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MEMORANDUM <br /> September 2, 1993 <br /> TO: Barbara Keller, Randy MacDonald <br /> FROM: Bob Hammitt <br /> SUBJ: ANNUAL U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS AMAZON CHANNEL INSPECTION AND <br /> PLANNED MAINTENANCE <br /> I am sending this OA since both of you have had on-going interest in the <br /> Amazon Channel . <br /> On August 26, 1993 Richard Zucker, Channel Maintenance Supervisor, and Jack <br /> Long, Maintenance Division Environmental Technician accompanied John Todd of <br /> the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the annual inspection of the Amazon <br /> Channel from Hilyard Street to Fern Ridge Reservoir. At the outset of the <br /> inspection they spent considerable time discussing the work recently performed <br /> by the volunteer work party of July 25th. Much discussion occurred around the <br /> remaining channel vegetation through the park. Jack and Richard discussed <br /> with the Corps Inspector long-term goals for the channel through the park and <br /> the community desires to maintain it in a manner that protects habitat and <br /> vegetation. They also discussed the City's continued efforts to seek <br /> alternative maintenance solutions that would ensure flood control and protect <br /> the environment. This was apparently a positive discussion that helped the <br /> Corps Inspector Todd better understand our environmental concerns around <br /> channel maintenance. Inspector Todd felt the work performed by the volunteer <br /> effort was acceptable although it only provided the bare minimum maintenance <br /> necessary. <br /> One of Inspector Todd's serious concerns was the sections of channel with <br /> extensive blackberries along the slopes as they not only restrict the capacity <br /> of the channel but inhibited his ability to do slope inspection. While he did <br /> not insist that they be totally removed he did recommend that they be mowed or <br /> otherwise controlled to provide better slope visibility and also removal from <br /> channel bottoms to prevent flow restriction. <br /> Inspector Todd did not have any problems with the aquatic vegetation such as <br /> cattails that we have allowed to continue to grow in the bottom of the <br /> channel . He did require that we remove the sediments that are building up at <br /> the inlets and outlets of the street crossings at 33rd Avenue, 31st Avenue, <br /> 30th Avenue, and 29th Avenue. Also noted was the considerable <br /> sediment/vegetation build up just south of 24th Avenue. He was concerned <br /> about the remaining woody vegetation between 31st and 33rd Avenues and the <br /> large clump of brush/trees growing at the bottom of the channel just north of <br /> the old 29th Avenue crossing. <br /> I <br /> 0 <br />