The photo above was taken last Thursday.  The reflection of the arched dome has created an illusion that the culvert is a complete circle.  Because the worksite was flooded all week,the contractors were unable to work.  Later on Thursday, a larger pump was brought in and it began pumping down the area on Friday.  By Saturday morning, the level of water had dropped about 3 feet or more.  Another large pump was brought in Saturday morning.  Sunday was a day of heavy rain and by tonight my rain gauge had 1.18 inches of rain.  The watershed for Gee Creek is 8.7 square miles.  A one inch rain on the watershed dumps 150 million gallons or more.  Some of this water is soaked into the ground  or stored in ponds and wetlands or storm water facilities.  The water that makes it to the creek can only go through the North Main Avenue crossing.  With the extra pumping today, the water level stayed about the same.  The National Weather Service is predicting another round of heavy rain early Tuesday.  This could be a real problem:  The high flows on the creek today will not have much time to drain the watershed before the next storm and the ground is beginning to be soaked increasing the amount of runoff.   September is a month of transition from summer into fall.  Occasionally, early autumn storms can arrive.  This year has been unusually stormy so far and is making things difficult for the project.  It is a little ironic that this project should prevent any future flooding on North  Main Avenue but is being delayed by a flooded worksite.

The work area is flooded halting work on the section of N Main Ave and Gee Creek.  The work area is dependent on a pump to move water upstream to down stream of the work area.  We have had some heavy rain yesterday through this morning. The staff gauge in Abrams Park showed a flow of 70 cubic feet/second or 31,000 gallons a minute.  It is much too much for the pump and the creek has backed up almost to Heron Ridge Drive.  There will be some  more rain this week and flows should stay higher for a while.  Usually flows are less than 5 cubic feet/second in late summer.

~ Contributed by Paul Snoey

Another anonymous donor has pledged $10,000 for the Library Building Fund. thanks to the hard work of Rick Smithrud of the Fort Vancouver Library Foundation. This put us farther along the road to getting our newly remodeled library.

Now if only we had ten more donations of this size we could start building the library next spring.

 It’s easy to donate to the library building fund. Make your check out to the Friends of the Ridgefield Library and mail it to PO Box 534, Ridgefield, WA 98642, or take it to the library. Contributions may be tax deductible.

If you want to be a Cornerstone member by donating $1000, the money can be paid in regular increments, but you do need to sign a form in order for the Treasurer to track payments. There are other levels of giving also. Each major donor will receive recognition on a display in the new library. You can designate your donation be used only for the building fund if you like.

The student-run coffee shop is being constructed at the RACC. Plans are to have it open in early October, but this gives you a preview of the location and design.

More on this later…

Tevis Laspa, Kathy Winters, Zach Goldfinch, Carrie and Kelly Beckwith

Yesterday Tevis and I picked up a very nice check for the Friends of the Ridgefield Library from 3Peaks Public House and Taproom. They donated a portion of the money spent at the Britnee Kellogg concert on June 29. With the money collected in the donation jar that evening over $1900 was added to the building fund for the library.

3Peaks has held an event for the Friends for the last several years, and this has made a big contribution to our building fund. Thanks Zach, Carrie and Kelly!

Tuesdays in the Park! Last night’s movie was ‘Babe,’ and as you can see, the multigenerational crowd was having a good time.

The annual Farm to Table Dinner is this Saturday, August 17^th from 6 to 10pm at Overlook Park.

There is a five course meal of the finest and freshest ingredients of the local harvest created by Crave Catering and Gather & Feast Farm. The evening begins on the plaza at six o’clock with happy hour and live music by Faisal & Mitch. Dinner is served family style on long tables brimming with fresh cut flowers at seven o’clock. After dessert, relax to music and dance under the stars with your friends and neighbors. Local wines served by Ridgefield Art Association and beer served by Trap Door Brewing. This is a 21+ event.

Tickets are $75 and must be purchased in advance. For more information visit: www.Ridgefieldwa.us/farm-to-table

Enjoy this perfect weather – summer in the Northwest at it’s best.

And come down to Abrams Park tomorrow (Tuesday the 6th) night for National Night Out. It’s fun!

The wine garden and play scheduled for today’s First Saturday have been canceled.

Help celebrate Ridgefield’s Chamber of Commerce First Anniversary at Three Brothers Vineyard & Winery, Saturday, June 29, from noon to 4 pm. There will be live music from Dan Dingman, complimentary wine, a prize drawing and games. Tickets are $10 each at ridgefieldchamberofcommerce.com via the Events page.

And after that, come to 3Peaks Public House for dinner and drinks and listen to country western music by Britnee Kellogg. 3Peaks will donate a portion of your entire bill.

Bring the whole family to both events.

Gail Alexander posted on Next Door that Allene Wodaege had re-injured her back and needed an electric reclining chair as it was too painful to use a bed. Within hours of the posting a chair had been found and the problem was taken care of.

Good work Ridgefield – we work together!