11/30/2000 - Merestone Pond & Beaver Dam to Remain iCITY OF TIGARD
13125 SW Hall Blvd.
Tigard, Oregon 97223
Merestone Pond and Beaver Dam to Remain
For Immediate Release
Thursday, November 30, 2000
Contact: Greg Berry
City of Tigard
503-639-4171, ext. 373
At their November 21, 2000, meeting, the Tigard City Council directed staff to
proceed with a plan to allow the beaver dam and Merestone pond to remain,
provided the seven affected property owners agree.
• In July 2000, staff reported to City Council on two wetlands enhancement project
options for the area. Notice was received from the regulatory agencies requiring
permits that permits would be available for only one of the options and not the
option preferred by area residents.
In September 2000, a neighborhood meeting was held to explain the permitable
options to the neighborhood residents and to discuss the regulatory agencies'
decision regarding the permits. Consensus of the neighbors in attendance at the
meeting was that since the required permits for the preferred option were not
available, the beaver dam and pond should be allowed to remain and there
should be no more efforts toward a wetlands enhancement project.
Maintaining the current water level results in the pond covering the southern
ends of seven lots along Merestone Court. Permission from these seven
property owners is required to maintain the water level. All seven owners have
been contacted. To date, five affirmative responses have been received. Staff
will continue to encourage the property owners to respond.
Maintenance of the beaver dam will be limited to debris removal until permission
is received from all seven owners. Once permission is received, the City will
assist a volunteer neighborhood maintenance team that will monitor the level of
• the pond and remove debris as needed to keep the water at the desired level.
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