The vanishing mussels of Fanno Creek
July 25th, 2007
Here’s a nice break from the dog-bites-man stories that are far too typical of common news. Actually, it is not that nice of a break, simply because the news is somewhat bleak:
The mussels live in the stream and filter water for nutrients.
Once, mussels were common in creeks and streams - but not anymore.
Smith explained why that has changed: “It’s simple. Water quality is not good – a result of sedimentation, turbidity and pollutants.”
Now we know why it is so essential to protect headwaters of streams… and why it was so important that Portland approve (which we did) the bond measure to buy and protect more lands critical to these streams. And, indeed, as the report notes:
Fanno Creek is actually a bright spot in the Portland area because of the many habitat restoration projects that have been completed along its shores.
Native grasses and new tree plantings filter the dirty water, and that helps all aquatic life.
Here is a local organization that is helping to restore and protect Fanno Creek.
If you live in Oregon, you can do YOUR PART this Fall by voting YES on Measure 49. Measure 49 will help ensure that rampant development doesn’t swallow our local streams, yet it will also guarantee critical property rights for over-regulated families.
In the map below, you can see Fanno Creek running alongside the A-Boy Plumbing. If there was ever a store NOT to visit or purchase anything from, it would be A-Boy. After all, as the plaque in front will remind you, that store was pivotal in its assertion of property “rights” over public rights, and the case went all the way to the Supreme Court.
Related posts: LNG and the Columbia: bad news, The Feds successfully bribe tribes to back off Columbia river complaints, Sea lion killing authorized
3 Comments Add your own
1. Dave | July 26th, 2007 at 12:08 pm
Where does the A-Boy Plumbing case tie in here? It deals with something entirely different. Many would agree with the A-Boy Plumbing owners in that imposing regulations/taking land for the purpose of public recreation (new bike path) is questionable to say the least.
2. Peter Bray | July 26th, 2007 at 12:11 pm
It was just free association on the Fanno Creek theme… as for the questionableness, I am not familiar with all of the details, but I understand that the city asked for the bike path in exchange for granting a problematic building permit.
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