Lake Oswego-Tigard Water Partnership Honored for Cultural Awarness

It was a $254 million project that stretched across cities, towns, counties and those behind it wanted to make sure that it only worked but that it didn't disturb natural and cultural resources.

And for its efforts, the Lake Oswego Tigard Water Partnership was honored by the American Cultural Resources Association at their annual conference.

"It's an honor to be acknowledged for our stewardship and proactive approach to minimizing impacts to cultural resources," said Joel Komarek, P.E., Partnership Project Director. "We collaborated with many stakeholders to install vital water infrastructure for our two communities in a sensitive manner, while also protecting and commemorating Lake Oswego's cultural and tribal history through a unique exhibit."

The project, which brings drinking water from the Clackamas River to Lake Oswego and Tigard, involved working with archaeologists from the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde and the State Historic Preservation Office

The partnership says that they developed a cultural resources exhibit in collaboration with the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. The installation, located in George Rogers Park, incorporates a unique sculpture and exhibit commemorating the cultural and tribal legacy of Lake Oswego. The artwork, "The Man from Kosh-huk-shix," was created by tribal artist Travis Stewart and was inspired by the story of a man who harvested eels from Willamette Falls and taught his village how to cook them to fend off starvation during a particularly brutal winter.

Photo courtesy Lake Oswego Tigard Water Partnership