Forest Park Conservancy is dedicated to promoting the long-term health of Forest Park and Marquam Nature Park. As an independent and community-focused non-profit, we rely on the support of donors and volunteers to help us conduct our work out in the field maintaining trails and protecting the local ecosystem. But now, we need your help to fight against a new threat.
The Harborton Reliability Project would remove 4.7 acres of trees in Forest Park, and potentially another 15 acres in future phases.
Fight For Forest Park
In early March, a Hearings Officer approved PGE’s proposal, despite conflicts with the Forest Park Natural Resource Management Plan and a city staff report recommending PGE’s proposal be denied. In response, FPC has filed to appeal this decision to Portland City Council.
Help us fight for Forest Park.
Raise Your Voice:
Donate:
Volunteer:
Banner Image Provided by Scott Carpenter.
What is at stake?
What is the Harborton Reliability Project?
Image provided by Scott Carpenter
What is the Harborton Reliability Project?
PGE’s revised land-use application filed with the City of Portland proposes to clear-cut 4.7 acres of 150+ year old Douglas fir and bigleaf maple trees and proposes to remove 5 white oak trees estimated to be 170-500 years old. In total, the proposal includes the removal of 376 living trees, and 21 dead trees. It will permanently fill at least two wetlands and disrupts two streams that support multiple species of aquatic wildlife.
According to PGE. Phase 5 of this project may impact another 15 acres of Forest Park to the northwest. Additionally, it potentially would disrupt the Miller Creek watershed to the west which contains salmon habitat. Should Phase 3 be approved, it will pave the way to Phase 5 as the “least expensive” alternative. PGE has been vague with the details on Phase 5.
Why This Application Must Be Denied
Why the Forest Park Conservancy Says the City Must Deny PGE’s Application
The Forest Park Conservancy is tasked with protecting Forest Park’s ecological health. Therefore, FPC is opposed to the Harborton Reliability Project as it is currently proposed.
But of course, there is more to it than that. As it stands, the proposal has a host of flaws. Here are some of our chief concerns regarding this project’s legality and impact on Forest Park:
Phase 3 of the Harborton Reliability Project proposes to cut over 370 mature healthy trees in the North Unit of Forest Park to upgrade transmission lines. PGE has stated that phases 4 and 5 will similarly impact an additional 15 acres of Forest Park, yet no application for these phases of their proposal has been filed with the City.
Logging, heavy equipment operation, and infrastructure installation will destroy the local habitat, compacting and potentially eroding soils reducing vegetation survival rates in the park. Carbon sequestration from trees, soil and wetlands will also be lost.
The City must deny PGE’s application because it violates the conditions of the 1985 Forest Park Management Plan when alternative routes for transmission line upgrades exist outside of the park. Their proposal to mitigate the loss of habitat understates the value of this unique ecosystem and doesn’t remotely mitigate the loss, and doesn’t attempt to mitigate the loss with the North Unit of the park as is required by the Plan.
RAISE YOUR VOICE:
SUPPORT FOREST PARK
Image provided by Scott Carpenter
The Hearings Office’s public hearing on Phase 3 has concluded.
We expect to hear the final decision made by the hearings officer in early March. Following that, there is a good chance that the decision is appealed to city council. Keep an eye on this page for updates on how you can become involved if, or when, city council schedules a hearing on this matter. Until then, consider supporting our work in Forest Park and Marquam Nature Park by volunteering or donating. Our work is only possible with the support of our community, a community full of people who love these parks as much as we do.
LEARN MORE
Image Provided by Scott Carpenter
Forest Park Conservancy: PGE’s Harborton Reliability Project Would Result in an Irreplaceable Loss for the People of the Region
Sierra Club: Stop PGE From Cutting 370+ Mature Trees in Forest Park
Sierra Club: Sierra Club will host a watch party for the 1/29 hearing and offer testimony assistance.
Bird Alliance of Oregon/Forest Park Conservancy: (11/20/24) Nature Night Webinar with Forest Park Conservancy
NW Examiner: It Could Happen Here - New power lines in Forest Park would add to the fire danger
OPB: PGE says it needs to log 5 acres of Portland’s mature forest. City staff are skeptical
