Stormwater Division

Objective

Oregon City provides a safe and reliable stormwater system and implements watershed protection and restoration actions that consistently promote surface water quality and stream health.

Overview

• Maintains the City's stormwater system for proper conveyance, flood control, and pollution control
• Maintains, plans, and improves public detention and water quality facilities and streams
• Complies with the management program set forth in the City's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit
• Meets new environmental requirements set by state and federal agencies
• Implements best management practices while performing operations to protect the surrounding environment

In addition to maintaining the current conveyance system, the Stormwater Division assists Engineering Services to provide capital improvement upgrades to mitigate conveyance limitations and flooding, increase water resource protection, and add system capacity to accommodate a growing population. The Stormwater Drainage Master Plans and their capital improvement programs (CIP) identify and prioritize needs and construction projects that are funded by storm utility fees and System Development Charges (SDC) (collected when building permits are issued). Projects are implemented that protect natural resources and complement the surrounding environment.

Goals

The Stormwater Division manages the stormwater collection and treatment systems within the city limits of Oregon City (22 drainage basins, 53 detention ponds). This Division performs the following services to the community:

• Customer Service and 24-hour Emergency Response: providing outstanding customer service to its customers on all stormwater related issues and 24-hour response to blocked catch basins, storm pipes, localized flooding, and spills into storm drains and streams
• Healthy Streams Plan: take the lead in coordinating the implementation of healthy streams including tree planting and stream restoration projects, identifying/recommending culvert replacements and outfall retrofits, all for improved water quality/quantity and fish passage
• Storm Line Cleaning: cleaning pipe every year and removing debris and sediment from storm pipes
• Video Inspection of Storm Lines: inspecting pipes each year for structural integrity, root intrusion, service line connections, etc.
• Utility locates: public storm lines are marked with green paint prior to excavation
• Storm system repairs: broken storm lines are dug up and repaired once they have been identified by video inspection
• Stormwater Quality Facility operation and maintenance: mowing, trash pickup, and grate cleaning are performed on detention ponds and swales throughout the City
• Small Storm System Improvements and Extensions: storm lines, catch basins, and manholes are installed to improve stormwater drainage
• Stormwater Low Impact Development (LID) Guidelines

System Details

• 2023-25 biennium stormwater budget = $11.3 Million 
• 11,556 active stormwater utility accounts
• 121 miles of pipe
• 3 miles storm culverts
• 2,689 manholes
• 4,534 catch basins
• 25 miles of open streams
• 2.5 miles storm ditches
• 121 (18 acres) detention ponds
• 1.2 miles detention tanks

Key Facilities

• Stormwater management systems:
  • Beavercreek Road
  • Glen Oak Road
  • Washington Street
• Newell Creek
• Abernethy Creek
• Clackamas River
• Willamette River

Key Programs

• MS4 Permit administration
• Low Impact Development standards
• System maintenance program
• Flood control program
• Emergency response
• Stream inventories program
• Stormwater quality and flow control