All Sauvie Island Searches

[sarx]

Thanks for answering! So in your opinion (or any other SAR expert here) would they send out divers in these conditions just to be thorough? Or would there need to be a pretty valid reason or tip to send them out there in freezing water temps. Pure speculation, I know.....:angel:

Does anyone know what the water temps are out there and what they were? For our waters here (I am a on the left coast, but not the same state) the temps really don't change all that much, 10 degrees maybe, so the time of year is not that much of a factor. It's not like many parts where the waters warm up to cozy and then freeze in the winter.

So, without info on the water, I think it could just be that it took time to gather that many divers. I know we have a pretty good size team here, but we don't have those numbers! It could be from a tip, it could be that they're just going down their list of places they need to clear further.

I know, sorry, not very helpful huh?!

 

[Oriah]

Thanks for answering! So in your opinion (or any other SAR expert here) would they send out divers in these conditions just to be thorough? Or would there need to be a pretty valid reason or tip to send them out there in freezing water temps. Pure speculation, I know.....:angel:

Here on the right coast (and with easy access to military SAR divers from Bragg and POPE bases) we wouldn't have much trouble coming up with a LOT of very well trained divers to conduct a search if requested. There is also a training facility in the Seattle area similar to what we have here at Ft. Bragg.

However, in my experience, we wouldn't pull those kinds of numbers without a very decent tip. Especially on a Sunday, unless we were looking for another diver who might be trapped underwater and alive. JMO, though.

Another thought- the dept may also just have had money made available to finance a search they have wanted to do for some time.

Just some thoughts to think about.

 

[loves2bmom]

Does anyone know what the water temps are out there and what they were? For our waters here (I am a on the left coast, but not the same state) the temps really don't change all that much, 10 degrees maybe, so the time of year is not that much of a factor. It's not like many parts where the waters warm up to cozy and then freeze in the winter.

So, without info on the water, I think it could just be that it took time to gather that many divers. I know we have a pretty good size team here, but we don't have those numbers! It could be from a tip, it could be that they're just going down their list of places they need to clear further.

I know, sorry, not very helpful huh?!

No, you and Oriah are VERY helpful. I appreciate your input! Have to find some sources for water temps but I suspect you're right that they don't change drastically from Summer to Winter.

 

[sarx]

In the past on this or other cases does anyone know what the size of the dive team has been? It would probably help us figure out what we are dealing with here. Make sense?

 

[sarx]

Also, can anyone shed some light on the area for me?
Currents, underwater obstacles, dams, grates, fish ladders, natural obstacles, etc?

Trying to get a feel for what they're working on here and why they'd be going in after this long? TIA

 

[emmcee]

I am SO happy to hear that the searches are continuing. You just know they wouldn't be doing this without a very good reason. One of these days it's going to pay off and justice can be served.

 

[Billylee]

Yikes, they had a large cougar sighting in May on Sauvie on Reeder Rd.


ALERT! (Both items posted May 14, 2010)

Cougar siting on island. Four island residents saw a large cougar about 8:30 pm, Tuesday, May 4, near milepost 4 on Reeder Road. The next day Rich Mayberry took Fish & Wildlife representatives to the spot, where they found the tracks of a large cat, approximately 6 feet long by 3 feet high. While ODFW gets reports of cougar sightings on the island about once a year, this is the first time they have been able to confirm the animal’s presence. For more information on living with cougars in Oregon see http://www.dfw.state.or.us/wildlife/living_with/living-with-cougars.asp.

http://sauvieisland.org/the-island-community/islands-kudos/

 

[pdx]

Also, can anyone shed some light on the area for me?
Currents, underwater obstacles, dams, grates, fish ladders, natural obstacles, etc?

Trying to get a feel for what they're working on here and why they'd be going in after this long? TIA

Yes.. ick! You're a diver too, yes? I'm a local diver of 15+ years but am like you.. prefer the warm water. I trained up in the Puget Sound and lived in Bellingham, diving from there.

So, water temps? Not sure I want to guess, but let's say in the 50s. I finally watched the FOX video and a couple of the guys are wearing suits like mine.. not dry suits but 7mm with rubber seals. If they are rotating divers around, these conditions aren't bad (IE normal for here).

In the summer, we used to swim in the Columbia side of the island, right out there with the ocean going ships (gak.. can't believe we used to do that & people still do.. dirty!).

Sauvie is agricultural (runoff + debris) and the banks of all the waterways are thick with growth right down to/in the water. The Channel, on that west side of the island, has floating homes in it, so whatever runoff/pollution they put out. Small pleasure boats can navigate there. No dams, fish ladders etc..
The water is murky and has lot of snags & wood in it.

I admire our SAR divers here so much, because they are going places no one wants to go, and finding things no one wants to find, often by feel.

A shoutback to Tink56.. I agree.. there are a lot of spots that look likely.. well, two specifically that I noticed. It would be a real challenge to get to the water edge if you were not on a road.
Remember that Hwy 30 is an incredibly busy road and there are people around most of the time.


With the focus on the interior sides of SI, I just do not know what to think.

 

[sarx]

So, when you say the interior sides are you talking about they Sturgeon lake and wetlands area?

 

[loves2bmom]

Sigh...just typed out a huge paragraph on Tapatalk and it wouldn't post...kicking kids off the computer to try to post again.

Freefallzzzz called and said she only saw one boat trailer out by the ramp today. She did see Kayaks again but not sure they are part of the search. They were all wearing yellow hats though!

She is going to go get a parking pass and go further inland to see if there is more activity out there. She is with her BF who is a fisherman and he said a couple of things about the water. The current is really mild right now and is tied to the moon phase. A possible reason they are searching now is the water conditions. (he called it Frog Water) He said there is a ton of debris in that channel. Lots of logs and things to get hung up on. He even said there is a car and a barge at the bottom. It's about 15-20 feet deep in most spots but as deep as 78 feet in one area. He said the temps are about 45-50 right now and do get about 10 degrees colder later in the winter. In the summer they could be as warm as almost 70.

I'll try and find some websites with water information. He mentioned this one:

http://www.protides.com/oregon/

I also saw this one for Rocky Point in the Channel
http://gofishingforum.net/tide.pl?l...nel, Oregon&state=OR&lat=45.6967&lon=122.8683

Also some Oregon Geological....something.....:waitasec:

She said she would keep us posted.....

 

[PortlandMama]

Last night on KGW the anchor said the dive teams were searching along the east side of Sauvie Island (that's opposite from the channel side). Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean they're not searching elsewhere too.

 

[Tink56]

Also, can anyone shed some light on the area for me?
Currents, underwater obstacles, dams, grates, fish ladders, natural obstacles, etc?

Trying to get a feel for what they're working on here and why they'd be going in after this long? TIA

I found this link that has a fairly comprehension look at the waterways around Sauvie. I'm not local, but the article looks like it covers rocks, etc.

Hope it helps:
http://www2.co.multnomah.or.us/Public/EntryPoint?ct=c658a44d22517010VgnVCM9017930ac614acRCRD

 

[Tink56]

Also, can anyone shed some light on the area for me?
Currents, underwater obstacles, dams, grates, fish ladders, natural obstacles, etc?

Trying to get a feel for what they're working on here and why they'd be going in after this long? TIA

Here's one other link that may be useful...
http://columbiariverimages.com/Regions/Places/sauvie_island.html

http://or.water.usgs.gov/will_morrison/monitors/will_morrison_t_7.html

 

[pdx]

So, when you say the interior sides are you talking about they Sturgeon lake and wetlands area?

Yes, from the ground searches.

That boat dock at the end of Ferry road is the first, easiest place to contact water that one comes to after going onto the island.
However, there is a floating home immediately there on the left, as you walk to the water. You could park without being seen, but it is not an isolated area.
Dive searchers have been there before.

She is with her BF who is a fisherman and he said a couple of things about the water. The current is really mild right now and is tied to the moon phase. A possible reason they are searching now is the water conditions. (he called it Frog Water)

Woohoo FBF! (Free BoyFriend, of course!)

Why isn't Cyclemama on this thread now?! She kayaked in the Channel early on.

 

[loves2bmom]

Yes.. ick! You're a diver too, yes? I'm a local diver of 15+ years but am like you.. prefer the warm water. I trained up in the Puget Sound and lived in Bellingham, diving from there.So, water temps? Not sure I want to guess, but let's say in the 50s. I finally watched the FOX video and a couple of the guys are wearing suits like mine.. not dry suits but 7mm with rubber seals. If they are rotating divers around, these conditions aren't bad (IE normal for here).

In the summer, we used to swim in the Columbia side of the island, right out there with the ocean going ships (gak.. can't believe we used to do that & people still do.. dirty!).

Sauvie is agricultural (runoff + debris) and the banks of all the waterways are thick with growth right down to/in the water. The Channel, on that west side of the island, has floating homes in it, so whatever runoff/pollution they put out. Small pleasure boats can navigate there. No dams, fish ladders etc..
The water is murky and has lot of snags & wood in it.

I admire our SAR divers here so much, because they are going places no one wants to go, and finding things no one wants to find, often by feel.

A shoutback to Tink56.. I agree.. there are a lot of spots that look likely.. well, two specifically that I noticed. It would be a real challenge to get to the water edge if you were not on a road.
Remember that Hwy 30 is an incredibly busy road and there are people around most of the time.


With the focus on the interior sides of SI, I just do not know what to think.

PDX...that's cool! Just diving for fun or were you trained in rescue at all? I would get claustaphobic.

Praying for the SAR crew today!

 

[sarx]

I have an incredible amount of respect and admiration for those divers. Feeling your way around hoping to grab onto something of significance is not my idea of a good time!

 

[loves2bmom]

Free said to check the Scanner thread. I'll post a few updates there. Nothing big so far....

 

[pdx]

PDX...that's cool! Just diving for fun or were you trained in rescue at all? I would get claustaphobic.

Praying for the SAR crew today!

I'm trained as a rescue diver, but SAR is another specialty altogether. I dive for fun only.
When you are diving with 100' of visibility around you, it's a beautiful experience. With just a few feet or less in front of you, it can be intimidating.

 

[nursebeeme]

this is slightly off the search topic but not really.. I pray EVERY SINGLE DAY that a hunter or someone out hiking will stumble over Kyron. I am so very glad to see that the search for him still has fire under it and I hope and pray they can bring him home. Thanks to all for all the search updates and sorry to take up so much vital space here.

 

[Michael25]

When the subject of searches is broached I often wonder how much of SAR's decision-making process is informed by LE's computer and search engine probes. If there was a pass-off from TH to a third party then it seems less likely that those decisions would be made with that kind of info because those computer probes would have likely come up with close to nothing. And it does seem like these are general, intuitive searches. JMO.