Ross Island Refuge
As you drive down Barbur Boulevard toward downtown, if you take your eyes off the road for just a moment at the right time, you can look down at the atoll that is Ross Island. It didn’t always look like that. What you would have seen a couple of hundred years ago was three islands - Ross Island, Hardtack Island, and East Island. But Ross and Hardtack Islands were joined together in the 1930’s to facilitate gravel mining. Over the decades, the entire center of what were once large islands has been dug up and carted off, probably ending up in buildings all over the Portland area and beyond.
In 2003, the Ross Island Sand and Gravel Company indicated that, once their gravel extraction operations were finished on the island, they would be willing to give what’s left to the City of Portland. Significant restoration will be required to make the area suitable for use, particularly if it is to be used as a park, but when considered in combination with the Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge, it could create a large swath of habitat for urban wildlife on the Willamette.
If you want to get involved with the project, you can contact the Willamette Riverkeeper. If you thirst for technical details, you can read the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality report on the Ross Island site. And if you want to get an idea of what such a habitat might offer Portlanders, the Audubon Society of Portland is offering a Paddle around Ross Island on July 23, 2006. If you want to take part in the paddle, space is limited, and you should register by the end of the week.
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actually, it’s an urban myth that the “the entire center of what were once large islands” was removed. the size of the islands have not been altered - except the fact that they were joined - by the gravel practices.
they did make a massive hole in the “lagoon” area that is way deeper because of the excavation.
don’t get me wrong, i’m all it to be returned to a natural state - i’m just compelled to correct the part about the size of the islands.