The greatest impact of the pollution is on ethnic minorities and nonnative people who fish in the polluted water of the slough for subsistence, not sport. Years of industrial waste, contaminated groundwater, and agricultural runoff deposited chemicals and solvents into the slough. These toxic, cancer-causing chemicals build up in the tissue of the fish. Anyone consuming the fish also consumes the toxic chemicals unless they carefully prepare their meal. The city of Portland recommends that people limit their consumption of fish caught from the slough to smaller younger fish with the skin and fatty parts cut away before cooking.
Many efforts are underway to improve the health of the slough.
The city of Portland is working with business and individuals to limit new pollution. Friends of Trees is also working with the city on a massive revegetation project designed to improve the health of the slough by preventing runoff and providing shade for fish populations. It will take many years to reverse the enormous environmental impact that pollution has had on the slough but efforts are underway. To find out how you can help Friends of Trees, call James Allison at 282-8846 x 13. For more information contact Jay Mower at CSWC at 281-1132.