Miscellaneous Details for Reference within this Domain

for the 2020 Election in Benton County

John Sarna's Job Description for Senior Engineer,

Water Resources, at Dept. of Water Resources

    As Chief of the Cal-Nevada and Watershed Assessment Section, the incumbent oversees technical support activities to address interstate water allocation issues in the Truckee, Carson, and Walker basins and coordinates with local, state, and federal agencies to support implementation of the Truckee River Operating Agreement; supports statewide recreation and floodplain management programs; and supports water planning and analysis in the North Lahontan Hydrologic Region. 

   Desirable Qualifications: Excellent oral, written, computer, research, presentation, and problem solving skills, and a background in water rights, multi-agency negotiations and broad knowledge of DWR water programs and policies.

 
 

Some of the more Memorable Hikes, Sites and Natural Areas that I've visited in Oregon

 

Alsea Falls

Ashland Shakespeare Festival

Bald Hill and Natural Area

Belknap Crater

Bonneville Dam and Historic District

Bradford Island Visitor Center

Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and Museum

Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area

Cougar Mtn Regional Wilderness Park

Crown Point State Park

Dimple Hill

E.E.Wilson Wildlife Area

End of the Oregon Trail

Finley National Wildlife Refuge

Hoodoo and Willamette Pass Ski Areas

Iron Mountain in the Cascades

Joseph Wood Hill Park

Kelly Butte Natural Area

Mary’s Peak

McCulloch Peak

McDonald-Dunn Forest

Moon Mtn Park

Mount Tabor Park

Mt. Washington Wilderness

Multnomah and adjacent waterfalls

Museum of the Oregon Territory

Newport’s Waterfront and its sea lions

Oregon Coast Aquarium

Philomath Rodeo

Powell Butte Nature Park

Rooster Rock in the Cascades

Sea Lion Caves

Silver Falls State Park

Skinner Butte City Park

Skyline Park

South Beach State Park (Newport)

Spencer Butte Park

Starker Forests

Willamette Falls

Willamette Heights Park

Witham Hill and Natural Area

Yaquina Bay State Recreation Site

Yaquina Head Lighthouse

 

The Seismically Unsafe Courthouse

​

"As the building sits today, the vertical system of the building consists of wood framing that bears on the unreinforced masonry (URM) walls and the lateral system is dependent on the friction from the framing bearing on the URM walls. The friction capacity is sufficient to transfer the lateral loads for wind loading to the existing lateral force-resisting system, but in the event of a seismic event, the friction capacity will be lost as a result of vertical ground movement and the building will be unable to transfer the lateral loads to the existing lateral force-resisting system. Subsequently, the building elements will begin to be damaged during the seismic event and the building may collapse depending on the seismic hazard's direction (where the earthquake originated), intensity (the severity of the ground movement) and duration (how long the event lasts)" (Miller Consulting Engineers, 1-29-16).

 

They go on to estimate the probable construction cost to upgrade the building at $6,737,923 (Basic), $9,100,891 (Enhanced) and $10,885,645 (Limited).  The above costs only consider the structural upgrades and corresponding work as required by the structural upgrades; the other concerns with the building such as HVAC, plumbing, ADA access or other tenant improvement costs are not included in this cost.

​

Given these costs, an alternative is "repurposing" the Courthouse instead of upgrading it.

Identifying Resources that are Lacking in Disaster Scenarios

​

   I expect the vast majority of us have some very current experience identifying resources that are lacking -- due to this COVID-19 (human-related) disaster.  A month into the pandemic, hand sanitizer and toilet paper, even though put on shelves in grocery stores daily, are still being grabbed shortly after being placed there.  Medical staff also periodically report shortages of approved respirators, face shields/goggles, surgical masks, gloves, and gowns.  Labs are sometimes unable to test for COVID-19, because of a shortage of swabs.

   After this is over, I'm certain more of these items will be purchased and stored for future emergency use, and suppliers will plan how to meet demand more quickly.  My concern is that planning for the last crisis is seldom useful for the next. That's my reason for wanting to develop specific scenarios for other potential disasters.

   Of course, the County and other organizations have been proactive in providing advice on how to store things we'll likely need during an emergency, and hopefully, more people will be following this advice, but some won't, and others can't, and we've all come to depend on things like electricity that can't be stored in quantities likely needed during a disaster.  For natural disasters, a scenario should consider access to the basic needs of food, water, shelter, sewage disposal, and safety.  Below are some secondary resources that may be difficult to come by in an emergency, thereby making it difficult to meet basic needs:

  • Transportation to acquire necessities and get to safe areas

  • Electricity to pump potable water from wells, communicate with others, and provide refrigeration to preserve food and medicine

  • Filtration to take water from the river where treated water or ground water not available

  • Warm clothes, blankets, rain gear, etc.

This is just a few examples​ of resources that may be needed.  Going through specific scenarios carefully should hopefully generate a more thorough list.