Important Opportunities to Comment on West Hayden Island
October 7, 2011
Audubon Position Statement on WHI - Nov 2011 (pdf)
The City and Port continue to move forward with their efforts to pave over the West Hayden Island Wildlife Area for future marine terminals. This 826-acre natural area located at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers represents one of the most important habitat areas in the City of Portland. The Port is currently in the process of trying to have the island annexed and rezoned so that it can build hundreds of acres of parking lots and marine industrial infrastructure---a facility for which there is no demonstrable need.
Pubic opposition to this project from conservation and community groups over the course of more than a decade has prevented the Port and the City from moving forward with annexation and rezoning. We are making progress! The Port's original demands for more than 600 acres of development have now been reduced to 300 acres and claims by the Port that it was physically impossible to build this facility at a smaller scales have repeatedly been proven false. Still this is a HUGE facility---more than 5 times the size of the Oregon Zoo-----more than 200 city blocks---that will be built in the middle of a floodplain. Even though no final decision has yet been reached on West Hayden Island, the Port is already filling the island's floodplains with tens of thousands of cubic yards of contaminated dredge materials from the Portland Harbor Superfund Site to prepare the island for development!
The City has produced new concept plans that will available for public review over the next two weeks. Please go to one of two open houses to comment on these concept plans. It is important to send three key messages:
1. No development should occur on West Hayden Island---it is a critical fish and wildlife area that should be protected in its entirety
2. If the city does proceed forward with annexation and rezoning, Alternative B is the preferred option since it results in the least fragmentation of the remaining habitat
3. Any development that does occur needs to be completely mitigated in a way that results in a net increase in ecosystem function
Open Houses:
Wednesday October 12, 2011, 5 pm-8 pm at the Portland Expo Center Hall D, Rooms 202-204
Saturday October 15, 2011, 9am-12pm at the Oxford Suites Hotel on Hayden Island
West Hayden Island Concept Plans: http://www.portlandonline.com/bps/index.cfm?c=56360&
West Hayden Island Open Houses: http://www.portlandonline.com/bps/index.cfm?c=52835
Save West Hayden Island Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Save-West-Hayden-Island/136664296349832?ref=ts
More Information On West Hayden Island
Thanks for your continued efforts to save West Hayden Island!
