December 20, 2001
John Redding
(208) 378-5212
Carolyn Stone
(208) 378-5395
Resource Management Plan Discussed for Henry Hagg Lake
The Bureau of Reclamation has begun the process of preparing a Resource Management Plan for Henry Hagg Lake and surrounding Scoggins Valley Park, located about 25 miles southwest of Portland, Oregon.
Scoggins Valley Park is one of the area’s most popular recreational destinations, bringing in visitors from the larger metropolitan area. The RMP will be Reclamation’s blueprint for the future use, management, and development at Henry Hagg Lake.
Reclamation is holding a public meeting to introduce the RMP planning process, and solicit public input. The meeting will be held on January 17, from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m., at NW Regional Education Service District, 5825 NE Ray Circle, Hillsboro, Oregon.
Henry Hagg Lake was constructed in the 1970s to provide irrigation service for the Tualatin Valley, municipal and industrial water supply for eight communities, as well as flood control and recreation opportunities. With a surface area of 1,113 acres, the lake has a capacity of 60,000 acre-feet. The lake and surrounding lands are owned by Reclamation.
Scoggins Valley Park is operated and maintained by Washington County, Reclamation’s managing partner. The park features many day use picnic areas, two boat launches, a fishing pier, and several miles of trails. A majority of these facilities, including a 520-foot hiking and wildlife-viewing trail, are accessible to the people with disabilities.
The lake is an important recreation resource in the region, both for local residents as well as residents from the Portland metropolitan area. As the region continues to grow, Reclamation expects that more and more people will utilize the area. This increasing recreation use, and the potential conflicts among recreation, aesthetic, and natural resources, is an important reason for preparing a management plan for the area’s resources.
Other issues to be addressed in the study include public access, water quality, fishery habitat and management, wetlands protection, enhancement, and restoration, weed control, management of elk pasture areas, and overnight camping facility development.
Henry Hagg Lake stakeholders include adjacent private landowners, the communities of Gaston and Forest Grove, Washington County, government agencies, such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, recreation groups such as Oregon Boater’s Association, irrigation districts, and citizens who recreate in the area.
Reclamation is required to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act by examining the potential environmental effects of implementing the RMP. The RMP planning process for Henry Hagg Lake is expected to take approximately two years to complete.
The meetings will take place in facilities meeting accessibility requirements outlined in the Americans with Disabilities Act. Citizens with disabilities which may require special accommodations to participate in or to understand the meeting, should contact Connie Wensman, Regional Office Accessibility Coordinator at (208) 378-5317 at least 10 days in advance so arrangements can be made. TDD# 1-800-377-3529.
For information about the RMP contact Carolyn Burpee Stone, Bureau of Reclamation, 1150 North Curtis Road, Suite 100, Boise ID 83706-1234 by phone (208) 378-5395 by Fax (208) 378-5305 or e-mail: cstone@pn.usbr.gov.