[Paddlewise] Clean up the Columbia Slough

To the paddlewise list:

Imagine paddling a clean Columbia Slough with moving water.  It would sure
make my day.

Representative Randy Leonard has introduced a bill to make it happen.  Let's
do our best to support his efforts.  I have included a couple of notes on a
hearing and a copy of the legislation, which I found at
gopher://gopher.leg.state.or.us/11/measure.dir/House_Measures/hb3300.dir%09%
09%2B

Keith
Alder Creek Kayak and Canoe
250 NE Tomahawk Isle Dr
Portland, Oregon      97217

Phone: 503.285.0464
Fax:      503.285.0106
Web:     http://www.aldercreek.com
Email:   aldercreek_at_aldercreek.com
Email:   acks_at_teleport.com


Rep. Randy Leonard's Columbia Slough Clean-Up legislation will get a public
hearing in Portland on Tuesday, March 23rd as a part of the Species
Restoration & Stream Recovery Committee's (SR2) efforts to reach out to the
public.  The hearing will start at 4:30 pm and go until 9:00 pm.  It will be
held at Metro, 600 NE Grand Ave.

House Bill 3311 Will Require:

1. Opening Columbia River Slough to Columbia River at N.E. 174th & Marine
Drive and N.E. 30th and Marine Drive.  The openings would be required to be
navigable from the Columbia River to the Columbia River Slough by small
craft
(rowboats, canoes).  Navigable along the entire length of the Slough.

2. Connecting the Portland International Airport stormwater run-off
discharges
into the City of Portland's Sewage Treatment Plant.

3. Dredge and remove contaminents from the Columbia River Slough.

Note: The bill came out in print form yesterday, March 17th.

    70th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--1999 Regular Session
NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
 { +  braces and plus signs + } .LC 1739                         House Bill
3311
Sponsored by Representative LEONARD                             SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure asintroduced.
  Requires Port of Portland to connect its drainage systems to
storm or sewer system of Portland.
  Requires dissolution of drainage districts in Columbia Slough
watershed and assumption of functions by Portland.
  Requires Port of Portland to locate and remove contaminated
sediments from Columbia Slough.
  Requires removal of dikes in Columbia Slough and its
tributaries within five years after effective date of Act.
                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to water quality of the Columbia River.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
  SECTION 1.  { + (1) To the extent practicable, the Port of
Portland may not allow water resulting from rainfall or other
natural sources other than watercourses to drain from the lands
of the port into the Columbia River.
  (2) The Port of Portland may not allow any liquids used in or
for port operations to drain from port lands into the Columbia
River or into watercourses that drain into the Columbia River.
  (3) In order to carry out the requirements of subsections (1)
and (2) of this section, the ditches or other systems of drainage
used or operated by the Port of Portland for drainage of any
liquids from lands or structures within the port, including
Portland International Airport, shall be connected to, and made a
part of, the storm or sewer system of the City of Portland.
  (4) The connection of the drainage systems of the Port of
Portland to the storm or sewer system of the City of Portland
required by this section shall be completed not later than one
year after the adoption of a resolution and order by the
governing body of the City of Portland under which the City of
Portland accepts responsibility for drainage of runoff from lands
of the Port of Portland and requires connection of the drainage
systems of the port to the storm or sewer system of the city.
  (5) After the drainage systems of the Port of Portland are
connected to the storm or sewer system of the City of Portland,
the port shall pay sewer fees to the city for the costs of
connection and maintenance as provided by ordinance. + }
  SECTION 2.  { + (1) The governing body of the City of Portland,
by ordinance or resolution, may declare the intention of the
governing body and the city to assume the duties and functions of
the drainage districts located wholly or partly within the
watershed of the Columbia Slough.
  (2) After adoption of an ordinance or resolution described in
subsection (1) of this section, the board of each affected
drainage district shall adopt a resolution initiating dissolution
of the district. When the dissolution proceedings are initiated,
the district board shall propose a plan of dissolution andliquidation.
  (3) Notwithstanding ORS 198.930, 198.935, 198.940 and 198.945:
  (a) The plan of dissolution shall include provisions for
transfer and conveyance of all assets of the district to the City
of Portland, which shall assume the outstanding indebtedness of
the district, if any, and shall continue to furnish drainage
services to the inhabitants of the district.
  (b) The question of dissolution shall not be submitted to the
electors of the district.
  (c) The Board of County Commissioners of Multnomah County shall
be the board of trustees empowered to wind up the affairs of the
district. The board of trustees shall convey all assets of the
dissolving district to the City of Portland.
  (4) Except as provided in this section, dissolution of a
drainage district under this section shall be accomplished as
provided in ORS 198.920 to 198.955. + }
  SECTION 3.  { + (1) As used in this section, 'hazardous
substance' has the meaning given that term in ORS 453.005.
  (2) Not later than 180 days after the effective date of this
1999 Act, the Port of Portland shall undertake to locate those
sediments within the Columbia Slough that may be contaminated
with a hazardous substance. After locating contaminated
sediments, if any, within the Columbia Slough, the Port of
Portland shall initiate and conduct activities to remove the
sediments in a feasible, cost-effective and environmentally soundmanner.
  (3) Before conducting the activities required by this section,
the Port of Portland shall obtain the necessary approval and
permits from all affected state and federal agencies. + }
  SECTION 4.  { + (1) All dikes within the Columbia Slough and
its tributaries shall be removed not later than five years after
the effective date of this 1999 Act. During and after removal of
the dikes, flood control devices may be installed in or near the
Columbia Slough to control or mitigate the effects of high water
levels in the river or slough. Flood control devices installed
under this subsection must comply with rules of the State
Department of Fish and Wildlife relating to migratory fish and
shall be constructed to have the least effect possible on native
and migratory fish.
  (2) The initial breaches in the dikes in the Columbia Slough
shall be made near the City of Portland's well number 15 and in
or near the area between Northeast 33rd and Northeast 13th
Avenues in the City of Portland.
  (3) Access to the Columbia Slough caused by the breaching or
removal of dikes under this section shall be available to small
watercraft from the Columbia and Willamette Rivers.
  (4) The breaching or removal of dikes under this section must
comply with rules of the State Department of Fish and Wildlife
relating to migratory fish. + }                         ----------

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