Emergency flood meeting called
By Dan Thesman on Monday, June 13th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News Featured Stories
UMATILLA COUNTY – The Umatilla County Board of Commissioners has scheduled
an emergency meeting at 10 a.m. tomorrow (Tuesday) to discuss flooding in Echo. A
member of the Middle Umatilla River Coalition, the county is one of several government
agencies addressing concerns that began with the 2020 flood.
The county has learned that the heavy rains are worsening the condition which forced
the course of the river to change. Ground erosion is continuous and clearly visible. One
official said he observed the river consume seven feet of ground during a single visit.
The river is threatening a neighborhood and the county is willing to spearhead an effort
to get permission from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to get into the river as soon as
possible to protect the residents.
The meeting is in Room 114 of the Umatilla County Courthouse in Pendleton.
