Cleanup work continues for tumwata village

By Danielle Harrison

Smoke Signals editor

Tribal Engineering & Community Development Department Manager Ryan Webb gave an update about the cleanup process and future plans for tumwata village during a Monday, Jan. 26, Zoom meeting.

The meeting was part of a requirement for an Environmental Protection Agency Brownfield Cleanup Grant application. The Tribe previously received a $800,000 EPA Multipurpose Grant in 2021 for site assessment, cleanup and site reuse planning.

Webb said the purpose of the meeting was to give attendees background information, history about the property’s various uses and details about the upcoming grant.

“The Tribe isn’t new to the EPA Brownfield grants…and this work will help us to continue with the efforts that we’ve been able to do onsite to date as well,” he said. “If we are successful with our application, then there will be further public meetings we will hold as we move through that grant as well. I appreciate everyone taking time out this evening to hear our presentation. … Grants like this one and previous grants have allowed us to continue cleanup work and redevelopment at (the site).”

Webb was joined at the presentation by Tribal Community Development Manager Kristen Svicarovich and tumwata village consultant Leonard Farr Jr. of  Stantec Consulting Services Inc.

“I really want to draw attention to the fact that Kristen and I really manage a lot of the work that happens at the tumwata village site and Kristen has done some wonderful work heading up a lot of the land use and planning work, really setting forth what the goal is for cleanup and development of the site,” Webb said, noting that Stantec had been a big help as well. “I’ve been managing the cleanup work as well as the demolition activities…We’re two people trying to redevelop a contaminated, 23-acre site.”

The Tribe purchased tumwata village, formerly the Blue Heron Paper Mill in Oregon City, in 2019 for $15.25 million.

The lands were once home to the Charcowah village of the Clowewalla (Willamette band of Tumwaters) and the Kosh-huk-shix Village of Clackamas people. They were ceded to the United States government under the Willamette Valley Treaty of 1855. Following the Willamette Valley Treaty, many Tribal members were forcibly removed from Willamette Falls and relocated to Grand Ronde.

After removal, the site had various industrial uses, including a lumber mill, flour mill, woolen mill and then a paper mill, which resulted in 150-plus years of onsite contamination.

After the Tribe purchased the site, environmental cleanup work began, including a chemical inventory and investigation work.

“As we purchased this site, we knew there were a lot of chemicals on this site, stored in various containers, including 55-gallon drums to above ground storage tanks to underground storage tanks,” Webb said. “What we didn’t know was where those chemicals were and really what they all were…Ultimately, we were able to dispose of those chemicals correctly.”

Phase one of demolition took place in 2021, with several subsequent rounds occurring during the next four years. The site itself has approximately 17 acres that are developable. Grand Ronde’s vision for the site includes environmental and cultural restoration, new development, renewed economic opportunities and the Tribe continuing its role as stewards of the falls.

“Now, we have completed the design where permits are ready and I am soliciting bids to get a general contractor on board to help us with that (roads and utilities) construction, with the hope to be breaking ground in the next couple of months,” Webb said.

The current EPA Brownfield Grant application is for a four-year, $4 million grant to help with continued cleanup work for brownfield sites contaminated by hazardous substances, pollutants, contaminants or petroleum.

If awarded, funding will be available to the Tribe in October, with all cleanup activities to be completed by September 2029.

For more information about tumwata village, contact Webb at ryan.webb@grandronde.org or 503-879-2404 or visit tumwatavillage.org.