There’s a lot going on in the managed floodplain and the Columbia Slough Watershed. We couldn’t possibly capture everyone and everything, but we’ve assembled a list of the recreational opportunities, organizations, and some other helpful resources to get additional information about this unique part of our region.
RECREATION IN THE MANAGED FLOODPLAIN
Nature in the City Guide
The Columbia Slough Watershed Council’s Nature in the City Guide includes recreational opportunities in the managed floodplain and the Columbia Slough watershed area, which includes places to the west of the managed floodplain like Kelley Point Park and Smith & Bybee Wetlands Natural Area, the largest urban wetland in the US.
Paddler’s Access Guide to the Columbia Slough
Check out the City of Portland’s Paddler’s Access Guide for a list of boat launches, portages, and everything you need to know to take your kayak or canoe out into the Slough! (But no fishing, please.)
Fishing Opportunities
For those of you looking for somewhere to fish in the area, check out Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife’s 50 places to go fishing within 60 minutes of Portland, which includes places in the Columbia Slough Watershed like Blue Lake Park, Chinook Landing, and Salish Ponds.
MORE ABOUT LEVEES & FLOOD PROTECTION
ORGANIZATIONS WORKING IN THE MANAGED FLOODPLAIN & COLUMBIA SLOUGH WATERSHED
Audubon Society of Portland
With the help of a vast network of advocates, nature enthusiasts, and partners, the Audubon Society of Portland promotes the understanding, enjoyment, and protection of native birds, other wildlife, and their habitats.
Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission
The Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC) supports the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Confederated Tribe of the Warm Springs, the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, and the Nez Perce Tribe through the coordination of fisheries management policy, protecting tribal fishing rights, providing technical services, and conducting scientific research to support the protection and restoration of Columbia River Basin salmon, lamprey, and sturgeon.
Columbia Riverkeeper
The Columbia Riverkeeper protects and restores the water quality of the Columbia River through legal advocacy and community organizing to stop pollution, fight fossil fuels, and save salmon.
Columbia Slough Watershed Council
The Columbia Slough Watershed Council is a diverse group of neighbors, property owners, businesses, environmental groups, recreation advocates, and government agencies work together to restore and enhance the Columbia Slough.
Columbia Corridor Association
The Columbia Corridor Association is a non-profit business association committed to promoting and enhancing the viability of the Columbia Corridor, benefiting their members and the local community, and assisting in the design and implementation of regulations.
East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District
EMSWCD is a local governmental entity working to conserve water, keep soil healthy, and keep our water clean in Multnomah County east of the Willamette River.
Friends of Trees
Friends of Trees inspires people to improve the natural world around them through a simple solution: planting trees. Together. One tree at a time.
The Intertwine
The Intertwine Alliance is a coalition of 150+ public, private, and nonprofit organizations working to integrate nature more deeply into the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan region.
Metro
Metro works with communities, businesses and residents in the Portland metropolitan area to chart a wise course for the future while protecting the things we love about this place.
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s mission is to be a leader in restoring, maintaining, and enhancing the quality of Oregon’s air, land, and water.
Portland Bureau of Environmental Services
The City of Portland’s Bureau of Environmental Services manages Portland’s wastewater and stormwater infrastructure to protect public health and the environment.
Portland Parks & Recreation
Portland Parks & Recreation provides safe places, facilities, and programs that promote physical, mental, and social activity. They get people, especially kids, outside, active, and connected to the community.
The Port of Portland
The Port of Portland connects people and passengers with the world and drives economic growth. Since moving people and products takes energy and can impact the environment, the Port’s environmental services program focuses on efforts and partnerships that minimize impacts and enhance natural resources.
US Environmental Protection Agency
The EPA works to protects people and the environment from significant health risks, sponsors and conducts research, and develops and enforces environmental regulations.
Verde
Verde serves communities by building environmental wealth through social enterprise, outreach, and advocacy. They bring new environmental investments to Portland’s neighborhoods, involve community members in planning and building local projects, and ensure low-income people and people of color directly benefit from investments made in green spaces, habitat, renewable energy, stormwater management facilities, environmental education, green jobs, and more.
REMEMBERING VANPORT
In less than one day, an entire city was destroyed, over 18,000 residents were displaced. and at least fifteen people died.
Vanport Mosaic
The Vanport Mosaic initiative is a collective of artists, historians, educators, and media makers seeking to engage the public in remembering silenced histories of the Pacific Northwest. Together the Vanport Mosaic aims to honor the legacy of the Vanport community and the 1948 flood, serving as a platform to preserve and document the stories of the people of Vanport and act as a central point where the diverse efforts surrounding Vanport can be visible in one place.
Vanport Place-Marking Project
The Vanport Place-Marking project will create site awareness to honor the significant cultural history of the former Vanport City by creating permanent signage and an interpretative center.
A BRIEF INTRO TO THE HISTORY OF THE COMMUNITY & LANDSCAPE
- A Brief History of the Columbia Slough Watershed developed by Portland’s Bureau of Environmental Services
- Center for Columbia River History of the American Folklife Center
- Columbia River Basin Ethnic History Archive
- Columbia River: Description, Creation, Discovery by the NW Power & Conservation Council
- Columbia River History by William Lang, published by the Oregon Encyclopedia
- Columbia River History project by John Harrison, published by the NW Power & Conservation Council
- Columbia River Treaty (1964) by John Harrison, published by the Oregon Encyclopedia
- Equity, Environmental Justice & Industrial Pollution in Portland by Andrew Riley & Eline Leemans for the Center for Intercultural Organizing, posted on October 12, 2014
- First Peoples in the Portland Basin published by the Oregon History Project
- Lidar Map Shows Path of the Missoula Floods that Shaped Oregon’s Backyards by Ian Campbell for the Oregonian
- Industrialization of the Columbia Inspired Sweeping Cultural Changes blog post by Confluence
- Parting the Green Curtain: Tracing Environmental Inequality in Portland, Oregon thesis by Lindsey E. McCord, published in 2006
- Pollution in the Water Ways: Columbia Slough blog by Caroline Firer
- Portland Expo Center: A Hidden History video produced by Jodi Darby for Oregon Humanities
- Railroads, Race & the Transformation of Oregon by William G. Robbins published by the Oregon History Project
- Troubled Waters in Ecotopia: Environmental Racism in Portland, Oregon by Ellen Stroud, published in 1999