Reclaiming Ross Island

Ross Island occupies the middle of the Willamette River in south Portland. More than 70 years of sand and gravel mining have created a deep pit in the center of the island under the lagoon that connects to the river. The 120-foot-deep pit becomes stagnant, which contributes to toxic algae conditions in the summer months. The envisioned reclamation will include the Ross Island lagoon, the contiguous Hardtack Island and the portions of Ross Island not owned by the City of Portland. The vision is to beneficially use sediments from the Portland Harbor Superfund Site and other sources to fill the pit, fund the reclamation and turn Ross Island into a publicly owned nature preserve.