GOLf club must re-apply to Clean Water Services:
Although 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). the golf club acknowledges, in emails to CWS that their proposed project has changed markedly since January and they are preparing to
Although 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). the golf club acknowledges, in emails to CWS that their proposed project has changed markedly since January and they are preparing to submit (yet another) revision of the Joint Permit Application. By now, their Erosion Control Permit has expired, and they must also re-apply for a Service Provider Letter from CWS. The golf club has been asked to:
provide all updated infomation for the proposed project sections of the Site Assessment, including the site plan & enhancement & mitigation plan for any areas of Vegetated Corridor Encroachment. As supplemental information, they are also asked to summarize the changes and impetus of them, as well as status of the DEQ/DSL/Corps decisions.
Stay tuned for updates, we have not seen them yet.
Department of State Lands: still no decision
In December 2024, DSL deemed the Joint Permit Application (JPA) as complete and moved it into the Public Comment phase.
That application, from 11/29/24 can be Read this application here:
DSL invited/accepted public comments for a 30 day period, that ended 1/10/25, DSL reviewed the public comments, then sent them to the golf club, howe
In December 2024, DSL deemed the Joint Permit Application (JPA) as complete and moved it into the Public Comment phase.
That application, from 11/29/24 can be Read this application here:
DSL invited/accepted public comments for a 30 day period, that ended 1/10/25, DSL reviewed the public comments, then sent them to the golf club, however they have not formally responded.
Since then, the golf club says they have changed their approach, so they have been asked to submit a revised JPA. This has not happened yet, and a revised JPA is a requirement of both DSL & DEQ.
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--due to the dredge being classified as landfill, they are required to move the bags after they are dewatered.
Despite bags being placed "to the side," the wetland will still be affected. We await more clarity if/when they submit their updated JPA.
deq mandates water testing since pond sediment shows contaminants:
In December 2024, 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 application is being processed with the USACE (US Army Corps of Engineers) & DEQ as a Nationwide Permit #16 & #33. The USACE is the agen
In December 2024, 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 application is being processed with the USACE (US Army Corps of Engineers) & 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, they usually decide this within 180 days, but since there were high levels of contaminants in the dredge (Zinc, Copper and Lead), DEQ has asked for more testing. As such, they have applied for an extension and now will make a decision by December 5, 2025.
PGC did comprehensive dredge 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!
The water testing was completed last month. It is posted here on this website. once we review the report we will summarize in a blog post.
will washington county allow landfill storage in an r-5 residential zone?
An issue we are following right now is whether the PGC project complies with the local zoning code. PGC obtained a land use compatibility affidavit from Washington County LUT in 2022, but it addresses only the dredging of the pond, not the fill bags with sludge, set next to the wetland, and the water collection portion of the project.
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An issue we are following right now is whether the PGC project complies with the local zoning code. PGC obtained a land use compatibility affidavit from Washington County LUT in 2022, but it addresses only the dredging of the pond, not the fill bags with sludge, set next to the wetland, and the water collection portion of the project.
The pond is located in the Institutional Zone. The area where the sludge is proposed to be placed is in Residential, R-5 Zone. The two zones have different requirements regarding permitted, conditional, and prohibited uses.
We can't find any portion of the Washington County code that would allow disposal or temporary storage of the sludge for any period of time on R-5 land if the sludge is designated by DEQ as solid waste.
We've written to DSL and DEQ, we have also spoken with our county commissioner (Comm. Fai) and written to Washington County LUT requesting they address this issue.
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.