Columbia Slough Environmental Task Force

From Plug to Plug: The Columbia Slough Environmental Improvement Task Force

The Columbia Slough, circa 1972. Courtesy of the Multnomah Drainage District
In January, the Port of Portland formed a Columbia Slough Environmental Improvement Task Force. To defuse potential tensions between the many stakeholders on the slough, and to develop a comprehensive land-use plan, Task Force members included Lloyd Anderson, the City of Portland; Mel Gordon, Multnomah County; Ed Whelan, the Port of Portland; L.B. Day, the Oregon State Department of Environmental Quality; and Colonel Paul Triem, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The group's task was to determine which of seven plans, submitted by the port and citizen's committees, would best suit slough communities, the environment, and development in north Portland. According to the Port, a Rivergate Freeway and industrial development would create 25,000 jobs.

Alternative plans included:

A mixed concept of a controlled lake system, no slough and extensive commercial development.

Units of commercial development separated by parks, an interior transportation system around the lakes, a split traffic system coming out of Rivergate and multi-use of the area.

A neighborhood concept, with a closed slough and the area ties into the St. Johns community.

Commercial development around the lakes, and housing on the south, with the Rivergate freeway moved to the interior of the area.

Improvement of Smith Lake and a diking system, as well as turning basins and entrance from the Columbia River. The slough is not filled, but is closed on either end, providing drainage for the Rivergate area. The proposal includes pumping over the plug to prevent flooding from the inside.

Different citizen groups and agencies presented options to the Task Force which defined what they considered appropriate land uses of the area. Goals included developing an integrated land-use plan for the North Portland Peninsula Area, and designating areas for industrial, commercial, recreational, and open-space development. The North Portland Peninsula Plan recommended by the Task Force concluded that Rivergate should be developed for industry, recreation, commercial and residential use, and that the Columbia Slough should be closed.

Columbia Slough Closure and Environmental Improvement Task Force Documents (16 documents)

Maps of proposed North Portland Peninsula Plans