Mid Willamette Valley: Community Systems Background Document Marion, Polk, Yamhill, Linn, and Benton counties

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1 Mid WillametteValley:CommunitySystemsBackgroundDocument Marion,Polk,Yamhill,Linn,andBentoncounties PreparedbytheClimateLeadershipInitiative April2010 OVERVIEW SurroundingtheWillametteRiverandborderedbytheCoastRangeandCascades,theMid WillametteValleycontainsfertilesedimentarysoilandistheagriculturalcenterofthe state.themid WillametteValleycountiesofMarion,Polk,Yamhill,Linn,andBentonare someofthetopgreenhouseandnurseryproducingcountiesinoregon.theareaisalso renownedforitswineproduction,particularlypinotvarietals,whichhasdevelopedintoa vitaltouristeconomy.thefivemostpopulouscitiesintheregionarethestatecapitalcity ofsalem(population153,435),corvallis(51,110),albany(48,081),keizer(35,864),and McMinnville(31,185).Theregionisgrowingdemographically,particularlywithinthe Hispanicpopulation.Hispanicresidentsrepresentapproximately5%ofthepopulationof LinnandBentoncounties,10%inPolkandYamhillcounties,and17%oftheMarion Countypopulation. i MarionCounty WiththeWillametteRiverformingthewesternborderandtheCascadeRangetotheeast, MarionCountycovers1,200milesandhasapopulationof306,665.MarionCounty includesthestatecapital,salem,andishometoanumberoflargestateagencies. ii Marion CountyisthefifthmostpopulouscountyinOregonandthepopulationisexpectedto increaseto350,000by2015and450,000by2040.however,thispopulationgrowthis occurringprimarilyinurbanareas,withsomeruralcommunitiesseeingadecreasein residents. iii MarionCountyisOregon slargestproducerofagriculturalincome. PolkCounty PositionedwestofI 5andeastoftheCoastRange,35%ofPolkCountyisfarmland,more than40%isprivatetimberlandand10%isbureauoflandmanagementorforestservice land. iv PolkCountyissecondonlytoYamhillCountyintheproductionofwinegrapesin Oregon.Thecounty sotherindustriesincludeagriculture,forestproducts,manufacturing, government,andeducation.polkcountyishometowesternoregonuniversityin Monmouth. v Ofthecounty s77,074residents,76%liveinurbanareasand24%residein ruralpartsofthecounty. 1

2 YamhillCounty TheheartofOregon swinecountrywithmorethaneightywineriesand200vineyards, YamhillCountyhasthestate shighestconcentrationofwinegrowersandproducers. YamhillCountyisseventhinthestateinannualmarketvalueofagriculturalproduction fromwheat,barley,horticultureanddairyfarming.loggingandtimberarealsosignificant activitiesinthewesternpartofyamhillcounty.approximatelyone fifthofthecounty s 98,168residentscommutetothePortlandmetropolitanareaforwork. vi Yamhill scounty seatismcminneville,locatedalongtheyamhillriver. LinnCounty InthecenteroftheWillametteValley,LinnCountyisrichwithabundantfarmland,lakes, rivers,andforest.favorableclimateandsoilconditionsprovideadiversifiedagricultural area.linncountywasestablishedin1847andcoversanareaof2,297squaremiles.witha populationofover115,000people(63%urban,37%rural),thecountyisahometomajor producersofrareandprimarymetals,processedfood,manufacturedhomesandmotor homes,aswellasthetraditionalloggingandwoodproducts. vii BentonCounty BentonCountyishometomorethan80,000people(81%urban,19%rural).Itislocatedin thewesternregionofthemid WillametteValley,anhourinlandofthePacificOceanand twohourswestofthecascademountains.alongwithlinncounty,bentoncountyenjoysa distinctivecombinationofsoilandclimate,whichhassupporteddevelopmentofspecialty cropproductionthatincludeschristmastrees,grassandlegumeseeds,dairysheep, plywood,lumberandwinegrapes.thecountyisalsoahosttoanumberofnatural attractionssuchasmary speakandalseafalls. viii HUMANSYSTEMS Education ThefivecountyregionishometoOregonStateUniversity,whichranksamongthe country stopresearchuniversitiesandisafederallydesignatedland,sea,sun and Space Grantuniversity.OSUhasmorethan20,000studentsandisthelargestemployerin BentonCounty.OthercollegesanduniversitiesintheMidWillametteregioninclude WillametteUniversity,CorbanCollege,WesternOregonUniversity,GeorgeFoxUniversity, LinfieldCollege,ChemeketaCommunityCollege,andLinn BentonCommunityCollege. AcrossthefivecountiesofMarion,Polk,Yamhill,Linn,andBenton,85%ofpeople25years ofageorolderhaveahighschooldegreeorhigherand25%haveabachelor sdegreeor higher. ix 2

3 EmergencyManagement EmergencypreparednessisasignificantissueintheMid WillametteValleysinceitis vulnerabletosuchhazardsasflooding,earthquakes,landslides,wildfires,drought,high winds,winterstormsandvolcanicactivity.infrastructurehazardsarealsoaconcern,such asdamfailure,vehicularaccidents,andhazardousmaterialsspills. x EachofthefivecountiesintheMid WillametteValleyincludesanemergencymanagement programthatpartnerswithpublichealthdepartments,sheriff soffices,stateagencieslike OregonEmergencyManagement(OEM),andfederalagenciessuchastheFederal EmergencyManagementAgency(FEMA)andtheCentersforDiseaseControland Prevention(CDC).TheMid WillametteValley semergencymanagementprogramsworkto mitigateandrespondtonaturalandhuman causedhazardsbydevelopingplansthat complementotheremergencyresponseagenciesintheregionandbyinformingthepublic abouteffectivedisasterpreparation,response,andrecovery.in2003,countiesinthe regioncontractedwiththemid WillametteValleyCouncilofGovernmentsandtheOregon NaturalHazardsWorkshoptodevelopaNaturalHazardsMitigationPlantoidentifyways toreducevulnerabilitytodisastersintheregion. PublicHealth Publichealthservicesintheregionprovidepreventativetreatment,childhood immunizations,familyplanningservices,mentalhealthservices,andfoodsafety.public healthdepartmentsalsoworktocontrolthespreadofdiseases,whichinvolveseducating residentsthroughhealthalerts. xi Mid WillamettePublicHealthDepartmentsalsoalert residentstopublichealthcrisessuchasthewestnilevirusepidemicortherecent Salmonellaoutbreakthatwaslinkedtocontaminatedpeanutproducts.TheH1N1influenza outbreakiscurrentlyaprimaryfocusforhealthdepartments. BUILTSYSTEMS Utilities TheprimaryelectricityprovidersintheMid WillametteValleyarePortlandGeneral Electric,PacificPowerandLightCo,SalemElectric,ConsumersPowerInc.,Energy AssistanceProgram,ColumbiaRiverPeoplesUtilityDistrict,andTillamookPeoplesUtility District. xii Theregion suseofhydroelectricpower(48.6%ofthefuelmix)issignificantly greaterthanthenationalaverage(6.5%).gasisthesecondhighestenergysource(10.8%), followedbycoal(34.4%),nuclear(3.3%),andnon hydrorenewables(2.3%). xiii Themost commonheatingfuelsinthemid WillametteValleyareutilitygas,electricityandwood. xiv MarionCounty:Utilitygas(49.8%),Electricity(37.0%),Fueloil,kerosene(6.5%) PolkCounty:Electricity(43.2%),Utilitygas(38.0%),Wood(9.9%) YamhillCounty:Electricity(61.6%),Utilitygas(20.4%),Wood(9.5%) LinnCounty:Utilitygas(41.1%),Electricity(39.1%),Wood(12.3%) BentonCounty:Utilitygas(53.4%),Electricity(32.9%),Wood(8.4%) NorthwestNaturalprovidesnaturalgasforheating,hotwater,andstoves.Citiesandwater associationsintheregionmanagewaterandsewersystemsforresidents.additionally, Comcast,Qwest,andVerizonaremajortelecommunicationcompaniesintheareathat providetelephone,television,andinternetservices. 3

4 Transportation Whilelargesectionsoftheregionconsistofagriculturalandforestland,theyarewell connectedtotherestofthenorthwestduetotheirproximitytointerstate5andhighway 99.Additionally,Route22crossestheWillametteRiverviatheMarionandCenterStreet bridges.otherbridgesintheregionincludethesheridanbridgethatcrossesthesouth YamhillRiverandhistoriccoveredbridgesinLinnandBentonCounty(HarrisBridge, HaydenBridge,HoffmanBridge,andWeddleBridge). AmtrakrunsthroughAlbanyandSalem,connectingthecitiestoEugene,Portland,Klamath Falls,Sacramento,SanFranciscoandLosAngeles.Regularin citybuslinesarealso availableinmajorcitiessuchassalem,corvallis,andalbany.inaddition,eachofthefive countiesintheregionhasamunicipalairport,includingthesalemmunicipalairport (McNaryField),IndependenceStateAirport,McMinnvilleMunicipalAirport,Albany MunicipalAirport,andCorvallisMunicipalAirport. MarionCounty scitiesaregrowingandfacingsubsequenttransportationconcerns,suchas trafficcongestionandfreewayaccesstohighway99and22.citieshaveproposedmajor transportationprojectsincludingbypassroutesoralternativeroutes.thereisalsointerest inmanycommunitiestoincreasetheconnectivityofpedestrianandbicyclepaths (specificallybetweenalbanyandcorvallis). xv ECONOMICSYSTEMS Employers Agriculture,foodprocessing,lumber,manufacturing,education,government,andtourism aresignificantcomponentsoftheregion seconomy.themostcommonindustriesformen intheregionare:construction,naturalresources(agriculture,forestry,fishingand hunting),andprofessional,scientific,andtechnicalservice.ontheotherhand,healthcare, educationalservices,andaccommodationandfoodservicesarethepredominantindustries forwomen. xvi Themedianhouseholdincomeforthefive countyareaofmarion,polk, Yamhill,Linn,andBentonisapproximately$51,000,whichisslightlyabovethestate averageof$50,169. xvii Agriculture TheMid WillametteValleyishometosomeofOregon smostproductiveagriculturalareas. Together,Marion,Polk,Yamhill,Linn,andBentoncountieshavemorethan9,000farms. xviii Greenhouseandnurserycommoditiesandcaneberries(i.e.raspberriesandblackberries) areleadingcommoditiesofmarionandyamhillcounties.theregion smajoragricultural commoditiesareasfollows: MarionCountyleadsthestateinthesaleofagriculturalproducts,particularly agriculturalincomefromnurseryproducts,hogsandpigs,aswellasminkandtheir pelts. PolkCountyspecializesinseedcrops,hay,milkandotherdiaryproductsfromcows. YamhillCountyisthenumberonecountyinOregoninbroilersandothermeat type chicken,aswellashazelnuts.thecountyalsospecializesinnurseryandgreenhouse products,fruit,treenutsandberries. 4

5 LinnCountyleadsthestateinthesaleofsheep,goats,andtheirproducts,aswellas grassseedcrops,contributingtotheregion sdistinctionas grassseedcapitalofthe world. BentonCountyspecializesinthesaleofvegetables,melons,potatoes,andsweet potatoes. Additionally,vinicultureisaprominentandgrowingindustryintheregion,particularlyfor cool climatevarietieslikepinotnoir,pinotgris,chardonnay,gewürztraminer,and Riesling.YamhillandPolkarethetoptwomostproductivewinegrapegrowingcountiesin Oregonandlocalwinemakersconsistentlywininternationalhonors. xix Tourism TheMid WillametteValley sabundanceofforests,lakes,rivers,andwaterfallsaswellas moderateyear roundtemperaturesmakeitanexcellentplaceforoutdoorsrecreation. Popularrecreationalactivitiesincludekayaking,camping,hiking,mountainbiking, climbing,fly fishing,andrafting.themid Willamettevalleyalsohasavibrantagri tourism industrywheretouristsaredrawntoroadsidefarmstands,bedandbreakfasts,andlocallyownedfinediningestablishmentsintownslikedundeeandmcminnville. xx YamhillCounty seesanestimated1.5millionvisitoreachyearatlocalwineries. xxi Localfairsandfestivals (likethefrenchprairiegardenharvestfestivalandtheinternationalpinotnoir Celebration)andhotairballoonridesoverfarmlandandwinecountryarefavorite activitiesamongvisitors.silverton soregongardenisanotherpopulardestinationwith morethantwentyspecialtygardensspreadover80acresandoregon sonlyfranklloyd Wright designedhome. Timber The1930sand 40swerethetimeofthetimber harvestingboomintheregion.duringthat periodalbanybecameaprominentlumber processingcityandisthesiteofanannual timbercarnival.thewillametteriverservedasanimportantcorridorfortheindustryto transportlumber.followingworldwarii,militarycontractsledtothecontinuationofa thrivingtimberindustry. xxii LoggingandforestproductsarestillapartoftheMid WillametteValley seconomy,particularlyinthewesternpartofthevalley. Manufacturing Non seasonalindustriesinthemid WillametteValleyincludeaircraftservicing,electronics manufacturing,newsprintandsteelrollingmills,anddentalinstrumentmanufacturing. xxiii ManufacturingisaneconomicmainstayofLinnCounty,withapproximately18%ofthe county snon farmemploymentinthemanufacturingsector(almosttwicethestateand regionalaverage).theeconomicdownturn,however,hashadanegativeaffectonthe manufacturingindustryandhasresultedinsignificantemploymentlossesfortheregion. From2008to2009,manufacturingsectorjobsintheMid WillametteValleydeclinedby 14%inLinnCountyand20%inBenton,Marion,andPolkcounties. xxiv CULTURALSYSTEMS NativeAmericans TheresidentsoftheregionweretheKalapuyapeople.TheMid WillametteValleywasthe homeofseveralcentralkalapuyagroups,whichincludetheyamhelaswholivedalongthe YamhillRiver,theSantiamwholivedalongthelowerSantiamRivernearwhatisnow 5

6 Lebanon,theTsankupiwholivedalongtheCalapooiaRiver,andtheChepenefawholived alongmary srivernearpresent daycorvallis. xxv TheKalapuyaharvestedcamasroot, huntedelk,andfishedsalmonfromtheregion sstreams.contactwitheuro Americansled toasmallpoxepidemicandmalaria,whichcausedthedeathof90%ofthekalapuya populationby1833. xxvi AtreatybetweentheTribesandtheU.S.governmentin1855ceded muchofthewillamettevalleytotheunitedstatesandthekalapuyapeoplewereremoved fromtheirtraditionalhomelandandrelocatedtothegrandrondeindianreservationin YamhillandPolkcounties. xxvii DescendentsoftheKalapuyatribesarenowpartofthe ConfederatedTribesoftheGrandRondeCommunityofOregon. ParksandHistoricLandmarks TheMid WillametteValleyishometonumerousparksandhistoriclandmarksthathave beenpreservedfortheenjoymentandeducationofresidentsandvisitors.notable examplesincludethefollowing: TheWillametteNationalForeststretchesintoLinnandMarioncountiesand containsmountjefferson. TheSiuslawNationalForestextendsintoBenton,Yamhill,andPolkcountiesand includesmary speak,thehighestpeakinthecoastrange. xxviii SilverFallsStateParkisatemperaterainforestinthelowerelevationsofthe Cascadeswithtenwaterfalls. xxix DetroitLakeStateParkwascreatedbytheDetroitDamproject.Thelakehas32 milesofshorelineandis400feetdeep.itisapopulardestinationforfishing, boating,andcamping. xxx ErraticRockStateNaturalSiteprovidesaccesstoa40 tonrockthatwascarriedto theareaduringaprehistoricfloodduringthelasticeageandisthelargestglacial erraticrockinthewillamettevalley. xxxi TheMissionMillMuseuminSalemproducedwoolproductsfrom1889to1962and thesitecontainstheoldestpresbyterianchurchinthepacificnorthwestand historicoregontrailsettler shomes.ithasbeendesignatedanamericantreasure bythenationalparkservice. xxxii McDowellCreekFallsCountyParkincludeshikingtrailsandviewsofRoyalTerrace andmajesticfalls. xxxiii HISTORICALEXTREMEWEATHEREVENTS SevereWeatherEventsoftheMid WillametteValley Thefollowingaremajorwinterstormevents,periodsofdrought,historicfires,and floodinginthemid WillametteValley: xxxiv SevereStormEvents 1937:heavysnowfalloccurredintheWillametteValley 1892:substantialstormwithsnowtotalsfrom15to30inches 1909:six daysnowstorm 1919:snowstormoverawidespreadareainOregon 1924:freezingtemperaturesformedhazardousiceintheWillametteRiver 1937:snowfallthatcausedstructuresinMarionCountytocollapse 6

7 1950:snowstormaccompaniedbysleet,freezingrainandhighwinds 1957:coldsnapaccompaniedbysnowandhighwindsthatfrozewaterpipes 1960:snowstormthatcausedfatalitiesandstorm relatedinjuries 1962:HistoricColumbusDaystormcausedextensivestructuralwinddamageand treefall 1978:freezingraincausingtrafficfatalitiesandaccidents 1989:zero degreetemperaturesthatsignificantlydamagedthecranberrycrop 1993:snowstormresultinginlostpowerandstorm relatedhospitalizations 1996:severeicestormcausingtrafficaccidentsandpoweroutages 2004:icestormthatcancelledflightsanddownedhistoricoaktrees PeriodsofDrought :periodofdroughtintheregionthatresultedinlowstreamflows 2005:thedriestFebruarysincethe1977droughtwithlowstreamflows HistoricFires 1848:NestuccaFireinYamhillCountythatburned290,000acres 1849:SiletzFireinPolkCountythatburned800,000acres 1865:SilvertonFireinMarionCountythatburned988,000acres 1939:SaddleMountainFireinYamhillCountythatburned190,000acres 1951:NorthFork/ElkhorninYamhillCountythatburned33,000acres 2003:B&BComplexFireinLinnandMarioncountiesthatburned80,000acres Flooding 1964:floodthatresultedinfatalitiesandseveredamagetoinfrastructure 1974:floodcausedbysnowmeltthatcausesfatalities,injuries,andsewageoverflow 1996:snowmeltandprolongedprecipitationthatresultedinwidespreaddamage 1997:heavyrainsthatcausedtheWillametteRivertocrestafootabovefloodlevel POTENTIALIMPACTSOFCLIMATECHANGE Climatechangeislikelytoimpactecosystems,individuals,business,andcommunitiesin theregion.theareaisvulnerabletohighwinds,drought,wildfires,andflooding.someof theexpectedimpactsincludereductionsinstreamflowsandsalmonpopulations,reduced rangelandproductivity,cropreductionduetowaterstressandhighertemperatures,fish andwildlifediseasesandinvasivespecies,andstormdamage.winterrecreationand tourismeconomiesarealsolikelytobenegativelyaffected,however,warmerweather recreationmaybeexpanded. xxxv Extremetemperatures(suchasheatwaves),increasedgroundozonelevels,andsevere weathereventsalsoposeapublichealththreattoresidents.keythreatsincludeheat stroke,respiratoryandcardiovasculardiseasesfromdeterioratedairquality,mentalhealth problemsfollowingfloodingandwindstormevents,andvector bornedisease outbreaks. xxxvi Sealevelrisemayalsohaveimplicationsonthenaturalsystemsand communitiesofthemid WillametteValley,eveniftheregion selevationwillprotectitfrom directeffects;however,littleresearchhasbeengiventothispotentialimpact.communities acrossthemid WillametteValleymayalsoexperienceaninfluxof climaterefugees (i.e. 7

8 peoplemovingfromotherregionsofthecountryandworldthatarelikelytobemore severelyimpactedbyclimatechange). Formoreinformationonspecificprojectionsandlikelyimpacts,pleaseseethe Mid WillametteClimateModelingProjections"document,availableat icitydata. data.com ii MarionCounty. iii MarionCountyStrategicPriorities. 5AB8 40FD B4A8 341D9CF73B9A/1887/MissionValuesandIssues.pdf iv PolkCountyEconomicActionPrograms. v OregonStateArchives:PolkCounty. vi OregonStateArchives:YamhillCounty. vii OregonBlueBook. viii BentonCounty. ix CityData x MarionCountyStrategicPriorities. xi MarionCountyPublicHealthServices. xii OurTown Mid WillametteValley. services/utilities/ xiii EPAPowerProfiler. and you/how clean.html xiv CityData xv MarionCountyStrategicPriorities xvi CityData xvii QuickFactsfromtheUSCensusBureau. xviii TheCensusofAgriculture. xix OregonWine. xx WillametteValleyWineriesAssociationhttp:// xxi YamhillCountyAgri BusinessEconomicandCommunityDevelopmentPlan. _Yamhill_County_Agri Business.pdf xxii TheOregonEncyclopedia Albany. xxiii ClimateofYamhillCounty. xxiv WorksourceQualityInfo. xxv OregonBlueBook. xxvi Wikipedia, xxvii TheConfederatedTribesoftheGrandRonde, xxviii SuislawNationalForest. xxix OregonParksandRecreationDepartment. xxx OregonParksandRecreationDepartment xxxi OregonParksandRecreationDepartment xxxii MissionMillMuseum. xxxiii LinnCountyParksandRecreation. xxxiv MarionCountyNaturalHazardsMitigationPlan. xxxv AnOverviewofPotentialEconomicCoststoOregonofaBusiness As UsualApproachto ClimateChange :AReportfromTheProgramonClimateEconomics,ClimateLeadershipInitiative,InstituteforaSustainable Environment,UniversityofOregon.February2009 xxxvi St.Louis,M.E.,andJ.J.Hess ClimateChangeImpactsonandImplicationsforGlobalHealth. AmericanJournalof PreventativeMedicine.35(5):