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.
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...
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...
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...
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....
Welcome Bob Sallinger as Executive Director of Willamette Riverkeeper
Bob Sallinger has played a major role in the work to cleanup the Portland Harbor through his work as Conservation Director for Bird Alliance of Oregon (formerly Portland Audubon) and as a member of the Portland Harbor Community Advisory Group. Now Bob will be taking...
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...
Portland Harbor CAG May 8. 2024 – Willamette Cove Master Plan Phase I
CAG Board Members Michael Pouncil, Chair Doug Larson Sarah Taylor Casimera Tadewaldt May 8, 2024 Participants: 24 Michael Pouncil Introduction: Cassie Cohen - Portland Harbor Community Coalition. Working on Willamette Cove issues, meeting with Metro and EPA....
Portland Botanical Gardens Signs Purchase and Sale Agreement of McCormick and Baxter Site
PORTLAND, OREGON, USA, April 30, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ -- On Earth Day (April 22, 2024), Portland Botanical Gardens (PBG) secured an option to purchase the 59-acre McCormick & Baxter (M&B) superfund site at 6900 N. Edgewater Road in North Portland. The...
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...
Willamette Week: A Once-Polluted Stretch of Riverfront Has Been Clean for Nearly 20 Years. Why Is It Still Off-Limits?
Reported in Willamette Week: By Nigel Jaquiss April 10, 2024 at 7:01 am PDT Chasing Ghosts: Outdoor Adventure ADDRESS: 6900 N Edgewater St. YEAR BUILT: The creosote plant operated from 1944 to 1991. SIZE: 41.8 acres (land); 16.4 acres (water) MARKET VALUE: None...