2020 Pearson Creek Flood Damage and Repair
Background/Overview
On May 20, 2020, the North Fork John Day Ranger District experienced significant rainfall that caused several creeks and rivers to flood, creating significant washouts on Forest Service Road (FSR) 54 (also known as Pearson Creek Road). The Umatilla National Forest temporarily closed 13 miles of FSR 54 following the flood event. This road provides a major access route to the Forest, as well as primary access to several private residences in the area.
- FSR 54, also known as Pearson Creek Road, is located approximately 14 miles southeast of Pilot Rock.
- Closure barriers and signs will be posted on the ground, and visitors can take alternative routes into the area, including FSR 54 north from Highway 244 near Ukiah or FSR 5427 near Indian Lake.
View additional photos of the damage on our 2020 Umatilla National Forest flooding album.
Current Conditions/Repair Status
Updated January 20, 2023: Contractors have started repair work on FSR 54 near the intersection of East Birch Creek Road south approximately four miles to the National Forest boundary. The purpose of this work was to repair damage to the roadway, establish some protection features aimed at preventing additional flood damage to the road this spring, and reduce erosion and sedimentation into Pearson Creek.
- Work to be completed included filling in washed out portions of the road (which provides access to private residences), ditch work to provide proper drainage, flagging for proposed culverts, cattle guard replacement and brushing
- Work will be on-going over the next couple of weeks.
June 10, 2022: The Umatilla National Forest has temporarily reclosed a portion of Forest Service Road (FSR) 54 due to road damage caused by the recent rainfall and flooding.
- The closure begins at mile post 1.5, near the intersection of East Birch Creek Road, south to the installed gate just east of the intersection of Forest Service Roads 54 and 5411.
- Closure barriers and signs will be posted on the ground and visitors can take alternative routes into the area, including FSR 54 north from Highway 244 near Ukiah or FSR 5427 near Indian Lake. Detailed closure maps and updates on flood repair activities are available on the Forest website and at any Forest office.
May 18, 2022: The Umatilla National Forest will receive $4.6 million of disaster relief supplemental funds over three years to address impacts from the 2020 flood events and the 2021 wildfires. Implementing this work will restore access and aid the Forest in natural resource recovery efforts over the next several years.
- The USDA Forest Service in the Pacific Northwest was allocated $291 million in disaster relief supplemental funding to address damage caused by the wildfires, floods, and extreme weather events the region experienced in 2019, 2020 and 2021.
- The funding is a share of the $1.36 billion of supplemental appropriations provided to the Forest Service through the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act of 2021. The act provided a total of $28.6 billion in new supplemental appropriations for disaster relief recovery to federal agencies.
- The disaster relief supplemental funds will go toward numerous critical recovery needs including road, bridge and culvert repairs; communication tower and lines repairs; hazard tree removal; hazardous fuels reduction; revegetation and reforestation; and other restoration needs on National Forest lands.
- The Umatilla National Forest will receive funding over the next three years to complete repairs on Forest Service Road 54, in addition to other areas impacted by flooding and to support post-fire recovery on the Forest.
Next Steps for repairs on FSR 54:
- This year, Forest staff will contract out a feasibility study to examine different options to reduce the potential for future flood impacts.
- Forest Staff will coordinate with regulatory agencies on proposed repair activities along the existing route
- Results of the feasibility study will be used to develop repair plans with the goal of fully reopening FSR 54 to the public over the next few years.
October 29, 2021: Contractors completed repairs this week on the northern portion of FSR 54, including backfilling and reconstructing portions of the eroded roadway, clearing debris on the roadway, and restoring drainage features by cleaning or repairing damaged culverts and ditches. Forest officials reopened the section of road from mile post 0.6, near the intersection of East Birch Creek Road south to the closure gate at mile post 4.5 within the Umatilla National Forest. While this portion of the road will reopen, forest visitors are cautioned that road width, surface and turning areas may not be suitable for low clearance vehicles, motorhomes, or large pull trailers. Visitors are encouraged to contact the North Fork John Day Ranger District office for additional information on conditions.
September 15, 2021: Contractors will begin repair work next week on the northern portion of Forest Service Road (FSR) 54 from mile post 0.667, near the intersection of East Birch Creek Road, working south to the Umatilla National Forest boundary.
- Work may be ongoing for up to a month and includes backfilling and reconstructing portions of the eroded roadway, clearing debris on the roadway, and restoring drainage features by cleaning or repairing damaged culverts and ditches.
- The road work section will be closed for public safety during construction. The objective of this repair work is to restore functional public access to the National Forest boundary. Compliance with road closures during construction will allow work to be finished as soon as possible.
- This section of road will be opened when work is complete and has been inspected to ensure road conditions provide for safe travel.
January 19, 2021: Contractors will begin repair work this week on the northern portion of Forest Service Road (FSR) 54 from the intersection of East Birch Creek Road south for 0.6 miles.
- Work will be ongoing for approximately 3 weeks and includes repairing the bridge approach at the intersection of East Birch Creek Road, backfilling eroded roadway, clearing debris and restoring drainage features prior to spring run-off by cleaning or repairing damaged culverts and ditches.
- The objective of this repair work is to restore access into private residences and ensure road conditions provide for safe travel.
- This section of road is restricted to one lane travel for local residents while repair work is underway.
- Following the repair work, access will be limited to local traffic only. Additionally, the following portions of FSR 54 remain closed to the general public.
- From one-quarter of a mile east of the junction with Forest Service Road 5411 to its junction with Umatilla County Road 1375 (East Birch Creek Road).
- Forest Service staff are completing comprehensive assessments of on-the-ground damage and developing repair plans for future work on FSR 54. Additional updates will be shared as work progresses.
July 31, 2020: Staff will begin completing site-specific damage survey reports to identify specific repair needs and cost estimates. The Forest anticipates work will begin this summer.
- At this time the top priority is to reestablish residential access to homeowners on the north end of the road.