New Dean Creek culvert will aid fish passage
Work is underway to replace a 110-foot culvert on Dean Creek near La Center with a larger culvert that will handle higher water flows and improve fish passage.
The work is to be completed about Sept. 10, according to engineer Sam Giese who is with the Clark Conservation District.
Some 45 homes are affected by the removal of the former culvert. A temporary access road was constructed for use by homeowners while the culvert project is underway.
The project is funded by the state Department of Natural Resources through a program called Family Forestry Fish Passage Program, which was created by the state legislature in 2003.
The work is being done on NE 66th Ave. just north of NE 284th St., about two miles northwest of the Daybreak Bridge. The site is on privately-owned forest property.
The project involved removal of about 6,800 cubic yards of dirt along with the former culvert, said Giese. The dirt was moved by one track hoe to a shelf located part-way up the south side of the gaping expanse, and from there moved by another track hoe into a truck for transport to temporary storage nearby. The culvert removal and hole digging took up the first week of work.
Mike Watters Excavation is in charge of the project.
Dean Creek was moved into a pipe through the construction area while the work is underway.
Concrete footings were built in the creek bed which required 110 yards of concrete. The new, 110-foot-long, bottomless culvert is a half-round shape and bolted to the forms. The new culvert is about 10-feet high, four feet higher than the previous culvert. The new culvert is about 20 feet wide.
Phone wires that had run through the culvert site were relocated by TDS Telecom.
Previously the road surface measured 34 feet above the bottom of the culvert. When the work is completed next week, the road surface will be replaced at about the same elevation, said Giese.
Unlike the older culvert which was manufactured in four pieces, the replacement culvert was installed in 50 pieces which varied in length from 10 to 12 feet. Mike Watters said each culvert piece weighed about 600 pounds. The entire culvert, installed in seven hours on Aug. 29, weighs 38,000 pounds, said Watters, and required 2,240 bolts.
The general purpose of the culvert replacement project is to improve fish passage.
Giese said high water flows had eroded the creek bed at the downstream end of the culvert, leaving a mini watefall and a pool of water about 10-feet deep. Fish were not able to negotiate their way up the creek, said Giese, due to the height of the culvert above the creek.
Officials of the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, along with neighbors and others, netted more than 50 fish from the pool and transported them to pools downstream from the culvert project site. The transported fish were mostly coho salmon.
In addition, said Giese, the existing culvert, installed in 1983, was rusting out at the bottom.
An area property owner allowed a temporary road to be built over his property from NE 82nd Ave. to an area north of the project site. Neighbors may use the road during the construction period and are to discontinue use of the temporary road once the culvert project is completed.
Mike Watters operated a dairy in Clark County for 25 years before going into the excavation business in 1992. His company does demolition and land clearing work, and clears train wrecks, among other projects.
The project was funded through the Family Forest Fish Passage Program, administered by the state Department of Natural Resources, state Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Clark Conservation District. The construction contract with Mike Watters Construction is for $330,000, with a total project cost of $407,000.
Area residents paid $15,000 of the total cost.
Scott Potter, who heads the program for the state Department Natural Resources, said five criteria must be met for projects to qualify for program funding: the site must be on forest land, not just access to forest land; the stream must be fish-bearing; there must be a barrier to fish passage; the site must be owned by a small timber farmer; and the site must be associated with a road.
Potter said all five criteria must be met to qualify.
Potter said 11 sites have been funded in four southwest Washington counties since 2003, at a total cost of about $679,000. Other projects are under consideration, he said.
Giese said two other similar culvert projects are slated to take place this year on Mason Creek on the Rashford Tree Farm, and two more on Dean Creek are planned for next year. Two projects on Mill Creek are under review, he said.
Bob Zeigler of the state Department of Fish and Wildlife said the Dean Creek and Rashford projects in Clark County total $597,000, and five projects in Cowlitz County carry a $326,800 total price tag.
Officials invite applications for other projects that involve tree farms and culverts with fish-bearing streams.
Scott Potter with the state Department of Natural Resources may be reached at (360) 902-1404.

Hummingbirds nest on BG wind chime
Nanci Bonnell of Heisson said that every time she watered a particular planter on her deck, she would get “buzzed” by a hummingbird.
“At first I thought that hummingbirds must really like the flowers in that pot,” said Bonnell. “Eventually, it became clear that this was happening too frequently to be a coincidence. So I began to inspect the area and look what I found!”
What Bonnell found was a hummingbird nest perched on top of a wind chime. The wind chime was hanging just over the planter.
Over the next few weeks, Bonnell and her husband, David, kept their distance from that area of their deck and watched as two tiny babies were hatched, cared for, and eventually led from the nest into the air.
The nest was occupied during the first two weeks of July. She later found that the nest was made of lichen from mossy areas on nearby trees. The inside of the nest was a white, soft material that could have been spider webs. The nest measured about 2 1/2 inches in diameter and initially about 2 inches tall, although it was later flattened somewhat by the baby birds, said Bonnell.
“Since they flew the coup, we’ve had the pleasure of seeing them fed by the mama bird in a nearby tree and enjoyed their acrobatic antics around our flower pots,” said Nanci.
Bonnell was not able to identify the type of hummingbirds that nested on her deck, but she reported that they had an iridescent green color on their head and shoulders. They could have been an Anna’s Hummingbird which spends summers in Oregon, Washington and British Columbia.
Bird books confirm that Anna’s Hummingbird uses lichen in nest-building, and generally has two eggs.
Bonnell said hummingbirds in her area enjoy her Bee Balm plant as well as nasturtiums. Her research indicates that hummingbirds feed their young both nectar and insects.
Bonnell said that after the hummingbirds left the nest, she opened an umbrella left on the deck and out came a bat which landed on a nearby chair. A hummingbird immediately went after the bat, said Bonnell, apparently protecting its territory.

BG Board mulls school names
The Battle Ground school board heard recommendations Aug. 30 from a committee that has studied the names of schools inside the city of Battle Ground.
Schools in the city had been called “Chief Umtuch Primary,” “Captain Strong Elementary,” and “Lewisville Middle School.”
Chief Umtuch was torn down over the summer, Captain Strong is now a K-4 school instead of grades 3-5, and Lewisville will be reconstructed on the former Chief Umtuch site.
The committee suggested several names, starting with changing the name of Captain Strong to Central Elementary, and the name of the new middle school to Battle Ground Middle School. The committee gave equal weight to calling the middle school East Fork Middle School.
The committee’s second choice was to retain the name Captain Strong Elementary and name the middle school Chief Umtuch Middle School.
Another option was to name the two remaining schools Central Elementary and Lewisville Middle School.
Last on the list of options was to name the schools Lewisville Primary and Middle schools.
Kelly O’Brien, who assisted the committee in their work, said the committee did not want to retain either the names Captain Strong or Chief Umtuch unless both were retained.
The school board members said they would seek public input before making name selections, which they hope to do by the end of September.
Committee member Jane Pallister said the committee developed criteria for school names. Names should be easy to pronounce, the committee decided, have historical relevance, be unique to the Clark and Cowlitz region, avoid duplicating the name of other schools in the region, and have longevity.
The committee’s first suggestion came from the district’s former Central Elementary School which sits vacant east of Battle Ground High School.
O’Brien said the committee was equally divided between its second set of options--Central Elementary and Chief Umtuch, or Central Elementary and Lewisville Middle.
The committee also considered keeping the name Lewisville and referring to primary and middle schools rather than elementary and middle school. At present, Captain Strong is the only school in the district called an elementary school; all others are primary and middle schools.
Pallister said that one drawback to using Lewisville for both schools is that the campus has two separate addresses even though the schools are close together. “If there is a 911 call, our concern is that there could be confusion between the two campuses,” said Pallister.
Deliberation between school board and committee members strayed when Pallister said naming committee members thought the district should use elementary rather than primary as a school designation district-wide.
Pallister said the committee considered the K-4 format of Captain Strong to be more appropriately an elementary school rather than a primary school. Thus several of the committee’s suggestions contained the word “elementary.”
Pallister said the committee studied state funding mechanisms and found that the state generally considered K-3 to be a primary designation, with schools including a fourth grade considered elementary.
School board president Karen Lehman said she could see the board considering keeping the Captain campus designated as an elementary school, but was unsure about rethinking the rest of the names in the district. Lehman asked whether the naming committee members wanted to “buck what has already been established in the district.”
“That’s not the way I think that the naming committee members would articulate their feelings on the subject,” said O’Brien, noting that the committee was not suggested that the names of other primary schools in the district be changed to elementary schools.
O’Brien said committee members knew there is no way to please everyone with the new school name, but they felt that honoring the history of Battle Ground was important in naming schools.
Committee members present at the meeting agreed that choosing a new name should be done as quickly as possible.
The naming committee narrowed a list of names suggested by community members through surveys and phone calls to the possibilities listed above after holding seven meetings since June 2007.
Board member Sam Kim was not present at the Aug. 30 meeting.
School board members said the presentation gave them a lot of material to consider and that it was important to solicit more community input before a final decision is made.
Public comments on the school naming matter may be directed to O’Brien, 904-1233, or 885-5337.

New Woodland planner says U.S. ahead of Europe, Japan
Alice Perry Linker
staff reporter
Woodland’s new land use planner is experiencing first-hand one of the city’s growth problems: availability of mid-level priced apartments.
Keiichiro Zushi (Kei), who began his job in July, said he is living in Vancouver.
“I’m looking for an apartment in Woodland,” he said. “It’s cheaper to live in Vancouver.”
The 28-year-old native of Tokyo, Japan, decided to continue his career in the United States after he earned his master’s degree in community planning from the University of Cincinnati.
Zushi received a bachelor’s degree in Japan in environmental engineering, but decided to study for his master’s in the U.S. because “I wanted to study in an international environment.”
He said planning in the U.S. is “ahead of Japan and Europe. Citizen involvement is way ahead in this country.”
He chose the west on a professor’s recommendation.
“The west side of the country is more progressive in planning,” Zushi said. “My professor always told us to look up what Portland is doing. Also, I love skiing.”
When he’s not working, Zushi enjoys outdoor activities and cultural events. In Japan, he competed in freestyle skiing.
The new planner’s professional interests span environmental and community planning.
“I would like to combine both,” he said. “I’m interested in development and the environment. We have to find a mid-way for both.”
Zushi started his career in Grants Pass, OR, where he was an assistant planner. In Woodland, he is the only planner, although his job is under the public works department, headed by Elaine Huber.
Woodland’s biggest challenges are caused by a “limited land supply” and the community’s rapid growth, Zushi said.
“We have the flood plain, the hillside,” he said. “It’s costly to develop the area and hard to pick where to grow.”
Zushi is working in the U.S. under a working visa, known as H-1B, that allows him to work only as a planner and must be renewed in July 2010. He said he wants to apply for a green card that will give him more flexibility.
The city government faced some bureaucratic challenges when the council decided to hire Zushi. Documents must be filed with U.S. Immigration and Naturalization, and fees must be paid. The city was required to pay a $190 filing fee, $500 fraud fee, and a $1,500 training fee.
In addition, the U.S. Department of Labor sets a minimum salary based on prevailing wage. Woodland had offered the new planner less than the prevailing wage and was required to increase Zushi’s salary by $79 per month, or $4,264 monthly.
City clerk-treasurer Mari Ripp said the city had budgeted $69,185 for fiscal 2007 and the position went unfilled for the first six months of the year.
In a report to the council, Ripp said that Woodland had studied salaries and researched surrounding communities, but had failed to look at prevailing wage data.

Cowlitz PUD considers discount for low income disabled users
The Cowlitz Public Utility District board will hold a rate hearing Tues., Sept. 11, 2 p.m., to consider a discount for low-income people with disabilities.
The hearing will take place at the PUD Auditorium, 961 12th Ave., Longview. The board will make a decision either Sept. 11 or Sept. 25, according to Dave Andrew, PUD spokesman.
“About half the PUDs in Washington offer rate discounts for disabled customers,” Andrew said. “Over the last few years the PUD has been approached by many citizens asking if a similar program could be started here. The board thinks it’s the right time to consider it.”
If approved, the discount would be available to people with disabilities with an annual household income up to $20,535. A 20 percent discount would be offered to households who earn less than $13,691, and a 10 percent discount would be available to households earning between $13,691 and $20,535.
The PUD already offers identical rate discounts to elderly residents. As proposed, the new discount would have similar requirements. Under a 10 percent discount the rate is 4.61 cents per kilowatt hour, and the 20 percent discount equals 4.1 cents per kilowatt hour.
To be eligible, people must prove they have a disability, either with a doctor’s certificate or proof of Social Security disability income. They must also show proof of their past year’s income.
Only those who have been PUD customers for a year are eligible, according to the plan.
Like the discount program for senior citizens, the new program, if approved, would be administered by the Lower Columbia Community Action Program (CAP). Rates would become effective within a few days of approval.
People who believe they are eligible should contact CAP, 360-425-3430, for an appointment between Oct. 1 and March 31, 2008. PUD customers will need to provide a rate history, available at the PUD office, 961 12th Ave., Longview. For information, call the PUD, 360-423-2210.

Woodland theater plans holiday play
Alice Perry Linker
staff reporter
After months of moving through the formal city planning process, the Loves Street Playhouse is ready to go in Woodland.
Owner Melinda Leuthold plans to produce a traditional Christmas play, It’s a Wonderful Life, with a twist.
“It will be like a live radio show in 1946, with five actors and sound effects,” Leuthold said. “We’ll set the stage like a radio studio.”
Leuthold, who studied drama and theater in college and has performed in Portland, has been planning the small theater for months.
“I’m so excited,” she said.
When she first announced the development of the playhouse, Leuthold hoped to be ready for an art show in June, but planning requirements delayed the opening. After two appearances before the city council, the proposal went to the hearings examiner, right at the time that examiner Irv Berteig retired, and the hearing was delayed until a new examiner began.
All is settled now, Leuthold said.
The playhouse will advertise for actors and stage helpers for the radio play. The production is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 30, Dec. 1 and 2 and Dec. 7, 8 and 9.
“I want it to be a quality show; I want people to audition,” Leuthold said. “I hope to establish a core of players.”
The actors and stage assistants will all be volunteers. Leuthold hopes to direct the radio play.
Another ambition is to create a dinner theater for at least one or two performances of It’s a Wonderful Life.
Because the former church does not have a kitchen, the dinner will be catered, she said.
Leuthold and husband Jeff bought the building in 2004, and since then have removed the pews and the carpeting and thoroughly cleaned the inside of the small building at the corner of Hoffman and Love streets. Tables and chairs are ordered.
“People here are so excited about the theater,” she said. “It’s an attractive space and we’ve had positive comments.”
Leuthold plans to develop a children’s theater in the space, and she will rent the small building for meetings, weddings and art shows. She hopes to develop theater workshops for children, she said.
“If someone wants to hang art while we’re doing the show, that would be wonderful,” she said. “That would be in addition to special art events.”
For information about the Loves Street Playhouse, visit the Web site www.lovestreetplayhouse.com or call Leuthold at 263-7374.

Council to study fund to help homeless families
Alice Perry Linker
staff reporter
A Woodland agency that works with low-income families and people who need help finding homes has asked for a portion of city document recording fees.
The Community Services Center, 736 Davidson, Woodland, has asked the city council to sign an agreement that would allow the non-profit organization to tap into fees designed to help those who are homeless.
A state law requires counties and cities to set aside a total of $18 from each document recording fee to fund programs that help low-income and homeless people, said Melissa Taylor of the Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of Governments (CWCOG).
Sixty percent of the designated funds is awarded to cities. Most of the money must be used for housing, although one fund allows money for services to help homeless people, she said.
Each city in Cowlitz County receives a portion of the fund. Taylor said she believes that Woodland has not spent any of its share.
Sheri Monge, director of the community center, said the organization receives requests for help with rent.
“This is not to build homes,” she said about the fund. “It is for people who have been homeless, but have a job and maybe need help with first and last months’ rent. It’s more of a jump start.”
The community has no funds to help with rent but the agency gets requests from families down on their luck as well as women and children who are victims of domestic violence, Monge said.
“We know families who have been camping for weeks,” she said. “Our focus is on families. The people that suffer are the children.”
To qualify a family or an individual must earn no more than 50 percent of the median income, or $27,500 for a family of four.
In 2006, Woodland collected $8,568 in document recording fees, to bring the total collected in fees to $30,006, including interest.
The city council will discuss the document fee during a public workshop set for Sept. 24, 7 p.m.

Blum holds narrow lead in mayor race
Chuck Blum, a former Woodland City Council member, holds a narrow lead over council member John J. Burke in the race for mayor.
Recent combined results from elections offices in Cowlitz and Clark counties show Blum with 307 votes and Burke with 306 votes. Both candidates earned slightly more than 35 percent of the votes cast.
Mayor Doug Monge earned 222 votes, or about 25 percent of the total vote. Newcomer Walt Hummel received 31 votes.
Blum and Burke will face each other in the November general election. The successful candidate will begin service in January.