WELCOME TO
RUMBLE ON THE RIVER

Since 2022, Rumble On The River has presented 28 community forums in neighborhoods throughout Portland and at the Public Interest Environmental Law Conference, U of O. Rumbles bring together expert voices to discuss a range of environmental and social topics. These have included the Columbia & Willamette River ecosystems, transportation, false climate solutions, urban forestry, shade equity, risk-bonding, salmon restoration, the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund and the Western Hemisphere’s most toxic site – Hanford.

A recurring Rumble focus has been the Critical Energy Infrastructure (CEI) Hub and the potential hazards of having 90% of Oregon’s fuel and a dangerous mix of chemicals stored within Portland’s city limits on a riverside seismic liquefaction zone.

Co-Sponsoring Organizations:

350 PDX – Alliance for Democracy – Arbor Lodge Neighborhood Association – Bird Alliance of Oregon – Braided River Campaign – Breach Collective– Cathedral Park Neighborhood Association – Climate Reality Project-Portland Chapter – Columbia Riverkeeper – Community for Earth/First Unitarian Portland – Cully Association of Neighbors – EcoFaith Recovery – Economic Justice Action Group/ First Unitarian Portland – Extinction Rebellion-PDX–Frog Ferry – Havurah Climate Action Team– Human Access Project – KBOO Radio 90.7 – Kenton Neighborhood Association– Linnton Neighborhood Association– Maplewood Neighborhood Association – Mosquito Fleet – Mt Tabor Neighborhood Association– Neighbors for Clean Air– No More Freeways – OPAL, Environmental Justice Oregon– Oregon Chapter of the Sierra Club– Oregon Conservancy Foundation – Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility– Pearl District Neighborhood Association– P.E.S.T. Projection – Portland Committee on Human Rights in the Philippines– Portland Harbor Community Advisory Group – Portland Harbor Community Coalition– Portland Jobs with Justice– Portland Raging Grannies – Portland Youth Climate Strike– Portsmouth Neighborhood Association– St. Johns Neighborhood Association – Sauvie Island Community Association – Sunrise Movement PDX – Tank the Tanks – Th!rd Act Oregon – Tualatin Riverkeepers – Willamette Riverkeeper

WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH DATA CENTERS?

Data centers have popped up across the region, threatening farmland and habitat. Enticed by abundant water and energy and tax breaks from cash strapped local communities, high tech companies have made the Pacific Northwest their mark. At this Rumble, we’ll hear about the conflict between the spread of data centers and the protection of farms and forestland. 

Panel:
Sarah Wochele, Equity Analyst & Advocate with Oregon Citizens’ Utility Board 
Nellie McAdams, Executive Director of Oregon Agricultural Trust
Kelly Campbell, Policy Director with Columbia Riverkeeper 
Kaleb Lay, Director of Research & Policy with Oregon Rural Action 
Dr. Ana Carolina de Assis Nunes, Post-Doctoral Fellow at Data & Society Research Institute
Moderator: Barbara Bernstein

Rumble 27: Wild About Our Waterways: Meet Your Local Waterkeepers

Join the Riverkeepers of the Willamette, Tualatin and Columbia for an evening of stories, strategy, and shared purpose. Hear updates on the work each organization is leading—from local restoration projects and community programs to collaborative policy efforts that defend clean water and healthy habitats across the region. We discuss current campaign work, issues of concern and why we are more powerful when we work together.

Panel:
Willamette Riverkeeper Heather King, Co-Executive Director & Lower Willamette Riverkeeper
Michelle Emmons, Co-Executive Director & Upper Willamette Riverkeeper Tualatin Riverkeepers
Glenn Fee, Executive Director
Kelsey Shaw Nakama, Advocacy and Policy Director Columbia Riverkeeper
Kate Murphy, Senior Community Organizer
Teryn Yazdani, Staff Attorney
Moderator: Lynn Handlin
November 28, 2025

 

Rumble on the River # 26: Public Grids

Panelists:
Mitch Green, City Councilor for Portland District 4
Je Amaechi, Organizing Director, Unite Oregon
Tiffani McCoy, Co-Executive Director, Seattle’s House Our Neighbors
Sarahana Shrestha, Assemblymember for New York State Assembly District 103
isaac sevier, Executive Director, Public Grids
November 5, 2025

Rumble on the River 25: What Can We Do About the Critical Energy Infrastructure (CEI) Hub

Learn about what’s behind and ahead with the ongoing CEI Hub Policy Project and celebrate the 25th Rumble. – With our 25th Rumble, we want to honor one of the most well-loved and frequent panelists, Bob Sallinger. Help Portland make the right changes in rules and regulations to deal with the dangerous and climate disrupting Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub. A recurring Rumble focus has been the CEI Hub and the potential hazards of having 90% of Oregon’s fuel and a dangerous mix of chemicals stored within Portland’s city limits on a riverside seismic liquefaction zone.
October 7, 2025

The Willamette River is a confluence of social, ecological, economic and historical significance and yet we continue to struggle to protect the very place that sustains us. Join us at the banks of the river to hear from advocates who are committed to finding lasting solutions.

Panel Caleb Shaffer–Portland Harbor Team Lead, U.S. EPA, Region 10
Elaine Harvey–Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, Watershed Dept Manager
Mary Stites–Staff Attorney with Northwest Environmental Defense Center
Mike Houck–Urban Greenspaces Institute, Director
Mitch Green–Portland City Councilor, District 4
Moderator: Jan Zuckerman
June 22, 2025

CARE & COURAGE Building Community And Fighting Back In Uncertain Times Recorded on Wednesday, May 7th

Panel: Damon Motz-Storey, Director Oregon Sierra Club Cass Cano Candelario and Jen Slack are members of Portland Contra Las Deportaciones, Joel Beinin is the Donald J. McLachlan Professor of History, Emeritus at Stanford University. Russell Lum, he/him, is an organizer employed in the government relations work of Oregon Nurses Association. He is a longtime leader in Portland Jobs with Justice, working at the intersection of labor and community power. John Wasiutynski, is the Multnomah County Office of Sustainability Director. Moderator: Jan Zuckerman is a retired teacher and long-time climate activist.