Water quality testing conducted at three locations near the 9th Street Bridge over Mill Creek show that conditions have returned to normal for this time of year. Please be aware that Mill Creek is posted with “No Trespassing” signs year-around throughout The Dalles to allow for undisturbed fish spawning.
Signs which were placed at locations of public river access on the Oregon shore of the Columbia River, to warn of contaminated water, were taken down this afternoon.
On Friday September 23, 2022, a City of The Dalles Wastewater Collection crew conducted a routine weekly inspection at the manhole at the 9th Street Bridge over Mill Creek. They found the lock had been broken and vandals had thrown rocks and concrete pieces into the manhole, causing a plugged sewer pipe. Sewage overflowed directly into Mill Creek and into the Columbia River. The sewer pipe was cleared and the pipe was repaired on the day the problem was found. No more sewage is overflowing. Out of an abundance of caution signs were posted on the Columbia River to allow adequate time for the spill to dissipate during a season of low flows in the creek.
The Department is in communication with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and local health department officials to coordinate demobilization. Questions can be directed to the Public Works Department office at (541) 296-5401.