clean water services gives green light to Portland Golf Club
Clean Water Services gave PGC a "green light" in January as they issued a Service Provider Letter on January 8 (valid for 2 years) and an Erosion Control Permit on January 22 (valid for 6 months). In communication CWS told the golf club-->
"the description of your project of cutting brush and woody vegetation using low impact methods limiting ground disturbance. . . will not encroach into the existing Sensitive areas and Vegetated Corridor found on the site."
Alongside giving permission to move forward, CWS also assessed a penalty for unauthorized work of $1050 to the golf club for their past actions.
Keep in mind CWS issued both the provider letter and the permit despite multiple concerns raised by NWP regarding the impact to the greenspace, the trail, wildlife, stormwater flow, AND this clearing is taking place in preparation for the larger project which has NOT yet been approved by appropriate state and federal agencies. In fact, NWP attorney sent a letter to CWS asking (at a minimum) that they delay approval of clearing the land until a decision had been made by DSL. We were told "no" they could not do that AND since our attorney contacted them, in effect, we have been cut off from any communication to CWS, unless it is attorney-to-attorney.
This is not our first time frustrated with CWS, a public utility, regarding communication, lack of transparency and lack of working with the public. See our blog post from a year ago with basically the same concerns.
Department of State Lands application status
In early-December, DSL deemed the Joint Permit Application as complete and moved it into the Public Comment phase. DSL will invited/accepted public comments for a 30 day period, that ended January 10, 2025.
DSL reviewed the public comments, and gave the golf club an opportunity to address concerns raised. Initially, the golf club was to respond to said comments by February 11, however they didn't. So DSL extended their decision: they await the golf club's response and then DSL will make a decision by March 27, 2025.
To those who took the time to provide comments, THANK YOU.
If you would like to see the application that is pending with DSL, you can Read this application here:
In summary, the golf club proposes stacking fabric bags full of sludge/dredge tailings from their irrigation pond in a 1.1-acre area cleared of all vegetation just to the west of the corresponding wetland. The 5300 cubic yards in bags will not be covered with soil. The 7-12’ pile will be visible from the trail from SW 83rd Avenue to the east side of the wooden bridge at the pump station.
Despite bags being placed "to the side," the wetland will still be affected. They propose a sump pump will be dug at least 8’ deep into the north end of the wetland, necessitating the removal of about 44 cubic yards of earth (about 4 dump truck loads). The water seeping from the bags would be collected in the wetland to be pumped back to the irrigation pond.
PGC finally admits in their application that the wetland is connected hydrologically to downstream wetlands and to Fanno Creek, and propose the use of two check dams. However, these check dams will not prevent the contamination of Fanno Creek with silt or toxic substances from the sludge.
golf club applications with both Army Corps (USACE) & DEQ show problems with dredge contaminants
In early December, the golf club filed their application with DEQ, please see the Documents & Articles section of this website for both the application & also ongoing communication between PGC & DEQ.
The current PGC application is being processed with the USACE & DEQ as a Nationwide Permit #16 & #33. The USACE is the agency which determines the permitting pathway. Unfortunately, the Nationwide permits do not have a public commenting period.
DEQ must process/decide whether or not to issue a 401 Water Quality Certificate to PGC within a reasonable time, deemed 6 months (which would be by June 3, 2025). If needed, they can extend up to a year, it is unclear at this time if DEQ will need an extension.
One thing DEQ has asked for is more comprehensive testing of the dredge. PGC did very cursory testing of the dredge 2021 testing, and then did much more comprehensive testing August 2023 testing.
Please take a look at a summary of the findings of their testing, there are high levels of heavy metals in the dredge!
Neighbors for Wetland Preservation
who we are
Our history
Our history
We are a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit.
We are committed to Fanno Creek, beautiful old growth trees, healthy wetlands and wildlife habitat.
Our focus is the greenspace & the wetland alongside the Fanno Creek Trail in Garden Home.
Our history
Our history
Our history
Portland Golf Club lies in Washington County, Oregon. Fanno Creek runs through their property. They have water rights to the Creek, they take & store water in their irrigation pond.
In 2021 they made public their intent to dredge the pond, pumping water & dredge to the southern portion of their property, immediately adjacent to the F
Portland Golf Club lies in Washington County, Oregon. Fanno Creek runs through their property. They have water rights to the Creek, they take & store water in their irrigation pond.
In 2021 they made public their intent to dredge the pond, pumping water & dredge to the southern portion of their property, immediately adjacent to the Fanno Creek Trail. The dredge tailings will be left in bags adjacent to the wetland. They estimate the equivalent of 500 dump trucks of dredge tailings will be permanently placed on top of the wetland.
This will destroy the wetland, eliminate wildlife habitat, create an eyesore, alter storm water flow and potentially contaminate Fanno Creek.
As a result, neighbors organized to provide a unified voice in opposition, requesting we work together with the PGC toward environmentally sound solutions.
Our goals
Our history
Our goals
The Portland Golf Club accepts the role of leaders in ecosystem preservation and sustainability within the golf club world. To do this, we ask the following:
- The Portland Golf Club care for and preserve Wetland A on the Pinger Property. In order to achieve this, they should not clear the property, they should not place dredge on the prop
The Portland Golf Club accepts the role of leaders in ecosystem preservation and sustainability within the golf club world. To do this, we ask the following:
- The Portland Golf Club care for and preserve Wetland A on the Pinger Property. In order to achieve this, they should not clear the property, they should not place dredge on the property. They should foster native growth and remove invasive species in order to maximize functionality of the wetland and the watershed.
- Stream restoration, of both Fanno Creek and Woods Creek, at the points they enter the Golf Club, they traverse the Golf Club, and they exit the Golf Club. Make real efforts to slow peak water flows which can be erosive. This will foster native wildlife and fish, particularly cutthroat trout.
- The Golf Club works with the public and community organizations to remove non-native, invasive species (English Ivy) which threatens old growth trees.