Environmental Services recommends that people not eat slough fish, but if they choose to do so they should discard all skin, fat and internal organs and eat only muscle tissue. Options may include capping or removing contaminated sediments, or allowing time and nature to clean up the problem areas. Activities include classroom presentations, field trips, storm drain stenciling and water quality monitoring. This program shows homeowners how to landscape yards with native plants that need less water, fertilizer and pesticides and that help control erosion and reduce storm runoff. Each year, Environmental Services awards watershed stewardship grants to organizations, businesses and individuals with good ideas for projects to protect the water quality of the Columbia Slough and other Portland rivers and streams.
Projects range from water quality education to cleanups and restoration.
When it rains, stormwater runoff washes over roofs, streets, sidewalks and parking lots carrying a variety of pollutants to our rivers and streams. The City of Portland has a comprehensive Stormwater Program to reduce water pollution caused by storm runoff. Downspout Disconnection Program Environmental Services encourages some homeowners in the Columbia Slough watershed to disconnect downspouts from the sewer system and direct stormwater to yards and flower beds. Disconnecting residential downspouts removes stormwater from the sewer system and helps reduce combined sewer overflows to the slough. The City of Portland is planning construction of a new pipeline near Columbia Boulevard as part of its program to reduce water pollution caused by sewer overflows into the Columbia Slough.