This Exhibit 1 [and 14 other Exhibits] were presented to the Supervisors at the October 6th & 7th hearing.  The title of the exhibit is followed by a list of the main supporting evidence attached to the exhibit.   The following text summarizes the evidence and the commentary based upon the evidence provided to the Board of Supervisors.

Exhibit 1 Hammond Bridge

    1971 Army Corps cross section

    PEIR statement

    County negative declaration for new Hammond Bridge

Summary of Analysis:

There has been no significant degradation at this point in the lower Mad River. The County found that there was no significant degradation or no degradation at the Hammond Bridge site since the early part of this century in the recent negative declaration for the new bridge construction project. The Bed elevation through the lower portions of this reach is near sea level and significant additional degradation is not expected, regardless of upstream gravel extraction rates. (PEIR pg. 83)

Discussion:

The Hammond Bridge was recently discussed at the County Board of Supervisors meetings several weeks ago. Don Tuttle indicated at the September 15, 1998 meeting that "the bed hasn't change significantly in 100 years. The 1905 bridge piers are still present and have not entirely exposed". This is contrary to statements made in CHERT August 17, 1998 response that the County has no information downstream of the Highway 101 bridge. Upon investigation of the site, it should be noted that the bed under current low flow conditions is less than 0.5 feet deep at pier footings remaining on the left side. For a distance of approximately 100 yards upstream the depth of the water is also less than 0.5 feet. It is only against the right bank immediately upstream and under the right side of the bridge and adjacent to the 1905 pier footings that depths are increased. Again, immediately downstream the river shallows between the Hammond Bridge and to the point where the river turns against the rip rap along the County Road. The remains shallow and that there is barely enough depth, at low tide, to navigate a canoe downstream and that at several places requires dragging the canoe across the gravel bar. To me this is amazing, considering this is a lower reach of a river subject to tidal influence.

The 1971 cross-section, upstream of the Hammond Bridge, currently cannot be compared since no updated cross-section is available. However, the 1971 cross-sections indicates from 3 to 9 feet depth of water. Further downstream, adjacent to the County road and RSP, there is Cross-Section #2, indicating the bottom of the river 23 feet below the elevation of the County road, just pass the Tyee City residences. Current review of this location indicates that between the road and the bottom of the channel is only approximately 18 feet. This indicates five (5) feet of aggradation. Furthermore the gravel bar on the far side of the river has risen three (3) feet and is currently only five (5) feet below the elevation of the County Road. High water in 1998, an average winter flow, was only two (2) feet below the road, in some locations. This not only shows aggradation but an increasing flood hazard to local residents. The PEIR, on page 83, noted that there probably wasn't any degradation downstream of Highway 101 but failed to consider past aggradation along this portion of the River.