"Big hole" is ready for Phase 2
Construction of the 50-million-gallon underground reservoir is slated to resume in spring 2011. More than 323,000 cubic yards of rock and soil were removed from the site in Phase 1, which occurred December 2009 through May 2010.
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 New trail entrance opens at SE Center and 144th Avenue
 A new trail, currently with a minimum level of ADA-accessibility, will open soon at Powell Butte. The trail starts at the Water Bureau's Vivian Pump Station site, located on SE Center St. at SE 144th Avenue. The trail connects to the existing Dogwood Trail.
The temporary parking lot at the Vivian site is closed until reservoir construction resumes next spring, but street parking is available now. The trail's entrance consists of compacted gravel. Permanent improvements to this trail are pending land-use approval. The trail gate will be open dawn to dusk.
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July activities included music and outreach
Concerts on the Butte
The Portland Water Bureau sponsored two concerts at Powell B utte Nature Park in July as part of the Portland Parks & Recreation summer concert series. The Saturday evening performances featured "Rich Halley's Outside Music Ensemble" (see photo), which played original jazz, and "Trashcan Joe," an old-time string band that performed with string instruments made from household items, including a bass made from a trash can. This is the second year that the bureau funded the event as part of its community outreach effort. Public outreach staff members were on hand to talk with park users about the next phase of the reservoir project.
East Portland Exposition
The Portland Water Bureau joined a number of community organizations, the City of Portland and Multnomah County agencies at the East Portland Exposition in mid-July. The event, which was co-sponsored by all 13 East Portland neighborhood associations ser ving the area, featured numerous exhibitors, lots of entertainment and food, and fun activities for children and families.
The bureau's public outreach staff talked with neighbors about upcoming water and park improvements at Powell Butte, the new underground 25-million-gallon reservoir at Kelly Butte and the City's new Emergency Coordination Center.
Friends of Powell Butte (photo: Mary Walker [blue shirt] talks with Expo participant) also hosted a booth and shared information about the butte's history. The annual event was held at Ed Benedict Park.
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Meet the team
 The Portland Water Bureau's senior engineer, Michelle Lostra, served as Construction Manager for Phase 1 of the Powell Butte Reservoir 2 Project. For 12 months Michelle oversaw all aspects of the site development contract with Nutter Corporation, ensuring that the project stayed on budget and that its construction goals were met. In addition to the reservoir excavation, erosion and stormwater control and worker and public safety were top priorities for Michelle and the bureau during this phase.
With the Water Bureau since 2007, Michelle has also worked on the Mount Tabor Park and Washington Park interim security and maintenance projects. Michelle says she enjoys taking on big projects. "They're challenging and exciting," she says. |
