Spring 2022
News & Updates on Portland Harbor Restoration
Juvenile Wild Salmon Present at PGE Harborton Restoration Project
In January, fish biologists checked a fish monitoring trap set the previous afternoon in the floodplain at PGE’s Harborton restoration site. When they looked inside the net they were encouraged to find seven Chinook and one Coho salmon. This is great news from the Harborton restoration site where threatened salmonid species are already utilizing recently created off-channel habitat.

PGE completed restoration of the 53 acre Harborton restoration project last year. The restoration project boasts newly created tributary habitat for fish, as well as wood structures, snags, and rock pile habitat for birds and mink. Restoration and management activities will continue this year including monthly drone flights to capture seasonal changes and the planting of approximately 3,500 trees and shrubs. A 2021 community volunteer event was successful in clearing weeds and removing 300 pounds of garbage. PGE Is hosting another clean-up and weed management community volunteer event on April 16, check the Upcoming Events section in this newsletter for details.
Photos courtesy of PGE.
Lamprey Monitoring at Portland Harbor Restoration Sites
Lamprey are uniquely important to the five Tribes who are members of the Portland Harbor Natural Resource Trustee Council. The Willamette River is one of the few remaining locations where Tribal members can harvest these fish, which provide subsistence and sustain vital ceremonial activities. However, contamination has deprived many Tribal members of opportunities to eat lamprey, while those who are able to obtain lamprey enjoy their meals less due to concerns about contamination. Tribal members also worry that giving lamprey to others – including children and elders – may harm their health because of contamination.
Restoration projects currently being built and maintained along the Willamette River offer a unique opportunity to gain additional information about the population and health of lamprey in the Willamette River and the river-bottom habitats with which lamprey ammocoetes (larvae) are associated. The restoration projects are creating off-channel habitat, restoring shoreline habitat, and establishing native vegetation. To gain information about lamprey in these restored areas, project developers are providing financial support to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to conduct lamprey monitoring, with additional resources provided by FWS. Monitoring occurs at each project site, including Alder Creek, the Rinearson Natural Area, and Linnton Mill, and the Portland General Electric (PGE) Harborton site.
Ultimately, FWS, the project developers, and the five Tribes hope that the information generated by this monitoring program can inform future restoration efforts to benefit lamprey more specifically.  FWS has documented the results of lamprey monitoring efforts in a series of annual reports. The reports are available in the Trustee Council's Administrative Record here. Use search terms "larval pacific lamprey" to view the reports from 2014-2020.
Upcoming Events
Spring for Your River Cleanup Series
April and May 2022 Join Willamette Riverkeeper for spring cleaning activities on the river. Volunteers are needed throughout the Willamette watershed. Find and event in your area here.

Portland Harbor CAG General Meeting 
April 13, 6:30 PM Join the Portland Harbor Community Advisory Group (CAG) for a virtual presentation on ecological restoration from the Portland Harbor Natural Resource Trustee Council. The meeting will be hosted via Zoom. More information on the CAG's website here.

PGE Harborton Site Clean-up Volunteer Event
April 16, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM Location: 12500 NW Marina Way, Portland, OR 97231.
PGE is hosting a spring clean-up and weed management event at the PGE Harborton restoration site, gloves and good boots are recommended.
Portland Harbor in the News

The Portland Harbor Natural Resource Trustee Council is responsible for restoring natural resources that have been impacted by contamination in the Portland Harbor Superfund site. The purpose of this newsletter is to share information about the Trustee Council's work with those who are interested in our assessment and restoration efforts.