Transportation

Geography

Historical Background

Identified Hazards

Issues

Maps

Clearwater County has four incorporated communities, Elk River (pop. 156),  Orofino (3,247), Pierce (617) and Weipp (416). The total population for the county in 2000 was 8,930. That is an increase of 5% since 1990.

Transportation

Geography

Land Area: 2,488 square miles.

Historical Background

Established in February 27, 1911 with its county seat at Orofino. Named for the Clearwater River whose name was translated from the Nez Perce term Koos-Koos-Kai-Kai, describing clear water. In September, 1805, Lewis and Clark followed an old Indian trail between the north and middle forks of the Clearwater River and met the Nez Perce near the present site of Weippe. Gold was first discovered by E. D. Perce in 1860 and Pierce City, the oldest mining town in Idaho came into existence.

County Seat: Orofino

Wildland Fire - 8-9/2000

Event Summary:  $1,000,000,000.00 - Over 1,541 fires burned in Idaho in 2000, scorching over 7 million acres.  A federal disaster declaration was declared on September 1, 2000.  Several times DEQ issued air quality advisories due to intense smoke; air cleaners and fans were sent to Salmon on August 21, 2000.  Over 3 million acres of public and state lands were closed, including more than 2,000 miles of trails, 80 miles of river, and nearly all public airstrips.  The Salmon River was closed for 26 days, affecting 4,000 outfitter floaters, 2300 private floaters, and 140 commercial jet boaters, resulting in lost income and employment for local communities.  13 fires caused evacuations of 14-16 locations,  109 structures were destroyed.  Critical wildife habitat was destroyed.

County Summary: The Snow Creek fire and Elizabeth fire burned many acres.

Idaho Statesman  22 Sept 00

Landslide - 03/12/1997

Event Summary: $9,500,000.00  - Mudslides plagued North Idaho.

County Summary: A mudslide 6 to 8 feet deep closed Idaho SR-11 near Greer Grade.  6 miles of  Grangemont Road near Orofina was damaged costing $322,000.

Idaho Transportation Department

Flood -  New Year's Day Storm - January 1-5, 1997

Event Summary: $65,000,000.00 - New Year's day floods in the Weiser, Payette and Salmon River drainages of southwestern  Idaho caused record flooding and numerous mudslides.  Warm temperatures combined with a rainfall 4-6 times the normal amount; the resulting snowmelt triggered devastating floods, mudslides and avalanches, extensively damaging communities and infrastructure throughout Idaho.  The community of South Banks was condemned because of extensive slide damage.  Over 400 miles of roads and several railroad lines were blocked or destroyed, stranding over 10,000 holiday travelers in western Idaho. Residents of McCall, Cascade, Banks, Lowman and Garden Valley were isolated.  Rivers were "running like chocolate," carrying huge trees, mud and boulders; the Snake River at Hells Canyon Dam crested at 101,728 cfs January 1, nearly 30,000 cfs over its previous record level on 2/23/82.  The crash of a plane carrying 5 people from Boise to McCall, killing all, was a result of the weather.  Governor Batt declared 13 counties a disaster: Gem, Adams, Washington, Idaho, Clearwater, Valley, Payette, Elmore, Latah, Boundary, Bonner, Shoshone and Boise.  A Federal disaster was declared on  January 4, 1997.

County Summary: $2,832,075 Infrastructure

The  Idaho Statesman  3/20/97

Severe Weather - 2/1996

Event Summary:  $100,000,000.00 - The worst flooding in 30 years forces thousands to flee.  "one week deep freeze, the next deep water".  The deluge was triggered from fast-melting snow and days of heavy rains.  $5 million worth of damage occurred to highways from Bonners Ferry to Grangeville.

County Summary: Orofino was left isolated after flooding along the Clearwater River shut down highways.
$8,189,189 Infrastructure; $41,154 Housing Assistance; $8,679 Individual Assistance

The Spokesman-Review 9 Feb 96

Severe Weather - 1/5-16/1989

Event Summary:  A large storm ripped through the north central Idaho creating hazardous road conditions after it dumped several inches of snow mixed with great wind.

County Summary: Snow and tree limbs knocked down power lines.  Power was affected by trees falling on power lines.

Lewiston Morning Tribune  11 Jan 89

Wildland Fire - 9/1988 

Event Summary: $7,800,000.00 - Several fires throughout North Idaho.  Smoke aggravated respiratory problems, burned eyes, and irritated noses.  Outside smoking, campfires, commercial woodcutting were banned from Nez Perce National Forest.  Over 70,000 acres burned.

County Summary: The Jay West Fire had over 380 people working it.

The Lewiston Tribune, The Idaho Statesman Sept. 1988

Wildland Fire - 8/1986

Event Summary: Wildfires throughout the state resulted in a state-wide disaster declaration on 8/12/86.  Most of the fires were results of a lightning storm  8/10/86

County Summary:

Lewiston Tribune 27 Aug 86

Landslide -  2/17/1986

Event Summary:  A winter storm brought several mudslides to Idaho and Clearwater Counties.

County Summary: Rock fell on Greer Grade, several accidents were reported resulting in few injuries.  Lower Ford's Creek Road near Orofino was closed because of a mudslide.

Lewiston Tribune 18 Feb 86

Drought - Aug 1984

Event Summary: Disaster declaration for crop damage.

County Summary: Disaster declaration for crop damage from drought and a hailstorm in August.

Idaho Statesman  7 April 1985

Volcanic -  5/19/1980

Event Summary:  $13,700,000.00

Mount St. Helens erupted from Washington spewing volcanic ash over several states.  Dust covered cities and contaminated drinking water.  The fallout prompted Governor Evans to declare a state of emergency. The counties in the panhandle received from one-inch to 3-inches of an ash blanket.  Costs for increased unemployment, destruction of vehicles and other equipment, damage to crops, livestock and timber, and lost tax revenues was about $13.7 million.  This does not include loss to residents, local businesses and government.

County Summary:

Severe Weather - 1/3/1969

Event Summary:  Sixteen snow slides were reported in North Idaho closing many highways.  An ice jam formed on the Clearwater River near Kamiah.  Flights were canceled in Lewiston due to the weather conditions.  A section of railroad was washed out and restricted motor vehicle travel was reported due to slides. Most schools were closed.  Snow along with 35-mile an hour winds, was blamed for power outages in Moscow, Potlatch, Troy, Deary, and Bovill.

County Summary: some slides occurred around Bald Mountain.  Elk City was isolated after the south fork of the Clearwater River covered State Highway 14. 

Lewiston Morning Tribune  7 Jan 69

Wildland Fire - 7/27-8/24/1967

Event Summary: $18,500,000.00 - A state of emergency was declared because of fires, closing range and forest land north of the Salmon River to the public.  The Idaho National Guard was dispatched to aid the fire fighters.  Fires were burning throughout the Coeur d'Alene, Nez Perce, and St. Joe National Forests.  70,000-80,000 acres were burned.  Wind gusts were up to 60 miles per hour.  2 fire fighters died in the blaze.  "Deficit spending" was allowed to cover the costs of firefighting.

County Summary: A truck carrying diesel oil ignited a fire in the Clearwater Forest requiring 1,200 gallons of retardant to be dropped on the blaze.

Lewiston Morning Tribune 10 Aug 67

Flood -  2/4/1963 

Event Summary: Cold weather created ice jams and cloudbursts created flooding throughout several counties in the Panhandle.  President Kennedy authorized $250,000 in flood relief loans.  $4.7 million in damage throughout the state this year.

County Summary: Storm drains were plugged with ice in Nez Perce causing flooding along Main Street.

Lewiston Morning Tribune 5-9 Feb 63

Flood - 5/23-6/5/1948

Event Summary: The 1948 flood was caused by abnormal snowmelt augmented by rainstorms the latter part of May and in June.  The floods caused contamination of the water system, which left residents without drinking water. Over $3,700,000 damage to roads and highways. $30 Million damage to crops.

County Summary: The Orofino Creek took over several roads.  About 55 families left their homes in Orofino due to the flooding. Flood Emergency Declared

Lewiston Morning Tribune

Wildland Fire - The Big Blowup - 8/21-22, 1910

Event Summary:    $20,875,000.00 - In a brief 48-hour span, fires carried by hurricane-force winds burned more than 3 million acres, killed 85 persons, devastated the eastern part of Wallace and destroyed between 7 and 8 billion board-feet of timber.  The winds, which gave the Big Blowup its horror, came up from the southwest in the Nez Perce National Forest near Elk City.

County Summary: 2.5 million acres of the Clearwater, burning all of the Clearwater's headwaters from Weitas Creek up through Kelly Creek and across the Bitterroot Range.

The Idaho Statesman, Stephen Pyne's The Year of the Fires, The Big Blowup

Identified Hazards ( Most likely to occur & greatest impact)

Other Issues