Oregon City accepts state lottery funds for tumwata village

By Nicole Montesano

Smoke Signals staff writer

OREGON CITY – The Oregon City Commission has approved the reallocation of $12.5 million in state lottery money for improvements at the Grand Ronde Tribe’s tumwata village property near Willamette Falls.

 “Many years ago, the city and Metro, through the Willamette Falls Legacy Project Partnership, were able to secure two direct funding allocations from the state Legislature for design and construct(ion) of an access along the Willamette River,” a staff report to the commission noted. “The two allocations totaled $12.5 million and have been held by Metro over the years. Metro has returned the money to the state of Oregon and, if this agreement is approved, these funds will be provided directly to the city of Oregon City to complete a project consistent with the terms of this agreement.”

The report said the money “may be utilized for land acquisition, improvements, design and engineering, rehabilitation and enhancement of the area in Clackamas County in or around the area including Willamette Falls. A specific project for the use of the funds will be determined through negotiations between the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde and the City of Oregon City. The negotiations with the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde will determine a defined project scope and access agreements for a construction project.”

Tribal Communications Director Sara Thompson issued the following statement from the Tribe.

"Since the Tribe acquired the former Blue Heron Paper Mill in 2019, we have been working on cleaning up the site and bringing the property back to life. Our partnership with Oregon City is an important component of that. We’re grateful that they have been able to work with the state of Oregon to ensure that funds allocated years ago remain on the Oregon City side of the river. As we get ready to break ground on the first phase of redevelopment, we remain committed to working with our partners and local residents to create safe, uninterrupted public access for everyone at Willamette Falls."

The commission’s vote comes after a decision by the state Legislature earlier this year to grant $45 million in state funds to the Willamette Falls Trust, a coalition of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation. Former Oregon Gov. Kate Brown works with the group. Grand Ronde had urged current Gov. Tina Kotek to veto the measure, arguing that the group was misrepresenting Tribal history, but she declined.

The Willamette Falls Trust Tribes also backed a move by Portland General Electric to condemn and seize land at Willamette Falls, where Grand Ronde’s fishing platform is located. A trial over the proposed condemnation was held in federal court in May. Oregon District Court Judge Michael H. Simon had not yet issued a ruling, as of press time.