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Start Date
3-8-2022 12:30 PM
End Date
3-8-2022 12:40 PM
Abstract
Development along the Columbia Slough has resulted in an accumulation of a variety of contaminants in Slough sediments and in fish tissue. Major contaminants in Slough sediments include heavy metals, pesticides, PCBs, semi-volatile organic compounds, and PAHs. At Whitaker Ponds, historical untreated stormwater discharges to East Whitaker Pond led to the need for remediation of East Whitaker Pond sediments for metals, PCB and PAHs. After seven years of partnership between Metro Metals Inc, the Department of Environmental Quality, METRO, Portland Parks and Rec and other watershed stakeholders, the pond was drained, areas of highest sediment contamination removed, a six-inch sand cap was placed on approximately 2/3 of the pond; sediment areas with moderate PCB concentrations included an additional activated carbon amendment mixed into the sand cap in Summer 2021. The project had many ecological and community goals, including the removal of as much contamination as possible and “capping” the remaining sediment to prevent remaining contamination from moving into the water column all while minimizing negative impacts of construction on existing ecological values of the pond. Further, a focus on intentional relationship building and communication to all stakeholders and jurisdictional partners ensured the development and implementation of a project with the full support of the community. This project stands as an example of successful community and jurisdictional coordination that should be used as a template for future remediation projects that are already planned for the Columbia Slough watershed.
Subjects
Animal ecology, Habitat restoration, Water quality
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/38009
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 License.
Captions
Whitaker Ponds Natural Area Remediation Project: A brilliant example of successful partnership, communication and realization of goals.
Development along the Columbia Slough has resulted in an accumulation of a variety of contaminants in Slough sediments and in fish tissue. Major contaminants in Slough sediments include heavy metals, pesticides, PCBs, semi-volatile organic compounds, and PAHs. At Whitaker Ponds, historical untreated stormwater discharges to East Whitaker Pond led to the need for remediation of East Whitaker Pond sediments for metals, PCB and PAHs. After seven years of partnership between Metro Metals Inc, the Department of Environmental Quality, METRO, Portland Parks and Rec and other watershed stakeholders, the pond was drained, areas of highest sediment contamination removed, a six-inch sand cap was placed on approximately 2/3 of the pond; sediment areas with moderate PCB concentrations included an additional activated carbon amendment mixed into the sand cap in Summer 2021. The project had many ecological and community goals, including the removal of as much contamination as possible and “capping” the remaining sediment to prevent remaining contamination from moving into the water column all while minimizing negative impacts of construction on existing ecological values of the pond. Further, a focus on intentional relationship building and communication to all stakeholders and jurisdictional partners ensured the development and implementation of a project with the full support of the community. This project stands as an example of successful community and jurisdictional coordination that should be used as a template for future remediation projects that are already planned for the Columbia Slough watershed.