Decatur De-Litter

North Decatur Street between North Baltimore Avenue and North Catlin Avenue, is part of the Baltimore Woods corridor. Unfortunately, due to its location and isolation it is also a target for homeless RV camping and illegal dumping. There are only a few homes along the North end of Decatur near North Catlin Avenue, and the rest of it is has no residences and no street lights. Friends of Baltimore Woods has been actively working to improve both the camping and dumping problems.

Campers and RVs have been reported regularly and evicted. Debris left at former campsites has been collected and properly disposed of.  RV parking spaces have been blocked by large tree trunk rounds and boulders donated by Arbor Pacific Tree Work.  This has deterred a lot of the dumping, but hasn’t prevented people from continuing to deposit household trash, old furniture and construction debris along the street.

Material illegally left on public property can be collected by RID, a Metro agency, but that which is placed on private land becomes the responsibility of the property owner. Along Decatur there were places where trash had been thrown over the steep embankment beside the street and had accumulated 20 to 30 feet below on private property where it was very difficult and dangerous to remove.

We realized that this opportunistic dumping would probably continue, so we considered ways to contain it to the street for RID collection. First, we made and installed signs that politely ask people not to throw their discards over the edge of the embankments. These signs are definitely helping.

Second, we blocked the access to the edge both visibly and physically by creating barriers with native vegetation. Nootka Roses were chosen because of their size and un-inviting thorny nature. A row of these was planted along the embarkment edge in November.  Their beautiful blossoms, fragrance and rose hips will be a bonus in the years to come.

We are encouraging the owner of the property below the street where the trash has accumulated to clean it up, but so far there has been no response, so we will soon amplify the encouragement by making a formal complaint to the city.

Portland was recently recognized as the cleanest city in the nation and we want to sustain that reputation.

A Happy Update: At the time of this Winter Newsletter publication, all the illegal dumping along N Decatur has been removed by the property owner, Howard Dietrich. The Friends of Baltimore Woods send their huge appreciation for everyone involved with this clean up effort!

by Charlie Montgomery