Poisonous fish advisory may expand downstream

The downstream area is popular among recreational and tribal fishers. Tracking studies in 2020-22 noted fish traveling here from contaminated areas.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is currently investigating the nature and extent of groundwater contamination beneath Bradford Island, and in the river. A contractor was chosen in August to excavate contaminated soil from the island, which will reduce the potential for erosion of poisoned soil into the river.

Cleanup will last through 2034, according to the annually updated plan. Fish will be monitored beyond that to make sure contamination decreases.

The spot below the dam is also under investigation as part of the superfund site. Fish, of age and species often caught by anglers, were nabbed here in the middle of the night with an electro-fishing boat last summer. They were subsequently killed, measured, packaged, labeled, aged, ground in a commercial blender and analyzed for PCBs, mercury and PFAS, among other chemicals. Full data will come by next October.

Initial results show that fish downstream of Bonneville Dam hold about 40 parts per billion of PCBs, less than above the dam, but still much higher than the 1.5 ppb considered safe for the most sensitive human populations, such as nursing infants of subsistence fishers. Smallmouth bass had the highest PCB concentrations, followed by pikeminnow and suckers.

“Every fish caught, pretty much, was above the acceptable level for human health exposure for sensitive populations,” Luxon said.

Oregon Health Authority issues “DO NOT EAT” advisories for fish containing over 8 ppb. But first, OHA wants more data on all the chemicals present in samples, especially mercury and PFAS, according to an agency spokesperson.

Concerned about the many decades of slow progress, Columbia Riverkeeper recently launched a petition to pressure USACE and lawmakers for a quick, science-driven, thorough cleanup. It’s gotten over 3,600 signatures, said Senior Community Organizer Kate Murphy.

But cleaning up an island takes a lot of planning, said John Morgan, Corps of Engineers Public Affairs Specialist, in a statement to Columbia Gorge News.

“The Corps understands and appreciates the high level of public interest surrounding Bradford Island. We share the goal of protecting the Columbia River ecosystem and are committed to a thorough, science-based cleanup in coordination with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ), Washington Department of Ecology (WDOE), Tribes, and the public,” Morgan said.

A third site, Cascades Island, got added this May. It’ll also get investigated before cleanup starts.

“While we recognize community concerns about the pace of progress, it’s important to understand that cleanups of this magnitude — particularly those conducted under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) — are complex and take time. They require multiple phases of investigation, risk assessment, interagency coordination, and public engagement before cleanup actions can begin,” Morgan said.

People at the meeting expressed a desire to deliver a message of thanks to the Yakama Nation and Columbia Riverkeeper, and more timely meeting notifications to the public. Past meetings are posted on YouTube. If you have any questions about the cleanup process, send them to BradfordIslandPublicCom mentInbox @usace.army.mil.