A Short History of A Short History of the White River Crossing: the White River Crossing: Battling the Demon of Mount Battling the Demon of Mount

HoodHood

Tom DeRooMt. Hood National

Forest

RoadsRoads andand TrailsTrails aroundaround MtMt. . HoodHood

Debris flows: Debris flows:

• Channelized landslideChannelized landslide

• Mixture of water, soil, rockMixture of water, soil, rock

• Consistency of wet concreteConsistency of wet concrete

• Often contains wood debrisOften contains wood debris

• Typically travels at 10 – 20 mphTypically travels at 10 – 20 mph

Recent debris flows onRecent debris flows on MtMt. . HoodHood

Number of Major Mt. Hood Number of Major Mt. Hood Debris Flows per Year, 1975-Debris Flows per Year, 1975-20062006

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Debris flows are frequent on Mt. Hood Debris flows are frequent on Mt. Hood because the conditions for their because the conditions for their

formation are nearly ideal.formation are nearly ideal. • Confined channels with steep gradientsConfined channels with steep gradients

• Very steep side slopesVery steep side slopes

• Abundant loose soil and rockAbundant loose soil and rock

• Occasionally abundant waterOccasionally abundant water

Sources of water for Mt. Hood debris Sources of water for Mt. Hood debris flowsflows

•Glacier meltwaterGlacier meltwater

•Summer/fall stormsSummer/fall storms

•Rain-on-snow eventsRain-on-snow events

•Rapid snowmeltRapid snowmelt

•Combination of aboveCombination of above

Recent debris flows onRecent debris flows on MtMt. . HoodHood

White River Valley Cross Section

looking downriver

Green Apple Creek

White River Mineral

Creek

A short historyA short history of the Mt. Hood Loop Highway of the Mt. Hood Loop Highway

• Shown as “proposed” on 1916 mapShown as “proposed” on 1916 map

• Construction completed in 1925Construction completed in 1925

• Last segment crossed White RiverLast segment crossed White River

A short historyA short history of the White River Crossing of the White River Crossing

• Shown as “proposed” on 1916 mapShown as “proposed” on 1916 map

• Construction completed in 1925Construction completed in 1925

• Last segment crossed White RiverLast segment crossed White River

• August 1926 debris flow buries August 1926 debris flow buries approachapproach

A short historyA short history of the White River Crossing of the White River Crossing

• Shown as “proposed” on 1916 mapShown as “proposed” on 1916 map

• Construction completed in 1925Construction completed in 1925

• Last segment crossed White RiverLast segment crossed White River

• August 1926 debris flow buries August 1926 debris flow buries approachapproach

• October 1926 debris flow damages October 1926 debris flow damages bridge bridge

A short historyA short history of the White River Crossing of the White River Crossing

• Shown as “proposed” on 1916 mapShown as “proposed” on 1916 map

• Construction completed in 1925Construction completed in 1925

• Last segment crossed White RiverLast segment crossed White River

• August 1926 debris flow buries August 1926 debris flow buries approachapproach

• October 1926 debris flow damages October 1926 debris flow damages bridge bridge

• 1927 debris flow buries bridge1927 debris flow buries bridge

A short historyA short history of the White River crossing of the White River crossing

• Shown as “proposed” on 1916 mapShown as “proposed” on 1916 map

• Construction completed in 1925Construction completed in 1925

• Last segment crossed White RiverLast segment crossed White River

• August 1926 debris flow buries approachAugust 1926 debris flow buries approach

• October 1926 debris flow damages bridge October 1926 debris flow damages bridge

• 1927 debris flow buries bridge1927 debris flow buries bridge

• Bridge replaced in 1929Bridge replaced in 1929

““There is White River Valley which is There is White River Valley which is almost annually laid waste for half to almost annually laid waste for half to a mile in width leaving a desert of a mile in width leaving a desert of boulders, gravel and sand, whose boulders, gravel and sand, whose river almost annually rebels at river almost annually rebels at human intervention and human intervention and demoniacally rips out sections of the demoniacally rips out sections of the highway bridge which crosses it.”highway bridge which crosses it.”

(U.S. Forest Service, Study of Mount Hood Area, 7-8-1929)(U.S. Forest Service, Study of Mount Hood Area, 7-8-1929)

““There is White River Valley which is There is White River Valley which is almost annuallyalmost annually laid waste for half to laid waste for half to a mile in width leaving a desert of a mile in width leaving a desert of boulders, gravel and sand, whose boulders, gravel and sand, whose river river almost annuallyalmost annually rebels at rebels at human intervention and human intervention and demoniacally rips out sections of the demoniacally rips out sections of the highway bridge which crosses it.”highway bridge which crosses it.”

(U.S. Forest Service, Study of Mount Hood Area, 7-8-1929)(U.S. Forest Service, Study of Mount Hood Area, 7-8-1929)

A short historyA short history of the White River Crossing of the White River Crossing

• 1920’s – 3 debris flows1920’s – 3 debris flows

• 1930’s – 3 debris flows1930’s – 3 debris flows

• 1940’s – 3 debris flows1940’s – 3 debris flows

• 1950’s – 3 debris flows1950’s – 3 debris flows

• 1960’s – 5 debris flows1960’s – 5 debris flows

• 1970’s – 1 debris flow1970’s – 1 debris flow

• 1980’s – 1 debris flow1980’s – 1 debris flow

A short historyA short history of the White River Crossing of the White River Crossing

• 9-3-1998: debris flow, 220,000 CY, 9-3-1998: debris flow, 220,000 CY, partially filled in channelpartially filled in channel

• 10-1-2000: debris flow, 440,000 cubic 10-1-2000: debris flow, 440,000 cubic yards, filled opening under bridgeyards, filled opening under bridge

• 11-7-2006: debris flow, 600,000 cubic 11-7-2006: debris flow, 600,000 cubic yards, buried bridgeyards, buried bridge

White RiverOctober 1, 2000

prolonged high temperatures

rapid glacial meltintense rain event

White River Bridge – pre-eventWhite River Bridge – pre-event

White River Bridge – post-eventWhite River Bridge – post-event

What to do about the demon of Mt. Hood?

What to do about the demon of Mt. Hood?

(same question asked in 1929)

White RiverNovember 7, 2006

high temperaturesrecord rain event

Precipitation and Freezing Levels

0

5

10

15

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

November 2006

Cumulative Precipitation (inches)

Freezing Level (thousands of feet)

Daily Precipitation

0

1

2

3

4

5

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

November 2006

Daily Precipitation (inches)

What the Future Holds:What the Future Holds:

• Geologic hazards suggest problems Geologic hazards suggest problems could worsencould worsen

• ““Wet” climate is expected to continue Wet” climate is expected to continue until about 2015until about 2015

• Longer, higher bridges are being Longer, higher bridges are being consideredconsidered

• State Highway may be relocated up State Highway may be relocated up or down streamor down stream

• Interagency collaboration is criticalInteragency collaboration is critical

Interagency effort between:Interagency effort between:

Oregon Department of Oregon Department of TransportationTransportation

andand

Mt. Hood National ForestMt. Hood National Forest

andand

Federal Highway AdministrationFederal Highway Administration

What to do about the demon of Mt. Hood?