OREGON CITY, Ore. -- The heavy rains had eased in the Willamette Valley Saturday, but water was still raging down the Willamette River.
It's a sight we usually only get to experience once in a decade. Seeing the falls at flood stage is a remarkable display of Mother Nature.
"It's the power of nature, it's always awe-inspiring to see this," said Don Nelson who brought his kids from Vancouver to see the falls.
River historians said they haven't seen the falls this high since the great flood of 1996, when the river was about 7 feet higher than it was Saturday afternoon.
Just below the falls, high water had taken away all access to at least one large marina. Docks were either under water or gone.
"I just saw a big dock flying down the river a few minutes ago," said Harold Kettleson, who attempted to go boating Saturday at the Cederoak boat ramp in West Linn. "I didn't think it would be this high, I thought i could put my boat in here, but nope. Not today."
Above the falls, the river crested just above flood stage at 64 feet Saturday morning and began to slowly recede. Below the falls, the was at 27 feet and was expected to crest Saturday evening.
