Spring 2020 Engagement Events

Dear Lewis & Clark Community:  In light of the college’s response to the continuing Coronavirus outbreak, these engagement trips have been cancelled for Spring 2020.  We do hope to conduct the Klamath Basin  Engagement as part of the 2020-21 ENVX Symposium.  Details will be posted later this year.

 

The Lewis & Clark community is welcome to participate in two spring 2020 engagement opportunities, exploring this year’s uneven development theme in the context of urban pollution in Portland and rural natural resources.

March 14 (Saturday 9:30 am - 4:00 pm)

A day trip to the Portland Harbor Superfund site, a stretch of the Willamette River where federal and municipal agencies are addressing industrial pollution of river sediments. Participants will learn about the history and current status of this site, engage with a variety of partners who are impacted by the water quality, and have the opportunity to contribute public comments to the current proposed actions. The trip will be led by ENVS Associate Professor Jessica Kleiss.

The itinerary for the day is as follows:

• 9:30 am  Students depart campus.  Meet the bus in front of Templeton Campus Center, where the Pio stops
• 10:00 am  Students arrive by bus to the University of Portland bluff. They will be met by members of the Portland Harbor CAG (Michael Pouncil, Sarah Taylor and/or Doug Larson).  Topics of discussion include the story of the lower Willamette: Native Americans, settlers, industrialization, WWII, and Superfund designation.   
• 11:00 am  View McCormick and Baxter remediation site.  Group will discuss how do we repair from this type of industry?
• 11:30 am  Stop at Overlook Park to get a bird’s eye view of the Willamette Cove site.
• 12:30-2:30 Group arrives at the  Water Pollution Control Lab for panel discussion with various stakeholders & lunch, which will be provided for all participants. At the end of the panel, students have the option to write public comment. Panelists confirmed are:
  • Cassie Cohen, Executive Director, Portland Harbor Community Coalition
  • Dwight Leisle PE, PMP, Environmental Program Manager, Port of Portland
  • Todd Hudson, Public Health Toxicologist, Oregon Health Authority
  • Erin McDonnell and/or Mike Poulsen, DEQ
  • Brad Hermanson PE, PMP, Hermanson Consulting LLC
  • Bob Sallinger, Director of Conservation, Portland Audubon Society.
• 2:30-3:30 pm bus takes students to Cathedral Park - walk & look for osprey, bald eagles, and other birds. Reflection & debrief.
• 4:00 pm Students return to campus.

April 10 and 11 (Friday 8:00 am - Saturday 8:00 pm)

An overnight camping excursion to the upper Klamath Basin in southern Oregon to explore longstanding conflicts in this region over water resources.  On the bus ride to Klamath, ENVS Associate Professor Liz Safran will provide information on local geology. Then at the Klamath Basin, participants will explore the landscape of irrigated agriculture and wetlands, meet stakeholders who participated in the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement, and camp overnight above JC Boyle Dam, one of four dams slated to be removed via the Klamath River Renewal Corporation. The trip will be led by ENVS Professor and Program Director, Jim Proctor.

 

 

These events are funded as part of the ENVX Symposium and are open to members of the Lewis & Clark community. Transportation and some meals are provided.