. The feasibility study is expected to take about two years, after which pre-design and permitting steps would follow.
Vogany told council the Corps program has a construction cap of $10 million under its current program; anything beyond that cap would be a local obligation. He described construction-cost sharing as the Corps covering about 65% and the locality 35% for construction should the project move forward under Corps authorities.
Councilors raised the possibility of transferring ownership to a federal agency or pressing the city's congressional delegation for greater federal funding. Vogany said the levee was originally built in partnership with federal agencies (USDA in 1959) but that transferring ownership to the Corps or another federal program has not been explored and may be slower than advancing required repairs through the Corps feasibility process.
Other questions focused on timing (Vogany said the state study suggests channel migration could place the toe of the levee at risk within a 10'1-year window under average rates), the city's ability to provide work-in-kind and staff capacity to manage geotechnical contracting, and opportunities to reduce costs by hiring local consultants rather than relying on Corps-contracted firms.
Next steps: staff will return with contract authorization on the council's regular agenda (the feasibility study contract was included on the city manager's contract list), pursue work-in-kind tasks, and seek supplemental budget authority to cover the city's initial cash payment when requested by the Corps.
