Braided River Campaign
@braidedriverpdx.bsky.social
Advocating for a green, working waterfront with safe routes for children, cyclists, rollers, and walkers in Portland, OR. #justice #democracy #climate www.braidedrivercampaign.org
Protect Portland Workers from Industrial Disaster! Attend the next workshop for rank-And-file threatened by the fossil fuel industry. Zenith, Chevron, BP, etc.
November 27, 2025 at 4:42 AM
Protect Portland Workers from Industrial Disaster! Attend the next workshop for rank-And-file threatened by the fossil fuel industry. Zenith, Chevron, BP, etc.
Join us on Fri. Nov. 28th at Braided River Gallery at Lloyd Center for holiday crafting! Children are happily welcome!
November 27, 2025 at 3:32 AM
Join us on Fri. Nov. 28th at Braided River Gallery at Lloyd Center for holiday crafting! Children are happily welcome!
The Portland Harbor Superfund Cleanup will begin in 2026 and take over 13 years. Contractors can only work four months a year because of the fish window, but when they do, they will work night and day. Restoring endangered species habitat is an essential part of the cleanup.
November 22, 2025 at 5:58 AM
The Portland Harbor Superfund Cleanup will begin in 2026 and take over 13 years. Contractors can only work four months a year because of the fish window, but when they do, they will work night and day. Restoring endangered species habitat is an essential part of the cleanup.
Potential Responsible Parties, who at first refused to sign, were fined and shortly all parties signed. Three parties have come close to finishing their design. It is now 2025. Many years have passed since the river’s contamination was documented. Why has it taken so long? 🧵 5 of 5
November 22, 2025 at 4:38 AM
Potential Responsible Parties, who at first refused to sign, were fined and shortly all parties signed. Three parties have come close to finishing their design. It is now 2025. Many years have passed since the river’s contamination was documented. Why has it taken so long? 🧵 5 of 5
The Portland Harbor Superfund spans the North Reach from the Broadway Bridge to Sauvie Island. It includes both in water and upland cleanup. DEQ handles the upland portion and the EPA is working on the in-water portion. 🧵 3 of 5
November 22, 2025 at 4:38 AM
The Portland Harbor Superfund spans the North Reach from the Broadway Bridge to Sauvie Island. It includes both in water and upland cleanup. DEQ handles the upland portion and the EPA is working on the in-water portion. 🧵 3 of 5
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Comprehension and Liability Act (CERCLA) was created by the US congress in 1980 to create the Hazardous Substance Superfund. There are hundreds of Superfund sites across the country. 🧵 2 of 5
November 22, 2025 at 4:38 AM
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Comprehension and Liability Act (CERCLA) was created by the US congress in 1980 to create the Hazardous Substance Superfund. There are hundreds of Superfund sites across the country. 🧵 2 of 5
Some call the cleanup a constraint, one more thing to keep the mean sisters from getting to the elegant, exclusive ball Along comes the Portland Harbor Superfund Cleanup, cutting through the thorns of Sleeping Beauty to free River from at least some of the waste that was thrown at her feet. 🧵 3/4
November 22, 2025 at 3:20 AM
Some call the cleanup a constraint, one more thing to keep the mean sisters from getting to the elegant, exclusive ball Along comes the Portland Harbor Superfund Cleanup, cutting through the thorns of Sleeping Beauty to free River from at least some of the waste that was thrown at her feet. 🧵 3/4
Nothing she does is good enough. The evil stepsisters of Cinderella poking and taunting. She, the Willamette River, is not the right size or shape and has too many green things hanging on her. She keeps them from going to the “Ball” and what’s with all those animals singing to her. 🧵 2 of 4
November 22, 2025 at 3:20 AM
Nothing she does is good enough. The evil stepsisters of Cinderella poking and taunting. She, the Willamette River, is not the right size or shape and has too many green things hanging on her. She keeps them from going to the “Ball” and what’s with all those animals singing to her. 🧵 2 of 4
If this was a fairytale and the leading lady was the North Reach, what would the fairy tale be? I imagine this when the Portland Harbor Superfund clean-up is called a “constraint” in city documents. My mind wanders. I see our fair river as an abused and neglected lady in a tower. 🧵 1 of 4
November 22, 2025 at 3:20 AM
If this was a fairytale and the leading lady was the North Reach, what would the fairy tale be? I imagine this when the Portland Harbor Superfund clean-up is called a “constraint” in city documents. My mind wanders. I see our fair river as an abused and neglected lady in a tower. 🧵 1 of 4
You can drive along Marine Dr and see earthen levees. You can pull into Heron Golf Course and read historic markers for Vanport. You can drive out to Kelly Point Park and try to find the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers. (Photo of Sarah Taylor, author of these posts)🧵 1 of 4
November 22, 2025 at 1:47 AM
You can drive along Marine Dr and see earthen levees. You can pull into Heron Golf Course and read historic markers for Vanport. You can drive out to Kelly Point Park and try to find the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers. (Photo of Sarah Taylor, author of these posts)🧵 1 of 4
The annexed #Parkrose neighborhood faces increasing development of warehouses like Prologis. Remember annexation w incentives, tax breaks, and zoning changes creates industrial land with a probable tear down of traditional neighborhood sources of housing, food and local businesses. 🧵 2 of 2
November 21, 2025 at 3:29 AM
The annexed #Parkrose neighborhood faces increasing development of warehouses like Prologis. Remember annexation w incentives, tax breaks, and zoning changes creates industrial land with a probable tear down of traditional neighborhood sources of housing, food and local businesses. 🧵 2 of 2
The Columbia River neighborhoods were slowly annexed by Portland for industrial development. The South Shore Annexation took place in 1981. The East Columbia Annexations began in the 1970s. The Columbia-Lombard Corridor Mobility Plan pours large trucks through St Johns & other neighborhoods.
November 21, 2025 at 3:29 AM
The Columbia River neighborhoods were slowly annexed by Portland for industrial development. The South Shore Annexation took place in 1981. The East Columbia Annexations began in the 1970s. The Columbia-Lombard Corridor Mobility Plan pours large trucks through St Johns & other neighborhoods.
Smith and Bybee Wetlands Natural Area, the nation’s largest urban wetland, was created in 1990. It was expanded to include the land where contaminated St John’s Dump was located. The flood and the closing of the dump in 1991 altered the area, even as industry pushed the boundaries & moved eastward.
November 20, 2025 at 3:32 AM
Smith and Bybee Wetlands Natural Area, the nation’s largest urban wetland, was created in 1990. It was expanded to include the land where contaminated St John’s Dump was located. The flood and the closing of the dump in 1991 altered the area, even as industry pushed the boundaries & moved eastward.
After the Vanport flood, land was set aside for recreation and wildlife. Delta Park, the Portland International Raceway, and the Blue Heron Golf Course stand where Vanport was built. The Columbia Slough winds through the area. The land once owned by Port of Portland became Kelly Point Park.
November 20, 2025 at 3:32 AM
After the Vanport flood, land was set aside for recreation and wildlife. Delta Park, the Portland International Raceway, and the Blue Heron Golf Course stand where Vanport was built. The Columbia Slough winds through the area. The land once owned by Port of Portland became Kelly Point Park.
Vanport became home to some 40,000 people. The lowest point of Vanport City was about fifteen feet below the water level in the river. In the 1948 flood, more than 15,000 people were instantly without a home as the river poured into the basin and former wetlands. 🧵 2 of 3
November 15, 2025 at 3:20 AM
Vanport became home to some 40,000 people. The lowest point of Vanport City was about fifteen feet below the water level in the river. In the 1948 flood, more than 15,000 people were instantly without a home as the river poured into the basin and former wetlands. 🧵 2 of 3
Henry Kaiser, looking to build housing for people working in shipyards, chose the Columbia River Lowlands in 1942. It was called Vanport, not in Portland. Why? The federal government required wartime housing to be integrated and Portland would not allow it. (Remember exclusion laws and red lining.)
November 15, 2025 at 3:20 AM
Henry Kaiser, looking to build housing for people working in shipyards, chose the Columbia River Lowlands in 1942. It was called Vanport, not in Portland. Why? The federal government required wartime housing to be integrated and Portland would not allow it. (Remember exclusion laws and red lining.)
The largest, Ramsey Lake, was filled and now is the Rivergate Industrial District in N Portland at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers. In addition to lakes and wetlands, the area has the 18-mile Columbia Slough that connects the Blue Lake region with the Willamette River. 🧵 2 of 3
November 14, 2025 at 3:58 AM
The largest, Ramsey Lake, was filled and now is the Rivergate Industrial District in N Portland at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers. In addition to lakes and wetlands, the area has the 18-mile Columbia Slough that connects the Blue Lake region with the Willamette River. 🧵 2 of 3
The Columbia Lowlands were an ancient place of vast lakes and wetlands before European settlers arrived. Like the lakes along the Willamette River, industrialists sought to tame the area and bring it under their control. Of the three main lakes, Smith and Bybee exist. 🧵 1 of 3
November 14, 2025 at 3:58 AM
The Columbia Lowlands were an ancient place of vast lakes and wetlands before European settlers arrived. Like the lakes along the Willamette River, industrialists sought to tame the area and bring it under their control. Of the three main lakes, Smith and Bybee exist. 🧵 1 of 3
After traveling 187 miles through Oregon; gathering water from creeks and rivers, the Willamette River provides the Columbia River with approximately 15% of its flow. The Columbia River’s last miles wind through a vast industrial complex. The final reunion is a whisper in our urban landscape.
November 14, 2025 at 3:58 AM
After traveling 187 miles through Oregon; gathering water from creeks and rivers, the Willamette River provides the Columbia River with approximately 15% of its flow. The Columbia River’s last miles wind through a vast industrial complex. The final reunion is a whisper in our urban landscape.
Well before that Peter Guild's homestead was located there and many small farms, including a Chinese farming village. And before that it was a place where Balch Creek made its way through forested canyons and tumbled into Guild’s Lake that was connected to the tidal, seasonal cycles of the river.
November 12, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Well before that Peter Guild's homestead was located there and many small farms, including a Chinese farming village. And before that it was a place where Balch Creek made its way through forested canyons and tumbled into Guild’s Lake that was connected to the tidal, seasonal cycles of the river.
Yes, there are hidden lakes in our city! Our favorite is Guild’s Lake. It was located where you now see the Guild’s Lake Industrial Sanctuary District in NW Portland on the Willamette River. Before that, there was the Guilds Lake Housing Community and Lewis and Clark Exposition of 1905.
November 12, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Yes, there are hidden lakes in our city! Our favorite is Guild’s Lake. It was located where you now see the Guild’s Lake Industrial Sanctuary District in NW Portland on the Willamette River. Before that, there was the Guilds Lake Housing Community and Lewis and Clark Exposition of 1905.
Although food security is the heart of a sound economy, Portland’s draft Economic Opportunities Analysis does not mention agricultural land. They assume food will be delivered on trucks & trains to North Portland warehouses and distributed to ever disappearing, ever more expensive grocery stores.
November 11, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Although food security is the heart of a sound economy, Portland’s draft Economic Opportunities Analysis does not mention agricultural land. They assume food will be delivered on trucks & trains to North Portland warehouses and distributed to ever disappearing, ever more expensive grocery stores.
Elders tell of great farms along Marine Dr and Columbia Blvd cared for by Japanese farmers before the internment of over 3,600 Japanese-Portlanders during WWII. The bounty of their work they brought to markets. Here's a photo of a farmers float made with veggies in the 1920 Rose Festival.
November 11, 2025 at 3:45 AM
Elders tell of great farms along Marine Dr and Columbia Blvd cared for by Japanese farmers before the internment of over 3,600 Japanese-Portlanders during WWII. The bounty of their work they brought to markets. Here's a photo of a farmers float made with veggies in the 1920 Rose Festival.
Early settlers depended on farming. The Chinese had farms along Guild’s Lake, but their farms were burnt and the farmers chased out by the Ku Klux Klan in 1883. The hills above Linnton had dairy farms, and orchards. Only Sauvie Island survived the campaign against farm land, hunting, and fishing.
November 11, 2025 at 2:59 AM
Early settlers depended on farming. The Chinese had farms along Guild’s Lake, but their farms were burnt and the farmers chased out by the Ku Klux Klan in 1883. The hills above Linnton had dairy farms, and orchards. Only Sauvie Island survived the campaign against farm land, hunting, and fishing.
How did a fertile crescent of two rivers, North Portland, become a people and place dependent on food banks and federal funds for their food? How did the annual harvest of Camas and Wapato and an abundant harvest of fish and wildlife disappear in just 200 years?
November 11, 2025 at 1:23 AM
How did a fertile crescent of two rivers, North Portland, become a people and place dependent on food banks and federal funds for their food? How did the annual harvest of Camas and Wapato and an abundant harvest of fish and wildlife disappear in just 200 years?