The Moat has been Bridged!!!

The Youngers can cross Potter Creek now. Yippee!!! Here's an AFTER photo we've all been waiting for...

They finished putting down rock and gravel over the culvert so now the Youngers can drive up to their house again. They will need to give the new driveway time to settle before they pave it. Several weeks, I think. Check out the pictures in the slideshow to see the progress over the last five months.

Thanks to everyone for helping this wonderful family out during a difficult period. I know they would do the same for you/us. Thank goodness, things are looking up for them!

Mega Progress on the Culvert

Construction is moving along quickly now. The culvert arrived and was cemented in place. They started putting rocks and fill over the culvert. Almost 3/4 of the fill is done. The Youngers could be driving across the bridge on a gravel road by mid-week. Yipee!!!

After that they will need to get the road paved and the terraforming needs to be completed. Plus all of those details like utilities to the house and fences, planting etc. But soon, they will have access again!

Feeling Good to Get Started

Today the work has begun, and it's exhilarating. With open arms, the Youngers welcomed "Extreme Excavators" today to begin the job of cleaning up Potter Creek and building a culvert.

Extreme Excavators brought in a backhoe and started the clean up. They removed the last and biggest tree from the creek and laid down an access road. Jay prepared the site by taking down Lyle's (their neighbor upriver) chicken fence and moving the water supply out of the way.

Tomorrow, they will be receiving truck loads of rock and continue cleaning up the creek. This will most likely include removing the old crushed culvert pipes and scrap. The arch plates have been ordered and will take up to 6 weeks to be delivered. I'm hoping it will be sooner. At some point soon, the foot bridge will need to be moved or taken out.

There is a lot to do, and we are grateful for the Extreme Excavators team getting started. They will be doing the heavy construction. Jay will be coordinating all of the 'other' work: landscaping, cleanup and endless details. Sounds like an opportunity to help out...

We'll keep you updated as the work progresses. Look for new pictures as I get them and post them.

A Bridge WILL run over it!

HOORAY!!! OWEB voted and gave the grant for the Potter Creek bridge!

It has been a long and emotional ride since New Years Day but hope wins out in the end. The Youngers grant request has been given and they have started some work. They are applying for the permits and working on the contracts. No date has been determined for physical work to begin. What a relief!

Thank you to OWEB and The Greater Oregon City Watershed Council for seeing the value in this project and supporting it from the beginning. They have been very helpful and understanding.

Finally - Good News

There is a glimmer of hope... The OWEB staff sent a notice to the Younger family that they are recommending the Potter Creek bridge project be funded.

Yes! Thank you OWEB staff!

Remember... it isn't a final decision, but it is the next, necessary step in getting funded for the bridge project.

Jay and Stacy will start doing some of the initial footwork to be prepared for the project. The decision from OWEB will be made by March 18 or 19th.

In the mean time, The Oregonian will publish an article on the Younger Bridge catastrophe on Thursday, Mar 5th.

It Starts with a Footbridge

Last weekend, Jay, several friends, and neighbors built a temporary footbridge over the crevice. WHAT A RELIEF! This makes a tremendous difference. Now the Youngers do not have to walk by Bill's house each time they come home or leave. It's a little thing, but it's progress.

Thanks for helping out everyone!!!

Construction on a footbridge begins!

Jay and friends started work this weekend on building a footbridge to connect the family to the road. For the past 8 weeks, the Youngers have been relying on their kindly neighbors who have allowed them to the walk through their yard. Many thanks to them...

Thanks to the donation of some steel beams from Keith Morris, work began on the footbridge. For the family, it's great to get some momentum going...

Response from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board

On February 5, Jay and Stacy submitted a letter to the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB), informing them about the flooding, the destruction of their driveway, and Stacy's health.

On February 10th, the Executive Director responded, making these points:

• Currently the Younger Bridge project is prioritized as 11th out of 18 grant applications.
• The state is "facing economic uncertainty" and the board will be forced to make tough decisions.
• OWEB meets March 18-19th when they will make a final decision about the grant.

OWEB has been flooded with calls and emails on the Younger's behalf. Please refrain from contacting them.