Portland Harbor

Stormwater Resources

Under the Joint Source Control Strategy, DEQ is responsible for addressing upland sources that are impacting or may potentially impact the Willamette River in the Portland Harbor area. Stormwater is one of the pathways by which contaminants from upland sites could reach the river. DEQ works with Cleanup sites in Portland Harbor, as well as public agencies with oversight over municipal stormwater outfalls (City of Portland, Port of Portland and Oregon Department of Transportation) to evaluate stormwater discharges and implement source control measures if necessary. The following resources are designed to support those efforts.

Conducting a Stormwater Evaluation

• Guidance for Evaluating the Stormwater Pathway at Upland Sites
  Guidance for Cleanup Project Managers including Appendices designed to provide Responsible Parties with clear directions for developing stormwater assessment workplans and reports.
• Framework for Portland Harbor Stormwater Screening Evaluations PDF
  Appendix D of the EPA-DEQ Joint Source Control Strategy. Describes the approach for evaluating the stormwater pathway at Portland Harbor sites. The guidance document above is consistent with this Framework and provides more detailed instructions for implementing an evaluation.

Sampling Guidelines

• Lower Willamette Group Field Sampling Plan (FSP)
  This FSP and Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) presents the approach and procedures to implement stormwater activities undertaken by the Lower Willamette Group in 2007.
  • Lower Willamette Group Field Sampling Plan PDF
  • Quality Assurance Project Plan PDF
• Guidance for Sampling of Catch Basin Solids PDF
  Developed by the City of Portland. Describes standard procedures for collecting solids (sediments) from stormwater catch basins.
• WDOE Stormwater Sampling Guidance PDF
  Developed by the Washington Department of Ecology (WDOE). Describes standard procedures for sampling stormwater.
• Characterizing and Managing Catch Basin and In-line Sediments PDF
  DEQ's expectations regarding sampling and management of sediments removed from stormwater catch basins or the stormwater conveyances system as part of a Portland Harbor stormwater evaluation.

Portland Harbor Pollutants

• Table 3.1 from Joint Source Control Strategy PDF
  Joint Source Control Strategy screening level values for soil, stormwater sediment, stormwater, groundwater and surface water.
• Potential PCB Source Fact Sheet PDF
  Types of industries, practices, and products that might be potential sources of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

Best Management Practices and Other Resources

• Catch Basins Fact Sheet PDF
  Catch basin design, effectiveness and sediment sampling.
• Environmentally Responsible Best Management Practices PDF
  Basic maintenance practices for stormwater catch basins.
• International Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMP) Database
  Technical documents, software and database aimed at providing scientifically sound information to improve the design, selection and performance of BMPs. The project, which began in 1996 under a cooperative agreement between the American Society of Civil Engineers and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, has support and funding from a broad coalition of partners including the Water Environment Research Foundation, ASCE Environmental and Water Resources Institute, USEPA, Federal Highway Administration and the American Public Works Association.

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