Category Archives: Environmental Issues

ECNA March 11: Understanding Portland's E-Zone Update
City wide issues, Local Issues, Newsletters, Environmental Issues

Join Us March 11: Understanding the City’s CCIL E-Zone Overlay Project

TL;DR:
The City of Portland is updating Environmental Overlay Zones (E-zones) in parts of the Columbia Corridor, including East Columbia. Join us March 11 at 6:00 PM to hear directly from city planners about how these changes may affect local properties. Staff will also be available after the presentation to look up individual properties and answer questions.

Hi neighbors! The City of Portland is updating Environmental Overlay Zones (E-zones) as part of the Columbia Corridor Industrial Lands (CCIL) project. These overlays help protect wetlands, wildlife habitat, and other natural resources—but they can also influence what types of improvements or development are allowed on certain properties.

While the formal public comment period has ended, many neighbors still have questions about how the updated maps and regulations may affect their homes, businesses, or nearby land. Our upcoming neighborhood meeting will be a chance to hear directly from city staff and get answers.

What’s Happening

Representatives from the Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability will join us to explain the CCIL E-Zone project and what the updated environmental overlays mean for properties in and around East Columbia.

City planners will give a short presentation about the project and then open the floor for questions. After the presentation, they’ll stay to speak with neighbors one-on-one and help look up individual properties to discuss potential impacts.

Whether you’re a homeowner, renter, or business owner, this is a great opportunity to learn more about how these environmental protections intersect with property use in our neighborhood.

Meeting Details
Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Arrival Time: Please arrive by 5:45 PM
Meeting Begins: 6:00 PM
Location: Columbia Community Bible Church, 420 NE Marine Drive, Portland, OR 97211

Watch Online:
Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/73767433461

Want to Preview the Map?

You can explore the CCIL project and see how the updated E-zone mapping may apply to your property using the interactive map here:

https://www.portlandmaps.com/bps/ccil/#/map/

Why It Matters

Environmental overlay zones help protect wetlands, wildlife habitat, and other natural features that make our neighborhood unique. At the same time, these overlays can influence what kinds of changes are possible on certain properties.

Understanding how the new mapping works can help neighbors make informed decisions about future improvements, development plans, or property use.

All neighbors are welcome. We hope to see you there!

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Columbia Slough - ECNA PDX
Community Posts, Environmental Issues, Local Issues

Help Shape the Future of the Columbia Slough Watershed (and Enter to Win a $100 Gift Card!)

TL;DR:
Join a free community workshop to share your ideas and concerns about the future of the Columbia Slough watershed. Your input will help guide a long-term Watershed Improvement Plan—and attendees will be entered to win one of two $100 Visa e-gift cards.

You’re invited to take part in a fun, welcoming community workshop focused on the future of the Columbia Slough watershed.

The Flood Safety District (“the District”) is developing a Watershed Improvement Plan to guide flood protection and environmental health efforts over the next 10 years and beyond. This workshop is a chance for community members to share ideas, raise concerns, and help shape a plan that truly reflects local needs.

The more voices involved, the stronger and more responsive the plan will be.

Who’s Welcome

Anyone who lives, works, plays, or spends time in the Columbia Slough watershed is encouraged to attend. The District especially wants to hear from community members who have not always been equally included in past decision-making.

As a thank-you, everyone who attends will be entered to win one of two $100 Visa e-gift cards.

When & Where

In Person:
– February 28, 2026
– 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
– NE Portland (open to the public)

Online:
– March 3, 2026
– 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
– Limited spaces available

How to Participate

Registration is required, and space is limited.

👉 Register here

Questions? Reach out to engagement@knotstudio.com or call 503-334-4724.

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Environmental Issues

ORANG F-15 Continuous Descent Test Period Begins

The Port of Portland’s Noise Management group issued a new Continuous Descent Fact Sheet today.

Summary:

  • Oregon Air National Guard (ORANG) was APPROVED to start a 6-month test of expanded use of Continuous Descent Overhead Approach. The test will run from May 1 – Oct 31, 2017.
  • Details provided re background on military landing procedures at PDX.
  • Landing procedures distinguished – straight-in, overhead break, and continuous descent.

We encourage interested citizens click here to read the Port’s document. If you wish to engage in some more direct dialogue, please attend the ECNA Land Use Committee Meeting this coming Thursday, May 4th at 7pm – this topic is the focus for this meeting.

What: East Columbia NA Land Use Meeting
Date: May 4th, Thursday,  7:00 – 8:30 PM
Where: Columbia Community Church, 420 NE Marine Dr.

Agenda:
1. Introductions and announcements
2. F-15 ORANG overhead continuous landing discussion and strategy planning
3. Petition submissions
Note: petition deadline extended to this meeting date, May 4th
4. Follow up tasks and assignments
5. Recognition and thank you!

To gain context re petitions, please see this previous article – a recap of the ECNA April General Meeting. Note: petitions are still being collected even though the test period was approved. They will be presented as one component of community input to the Port on this matter.

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Environmental Issues

Community Responds to the Guard’s Plan to Expand F-15 Fly-Overs

The April 11, 2017 ECNA Board Meeting sure was a lively night! We had a larger than typical crowd, as lots of folks wanted to hear about the newly announced plan to expand F-15 Fly-overs at the Oregon Air National Guard’s base at PDX. As discussion and details unfolded, temperatures began to rise.

The Guard’s plan was presented by the Port’s representative and Noise Analyst, Jerry Gerspach. We also had two Citizen’s Noise Advisory Committee (CNAC) members present, Kelly Sweeney and Karen Myer. The CNAC members are citizen volunteers charged with representing neighbors / residents when CNAC meets with the other parties involved, including The Guard, the FAA, and the Port of Portland (who “owns” the airport). Kelly and Karen got quite an earful as neighbors expressed their opposition to the Guard’s plan, and they promised to take the strong opposition response back to the table. But there is still considerable anxiety as the outcome is uncertain.

In the meantime, some long-time neighbors teamed up to get a petition drive started. If you’d like to get involved, you can print the petition, gather signatures, and relay them to the address in the petition footer by May 4th [date pushed out to ECNA Land Use Meeting, May 4th at 7pm @ 420 NE Marine Dr]. Here’s a link to the petition…

Petition to BLOCK Additional F-15 Fly-Overs by OANG at PDX

 The link above will take you to a PDF file that you can print, sign, and carry around and gather more signatures. (Feel free to make copies.) Just make sure to get any forms with signatures turned in by May 4th.

And, I’ve also set up an Online Petition, so if it’s easier for you, just use and Share this link…

ONLINE VERSION: Petition to Block F-15s Overhead

The online petition will be merged with the collected handwritten signatures, and they will ALL be turned in TOGETHER.

Lisa Latin

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Environmental Issues

The Big Stink & Air Pollution In General

In case you haven’t heard about it (or smelled it…), we’d like to let you know that our neighbors on Hayden Island are going gangbusters to deal with an environmental issue they most unfortunately have to deal with far too often… The Big Stink!

Here’s a link to the website they put together that pretty well tells the story…

Portland North Harbor Neighbors – pdxnhn.org

Given the shifting winds around here, it’s not uncommon for some of that foul stench to blow our way. So, whether you’re motivated by civic involvement or olifactory self-interest, we encourage you to take a moment to check out their site and get involved.

More resources on The Big Stink – and air pollution issues in this area in general…

The Portland Tribune ran an article on March 7, 2017: The Big Stink on Hayden Island

Neighbors for Clean Air 

Volkswagen Settlement Fuels A Fight To Phase Out Dirty Old Diesel Engines

The Diesel You Breathe

Cleaner Air Oregon

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