Recap #2: Historic Mitigation Workshop for the College Hill Reservoir System

Dear Neighbor,

This is a second follow-up email to the College Hill Historic Mitigation Workshop held on September 12. It includes links to additional background documents and resources requested by participants.

As a reminder, Historic Mitigation is the process of memorializing historic structures before they are altered or removed. We are inviting public input on ways to appropriately honor the College Hill Reservoir's historic features and its role in our community. This process is separate from the landscaping planning effort which will happen in 2024. The two pieces will weave together to inform the layout of public spaces on site.

Notes from Stakeholder Meeting

Transparency is important to us. We have created a new webpage where we will post meeting minutes and progress updates as we move through the historic mitigation process. Outreach activities are summarized under two main headings: Public Meetings and Stakeholder Meetings. Stakeholder meetings — which include agency and tribal representatives — are held separately from the public meetings to streamline scheduling, but input from both groups will be considered equally when developing the historic mitigation approach.

Visit the new webpage to access:

Mitigation-related notes from both the public and stakeholder meetings
Meeting recordings
Recaps and other communications

Examples of successful mitigation projects

Historic Mitigation is an unfamiliar concept to most people. At the Sept. 12 public meeting, we were asked to provide examples of other historic mitigation projects to help members of the public offer informed input. In response, our consultant, Historical Research Associates (HRA), pulled together additional mitigation examples meant to stimulate ideas for College Hill. The examples are presented in a multipage PDF and posted under the Public Meeting heading on the new historic mitigation webpage.

You can also download the document directly by clicking here.

Other updates

New project information signs were posted at the reservoir last week. The signs include a QR code so that visitors can easily find project information and join the email list.

Following a public bidding process, Consor North America, Inc. has been selected to complete the design of the tanks and associated pipelines. The EWEB Board will be asked to approve the contract at their October meeting.

Looking ahead

The Historic Mitigation Survey will close at midnight on Tuesday, Oct. 3. If you haven't already, please take a few minutes to submit your ideas on how we can memorialize the reservoir system. Note: Ranking the example mitigation ideas is optional. The second question is an open text field where you can input your preferences in your own words.
Historical Research Associates will use feedback from the public meeting, stakeholder meeting and survey to develop initial options for historic mitigation. We will schedule a meeting to present and gather feedback on the ideas later this fall.
EWEB will send a postcard with project information to all residents within a one mile radius of the reservoir next month.

If you have questions or input, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the project team at

541-685-7899 or water.storage@eweb.org. Messages sent to this address will reach:

Laura Farthing, Senior Engineer - Water
Wally McCullough, Water Engineering Supervisor
Jen Connors, Communications Supervisor
Claire Wray, Communications Specialist