Willamette River Cleanup

It’s Your River. It’s Your Voice. It’s Your Choice.

Contribute to support the work of the Portland Harbor Community Advisory Group.

Portland Harbor CAG Meeting 11/19/2024

Presentation: Bob Wyatt, Sediment Remediation Preliminary Design Report, Gasco

Bob Sallinger

Oregon's environmental community has suffered a grievous loss with the passing of Bob Sallinger. Read the November 10 Column by Steve Duin "Farewell to Portland’s force of nature" Read about Bob in the Willamette Week article by Nigel Jaquiss. and in The...

Is the Willamette River clean and safe?

Is the Willamette River clean and safe? Read in The Oregonian 10/30/2024  Reports laud the progress made, but a recent OSU study still found hundreds of chemicals in water samples....

SURVEY: WILLAMETTE COVE NATURE PARK

English: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PHCCCOVEEN

Spanish: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PHCCCOVE2SP

PHCAG October 9, 2024

CAG Board Members Michael Pouncil, Chair Doug Larson Sarah Taylor Casimera Tadewaldt   October 9, 2024 Participants: 30 online, several more at PHCAG meeting location   Michael Pouncil Introduction: tonight’s meeting has been recorded.   Participating Jennifer...

Signup for CAG's Virtual Meeting and Newsletters

* indicates required

View previous newsletters and updates.

About the Portland Harbor Cleanup Site

The Portland Harbor Site spans 10 miles of the Lower Willamette River. The river sediments, surface water, and the fish that reside in the harbor have high levels of PCBs, PAHs, dioxins/furans, DDT and other pesticides which present an unacceptable risk to people’s health, especially subsistence and tribal fishers, and to the environment.

Under EPA cleanup plan, contaminated sediments at the site will be addressed through dredging, capping, enhanced natural recovery, and monitored natural recovery. Approximately 394 acres of sediment, out of 2,190 total acres in the site, will be actively remediated with dredging and capping, including removal of over three million cubic yards of contaminated sediments. Approximately 1,774 acres of the site with lower contaminant levels are expected to recover naturally over time.

Active cleanup construction work is expected to take about 13 years and cost $1 billion. Following the active cleanup construction phase, EPA expects a 100-fold reduction in contamination-related cancer and other serious risks. The river’s natural recovery process will further reduce these risks.

Bob Sallinger

Oregon's environmental community has suffered a grievous loss with the passing of Bob Sallinger. Read the November 10 Column by Steve Duin "Farewell to Portland’s force of nature" Read about Bob in the Willamette Week article by Nigel Jaquiss. and in The...

read more

Is the Willamette River clean and safe?

Is the Willamette River clean and safe? Read in The Oregonian 10/30/2024  Reports laud the progress made, but a recent OSU study still found hundreds of chemicals in water samples....

read more

PHCAG October 9, 2024

CAG Board Members Michael Pouncil, Chair Doug Larson Sarah Taylor Casimera Tadewaldt   October 9, 2024 Participants: 30 online, several more at PHCAG meeting location   Michael Pouncil Introduction: tonight’s meeting has been recorded.   Participating Jennifer...

read more

Ceremony to heal the Willamette River

Reported by Nika Bartoo-Smith Underscore Native News + ICT PORTLAND, ORE. – Over four dozen people gathered under the St. John’s bridge, at the shores of the Willamette River on a misty morning on September 8 to welcome one of the Portland All Nations Canoe Family’s...

read more

Portland Harbor CAG meeting July 10, 2024

CAG Board Members Michael Pouncil, Chair Doug Larson Sarah Taylor Casimera Tadewaldt   July 10, 2024 Participants: 231 online, several more at BES Lab   Michael Pouncil Introduction: tonight’s meeting has been recorded. July 19-21, Cathedral Park Jazz Festival....

read more
Community River School

Community River School

Community River School Sweet Summer Evenings on the Banks of the Willamette For all ages The river stretched her arms, overflowing her banks with an abundance which could neither be replaced or bought. Green Anchors- Next to Cathedral Park 5:00 to 7:00 pm Sunday, July...

read more

Help shape the future of Willamette Cove

As reported by Pamplin Media:  Metro, the regional government serving the urban portions of Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties, has kicked off the planning process to create a nature park at Willamette Cove, a former industrial site on the Willamette River...

read more