Pendleton releases McKay Creek Basin Study Report

PENDLETON — (News release from the city of Pendleton) The McKay Creek Basin Study Report is now available to the public. Drafted by Environmental Science Associates, the 501-page report explores the history and challenges of the McKay Creek Basin and outlines short- and long-term recommendations to prevent flooding and protect natural habitat.

“The City is grateful to our partners for their participation in helping us complete this document,” Pendleton City Manager Robb Corbett said. “We look forward to continuing our work together of achieving our shared outcomes.”

The City’s greater goal for the McKay Creek Watershed is to work with partner agencies and community members to balance three obligations: (1) the City’s obligations to reduce flood risk to residents; (2) the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s contractual obligations to operate the McKay Reservoir for water rights holders; and (3) regulatory obligations to improve instream habitat for aquatic species.

The study revealed the extent of the natural floodplain in Lower McKay Creek had been previously misunderstood. Researchers found that when FEMA developed the regulatory maps for the creek, the artificially straightened stream channel was regularly dredged by the Water Control District, providing increased water capacity; however, the Endangered Species and the designation of critical habitat in the Lower McKay Creek have since limited dredging which caused sediment to build up and increase the flood risk.

This McKay Creek Basin Study examines key watershed functions and identifies potential short-term and long-term solutions that would improve the security of City residents along Lower McKay Creek from flood risk while addressing the need for water for irrigation and fish.

 Key findings and recommendations from the study include:

• The installation of additional monitoring gauges in the Upper McKay Creek Watershed to better track the transition of precipitation to runoff and improve the short-term forecast of water entering the reservoir.
• Implementation of a collaborative approach with private land owners in the upper watershed in a manner that conserves or restores the landscape so as not to exacerbate runoff potential.
• Expanding flood control storage in the McKay Dam and Reservoir
• Regular surveys of the creek to detect sediment deposition / erosion trends that may trigger future maintenance needs.
• The City will participate in the voluntary FEMA Community Rating System (CRS) to provide opportunities for City residents along Lower McKay Creek to obtain discounts on their flood insurance premiums.

Additional information about the above recommendations as well as other findings and suggestions can be found in the full study report. That report is available on the City of Pendleton’s website under the Public Works Documents , and physical copies can be perused at the administrative offices of Pendleton City Hall and the reference desk at the Pendleton Public Library.

File photo of McKay Creek flood in April 2019

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Elkhorn Media Group

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