Warrenton, Oregon, Wetlands Issue

Landowner client owned land in and around Warrenton, Oregon, that he was unable to develop because of its claimed wetland nature. With our assistance and the client's extensive factual research, we established that the drainage-diking districts in the area were not maintaining the drainage-diking system. It was the failure of the system that was causing the creation of wetlands on client's property.

We called upon the County to step up and either force the drainage district to reorganize or dissolve so that the drainage district maintenance could be reestablished. The landowner had a possible cause of action against the drainage district and County for a takings on account of failed maintenance.

We achieved resolution after doing a wetlands study with Oregon Division of State Lands and Forestry in conjunction with local government for a land use that provided some of client's lands to be developed and some to remain wetlands. We also worked with client on an option to establish a wetlands mitigation bank for his land.