West Hayden Island

A Parking Lot?

West Hayden Island

Audubon Position Statement on WHI - Nov 2011

Many people have never visited West Hayden Island, but this 826-acre natural area at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers provides critical wildlife habitat for more than 100 species of fish and wildlife including bald eagles, federally listed steelhead Coho, Chinook, and chum salmon, western painted turtles, and dozens of songbird species. The island's size, location and complex mosaic of habitat types make it an irreplaceable resource.

The Port of Portland is seeking to have the City of Portland annex and rezone the island to allow it to convert hundreds of acres of wildlife habitat into marine industrial terminals. The Port's plans would turn the island into a sea of parking lots, railroad tracks and roads leaving only heavily fragmented and disturbed habitat remnants behind.

We need your help to ensure that this does not happen!!!

This is the second time in 10 years that the Port has attempted to annex and rezone West Hayden Island. In 2000, opposition from conservation groups, neighborhood groups and the Business Journal of Portland (see article below) turned back Port of Portland efforts by demonstrating that the development was not needed and would do irreparable harm to our environment.

10 years later, nothing has changed.

1)  West Hayden Island is a critically important natural area:

• It contains 826-acres of intact habitat including 39 acres of wetlands and 4% of the remaining intact cottonwood bottomland habitat between rivermile 12 and rivermile 145.
• It is home to at least 81 species of birds, 9 mammal species, 4 amphibian species  (including bald eagles,  western painted turtles, and provides critical habitat for federally listed salmon.
• It is designated as Class 1 riparian habitat and a "Habitat of Concern" under Metro's Title 13
• Former US Fish and Wildlife Service State Supervisor Kemper McMaster has written the West Hayden Island is considered "an important conservation asset regardless of its location. Its presence on and otherwise highly urbanized landscape accentuates its importance."

2) West Hayden Island is located entirely in the floodplain. In 1996,  all of West Hayden Island was underwater. This is not the place to construct industrial facilities.

3) The Port of Portland has not justified destroying West Hayden Island to build a marine industrial facility.  It cannot say what exactly it intends to build or when it will be built, but insists that annexation and rezoning a necessary. It has also failed to address issues raised by Audubon and the Business Journal of Portland in 1999 regarding collaborating with the Port of Vancouver. There is no excuse for destroying critical wildlife habitat when the two Ports are not already maximizing use of the existing industrial land base.

4) The new bridge (yes, another new bridge!) that would be required to support development on West Hayden Island will cost over $100 million of your tax dollars.

5) East Hayden Island is currently one of the most park deficient areas in the City.

The Port does not allow access to West Hayden Island. Protecting West Hayden Island as a natural area would create outstanding recreational opportunities to enjoy nature in North Portland and it would undoubtedly become one of the regions premier natural areas.

To stay up to date on efforts to permanently protect West Hayden Island, check out our Save West Hayden Island Facebook Page.

 
Technical Information:
•    Map of West Hayden Island and Surrounding Natural areas
•    Summary of natural resources on West Hayden Island


Information:
•    Letter from Audubon to Portland City Council regarding West Hayden Island, December, 2007
•    Letter from Audubon and other Conservation Organizations offering to purchase West Hayden Island from the Port, February 15, 2005
•    Letter from US Fish and Wildlife Service re West Hayden Island, arch 3 2005 Part 2

•    Oregon Public Broadcasting Story on West Hayden Island, March 2009

Information on the failed 1999-2000 annexation
•    Port of Portland announcement regarding cancellation of 1999-2000 Annexation Process
•    Portland Business Journal Editorial: "Thorne Hasn't Lost His Touch", December 18, 2000
•    Portland Business Journal Editorial: "Rethinking West Hayden Island", September 25, 2000
•    Portland Business Journal Article: "Issues Cause Port to Delay West Hayden Island Project", September 22, 2000
•    Portland Business Journal Editorial: "Having it Both Ways", March 27, 2000
•    Letter from Audubon Society of Portland and Vancouver Based Conservation Organizations encouraging Port of Portland and Port of Vancouver to collaborate, March 10, 2000
•    Letter from Audubon Society of Portland to Port of Portland announcing Audubon opposition to West Hayden Island Development, December 3, 1999
•    Computer simulation of what the proposed 1999 development would have looked like