Portland Declared a "Salmon-Safe" City

Portland's efforts to improve water quality and improve salmon habitat have resulted in it becoming the first city to receive the "Salmon-Safe" certification, the city announced Wednesday.

"I am proud of our City bureaus rising to the challenge and fulfilling the pledge I made in 2013 that Portland would become the first city to be certified Salmon-Safe, advancing our environmental leadership in watershed health and salmon recovery,"Mayor Charlie Hales said.

Portland now joins sites such as many Northwest vineyards and companies such as Nike in passing the comprehensive science-based evaluation of land and water management practices set out by Salmon Safe, a not-for-profit dedicated to transforming watershed management practices.

The city says that receiving the designation means that systems are being implemented to further conserve water, reduce pesticide use, improve erosion control and increase installation of rain gardens and other “green infrastructure” to ensure storm water runoff is clean as it filters into wetlands, groundwater, nearby tributaries and the Willamette and Columbia rivers.

"Salmon-Safe's third-party audit shows that the City of Portland is on the cutting-edge of West Coast cities in taking a holistic approach to its watershed," said Dan Kent, Salmon-Safe executive director. "Taken together, the city's actions represent an integrated approach and important commitment to the health of the Willamette River and our urban watershed."