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Credit Purchase - Frequently Asked Questions

The Portland Harbor Natural Resource Trustee Council (Trustee Council) used a reverse auction to purchase ecological habitat credits from two Portland Harbor restoration banks: PGE/Harborton and Alder Creek. This is the first use of settlement funds to support on-the-ground restoration at Portland Harbor - the ultimate goal of the natural resource damage assessment (NRDA) and restoration process! These frequently asked questions address comment questions about this process. 

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Storymap for Portland Harbor Restoration

This storymap created by NOAA and the Portland Harbor Natural Resource Trustee Council depicts a visual journey of restoration efforts in Portland Harbor in Oregon.  It highlights four restoration projects that provide broad, long-term ecosystem benefits concentrated within and around the area where the injuries to natural resources have taken place.  

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Frequently Asked Questions

As part of Phase 2 of the three-phase Portland Harbor natural resource damage assessment (NRDA), the Trustee Council entered into settlement negotiations with 23 PRPs, and at the same time worked with restoration project developers to generate restoration credits that the Trustee Council and/or settling PRPs can purchase. This document provides answers to questions about the consent decrees, the NRDA process, restoration projects, and next steps for the Trustee Council.  

Graphic showing restoration activities and when they happened in time
Project Timeline - Restoration

This Restoration Timeline shows the progression of restoration planning and implementation for Portland Harbor.

Part of the first page of the fact sheet, showing the title and a map of PGE Harborton.
PGE Harborton Restoration Fact Sheet

The PGE Harborton restoration project will provide high quality habitat for salmon, lamprey, mink, bald eagle, osprey, amphibians, and other native fish and wildlife. PGE began restoration activities in 2020 and completed the project in 2021.

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Final Supplemental Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment Fact Sheet

The Trustee Council's Final Supplemental Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment picks up where the 2017 Programmatic Restoration Plan left off.  This fact sheet explains the Preferred Alternative and introduces associated restoration sites. 

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Cultural Impacts of Contamination Fact Sheet - Nez Perce Tribe

The five Tribal members of the Portland Harbor Natural Resource Trustee Council (Five Tribes) have developed fact sheets to help interested members of the public more fully understand and appreciate each of the Five Tribe’s relationships with natural resources in and around the Portland Harbor Superfund Site and how these relationships have changed as a result of contamination in the lower Willamette River. Traditionally, tribal peoples spent substantial amounts of time in and around Portland Harbor and the lower Willamette River, forming unique bonds with the river’s natural resources.

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Cultural Impacts of Contamination Fact Sheet - Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians

The five Tribal members of the Portland Harbor Natural Resource Trustee Council (Five Tribes) have developed fact sheets to help interested members of the public more fully understand and appreciate each of the Five Tribe’s relationships with natural resources in and around the Portland Harbor Superfund Site and how these relationships have changed as a result of contamination in the lower Willamette River. Traditionally, tribal peoples spent substantial amounts of time in and around Portland Harbor and the lower Willamette River, forming unique bonds with the river’s natural resources.

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Impacts to First Foods and Traditional Use Areas Fact Sheet - Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation

The five Tribal members of the Portland Harbor Natural Resource Trustee Council (Five Tribes) have developed fact sheets to help interested members of the public more fully understand and appreciate each of the Five Tribe’s relationships with natural resources in and around the Portland Harbor Superfund Site and how these relationships have changed as a result of contamination in the lower Willamette River. Traditionally, tribal peoples spent substantial amounts of time in and around Portland Harbor and the lower Willamette River, forming unique bonds with the river’s natural resources.

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Cultural Impacts of Contamination Fact Sheet - Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon

The five Tribal members of the Portland Harbor Natural Resource Trustee Council (Five Tribes) have developed fact sheets to help interested members of the public more fully understand and appreciate each of the Five Tribe’s relationships with natural resources in and around the Portland Harbor Superfund Site and how these relationships have changed as a result of contamination in the lower Willamette River. Traditionally, tribal peoples spent substantial amounts of time in and around Portland Harbor and the lower Willamette River, forming unique bonds with the river’s natural resources.

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Cultural Impacts of Contamination Fact Sheet - Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon

The five Tribal members of the Portland Harbor Natural Resource Trustee Council (Five Tribes) have developed fact sheets to help interested members of the public more fully understand and appreciate each of the Five Tribe’s relationships with natural resources in and around the Portland Harbor Superfund Site and how these relationships have changed as a result of contamination in the lower Willamette River. Traditionally, tribal peoples spent substantial amounts of time in and around Portland Harbor and the lower Willamette River, forming unique bonds with the river’s natural resources.

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Draft Supplemental Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment Fact Sheet

The Trustee Council's Supplemental Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment picks up where the 2017 Programmatic Restoration Plan left off.  It evaluates and selects one of three alternatives to implement restoration actions in Portland Harbor.

Aerial view of Alder Creek site before restoration
Alder Creek Restoration Fact Sheet

The Alder Creek restoration project was developed and constructed by Wildlands in 2014 and 2015 to provide habitat in an area of the lower Willamette River that has been highly impacted by industrialization.  This fact sheet describes the site and project.

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Rinearson Natural Area Restoration Fact Sheet

The Rinearson Natural Area restoration project will provide habitat for salmon, lamprey, mink, bald eagle, osprey, and other native fish and wildlife. The project was completed in 2017 and 2018 by Falling Springs, a habitat development company.  

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Linnton Mill Restoration Fact Sheet

The Linnton Mill restoration project will provide high quality habitat for salmon, lamprey, mink, bald eagle, osprey, and other native fish and wildlife living in this otherwise heavily developed stretch of the Willamette River.

EIS & Restoration Plan Handout
Portland Harbor EIS and Restoration Plan Fact Sheet

The Trustee Council developed a plan to restore natural resources injured by contamination in Portland Harbor.  This plan is called the Portland Harbor Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Restoration Plan.  The Plan evaluation several alternatives and outlines the chosen approach:  Integrated Habitat Restoration.

Graphic showing damage assessment activities and when they happened in time
Project Timeline - Damage Assessment

The Portland Harbor Superfund Site was designated in 2000.  This Project Timeline shows the progression of the Natural Resource Damage Assessment process.

A volunteer group in Portland Harbor, Photo Credit: NOAA
Get Involved

Learn how you can work together with the Portland Harbor Natural Resource Trustee Council and share ideas about how to restore Portland Harbor.

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Why Restore Portland Harbor?

This document shares a historical perspective of the Portland Harbor and Willamette River and looks towards the future of restoring the habitat and cleaning up the contamination. Challenges and processes are also discussed. 

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Portland Harbor Project and Timeline

This handout outlines how Portland Harbor became contaminated, why it is important and what the Trustee Council is doing about it. It specifically focuses on the Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) process and the Trustee Council’s restoration planning efforts.

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Natural Resource Damage Assessment Process

A document summarizing and illustrating the process used for natural resource damage assessment. 

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Trustee Council Information Fact Sheet

The Portland Harbor Natural Resource Trustee Council was formed in 2002 to coordinate damage assessment and restoration activities in Portland Harbor.

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From Cleanup to Restoration

In addition to background information on the site, this sheet includes a useful infographic depicting the stages of cleanup and restoration at Portland Harbor.