Hayden Island dredge dump drawing scrutiny
In the war of the Bald Eagles vs. the Port of Portland Bulldozers out on Hayden Island, the wildlife and its defenders have scored at least a modest victory. Now the City of Portland and the state DEQ say they are taking another look at the Port's practice of routinely dumping dredge spoils from the Willamette River on the west end of the island. It seems that the dredging picks up low levels of DDT and hydrocarbons, which of course are not healthy for any living things. Good for the Audobon Society and others who are fighting the Port over their current abuse of the property, and over the much more destructive plans they have for the site in the near future.
Comments (2)
One argument that the opponents should use with DEQ is that it doesn't matter what the Port intends to use the property for, because the Port's intended use isn't allowed by the current zoning. The property is zoned for agriculture, and the Port's dumping of spoil isn't compatible with agricultural use.
Posted by Isaac Laquedem | September 1, 2010 10:41 AM
Maybe they should dump the spoils downtown. The Port is one of Portland's biggest economic engines, and this engine needs to dredge like it or not. So, if not where it's been done historically, where else?
Posted by Bob Clark | September 1, 2010 12:08 PM