Learn about a beautiful local site in the Slough where the Council has it’s office and many events! This educational speaker event will feature Blair and Sarah from Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), discussing the cleanup of East Whitaker Ponds. This will be an outdoor event and we will walk around the ponds.

In 2021, DEQ oversaw Metro Metals Northwest, Inc.’s work to remove contaminated sediment and construct a protective cap in East Whitaker Pond at Whitaker Ponds Nature Park.  DEQ will provide an overview of the construction and the long term monitoring plan. 2022 post construction monitoring results will be presented. Ecologist Laura Guderyahn will also be available to answer questions about her role in the cleanup project.

Sarah Miller is the Columbia Slough Sediment Project Manager for DEQ’s Environmental Cleanup Program. Sarah has worked on Columbia Slough sediment cleanup efforts for 12 years and previously work with DEQ’s Laboratory water quality monitoring program collecting environmental data throughout the state. She is an Oregon State University graduate.

Blair Paulik Aguilar is an environmental toxicologist in DEQ’s Environmental Cleanup program. She earned a PhD in Environmental Toxicology at Oregon State University and has over 10 years of experience working to clean up and protect the environment. Blair is passionate about effective public outreach and engagement and enjoys communicating about technical topics with diverse audiences. 

Registration is free and all are welcome to attend. There is parking available at Whitaker Ponds Nature park. The walk around Whitaker Ponds is a ~0.25 mile walk along a mostly dirt path with some uneven areas. A porta potty is located in the parking lot at Whitaker Ponds.