Northern Management Service constructed a new Search and Rescue Detachment facility for the US Coast Guard at the mouth of the Rogue River in Wedderburn, Oregon. This new building consisted of a complete crew quarters on the first floor and a second floor Watch and Communication Center. The two major challenges to this project were to construct a building that could withstand a Category 5 hurricane and to ensure that archeological history of the site was not damaged.
The Oregon Coastline routinely receives windstorms that rival the strongest hurricanes to hit the southeastern states. Because of this, the Coast Guard wanted a building that could withstand the winds and driving rain that are associated with a Category 5 hurricane. During the construction of this project, one such severe wind storm did impact the area with sustained winds of over 120 miles per hour.
The area around the mouth of the Rogue River in Oregon was once the ancestral home of the Siletz Tribe of Native Americans. Specifically, the site we were building on was a known burial ground for this tribe as a number of Native American graves were unearthed during the construction of the portion of Wedderburn Loop Rd that was directly in front of the site. With careful planning, coordination, cooperation and sensitivity with the archeological consultants, the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, Northern Management Services was able to deliver the completed project to the US Coast Guard on time while maintaining dignity and sacredness of this site for the Siletz.