On April 13, 2023, DTA submitted a public comment on the Portland Golf Club’s permit application for its Irrigation Pond Sediment Removal and Placement project (#NWP-2023-24). DTA is concerned with the ecological impacts of the proposed activities on the Fanno Creek Watershed in Portland, Oregon and species that call it home.

Considering the volume and nature of the proposed project, the inherent risks of manipulating soils and aquatic resources, and the increasing concerns over the well-being of treasured flora and fauna within the Fanno Creek Watershed, a thorough analysis to ensure that proposed activities will not jeopardize any endangered or threatened species nor result in adverse modification of critical habitat is essential and of utmost importance to this community.

The ecological value and potential presence of listed species in and around the Portland Golf Club should not be underestimated. While neighborhoods within the Fanno Creek Watershed are developed and various levels of degradation have occurred over time, new construction is rare and well-established landscapes are common. As such, mature trees provide ideal habitat for birds, squirrels, and many other species. A noticeable abundance of frogs, bats, beavers, and waterfowl are frequently observed in the area and surrounding wetlands.

The extent and quality of available habitats within the Fanno Creek Watershed have been further enhanced by the recent expansion of the Portland Audubon’s Backyard Habitat Program to the City of Beaverton and unincorporated Washington County, creating an increased presence of wildlife in the area. The removal and relocation of 5500 cubic yards of sediment likely containing a cocktail of persistent chemicals within a wetland is unthinkable as species are already under heightened pressure due to climate change and other compounding human induced factors.

Read the full text of DTA’s public comment here.