Living on the Water Resources

Clean Water

What is the Living on the Water Guide?

Our Living on the Water Guide is a guide for Floating Home Owners and Marina Managers. The whole guide is available for free on our website, or by request in print. Please feel free to use or share this guide. Chapters 6 and 7 have many links and resources—instead of typing each into your browser, they are now linked and available here.

cover of Living on the water guide with title and photo of houseboats by Pat Welle

On this page:

    Plants and Animals

    Click the resource name to read the full link

    Invasive Species

    Native Plants and Vegetation

    Wildlife

    Grants and Programs

    Click the resource name to read the full link

    WMSWCD's Healthy Streams and Healthy Habitats programs offer technical assistance, conservation plans, and cost-share for rural habitat projects, which can include moorages. See: wmswcd.org/services/conservation-planning/ or wmswcd.org/conservation-priorities/habitats-biodiversity/ or contact kammy@wmswcd.org.

    Emergency Numbers and Services/Contracting Resources

    Chapter 7 of Living on the Water Guide

    Emergency Numbers and Utilities

    • Fire/Medical/Police Emergency: Call 911.
      • (Non-emergency number is 503-823-3333)
    • Multnomah County Sheriff: 503-988-4300
    • Multnomah County River Patrol: 503-988-6788
    • Columbia County Sheriff: 1-503-366-4611
    • NW Natural (leak/emergency line): 1-800-882-3377
    • Poison Control 24-hour Hotline: 1-800-222-1222
    • PGE (outages and emergencies): 503-464-7777 or 1-800-544-1795
    • Columbia River PUD: 503-397-1844
    • Sauvie Island Fire (non-emergency): 503-621-1242
    • U.S. Coast Guard:
      • Marine Safety Office: 503-240-9301
      • Report oil spills: 800-424-8802
    • Wildlife nuisances, ODFW (Sauvie Island): 503-621-3488

    Contracting and Homeownership Resources

    The following companies and contractors are listed for information purposes only and do not constitute any kind of endorsement.

    Always ask for references and go to the Oregon Construction Contractors Board website to verify license status, see history of complaints, etc.

    Contractors

    • Derek Morrell, for new construction and building supplies, including logs and stringers:
    • Even Construction, for new construction and remodel
    • RiverBank LLC Marine Construction
      • Dan Riedl 503-341-8371
      • Ross Riedl 971-313-4329

    Dive Services, for home and flotation inspection, flotation repair, or contracting:

    • 2-Deep Diving: 503-366-0468
    • Harbor Services, 503-453-7317
    • Mainland Diving Service, John Glen: 503-366-4430 or 503-803-1459
    • Marine Service & Salvage, Miguel Hernandez: 504-460-1522
    • Richie Rich: 503-200-9999 (cell) or 503-497-8922 (office)
    • TC Diving LLC 503-890-9595

    Floating Home Lenders

    The following financial institutions are financing floating homes:

    Homeowners Insurance

    All homeowners should have insurance; The following insurance companies are covering floating homes.

    Floating home owners should be aware of the differences between available policies, which may or may not include coverage for Perils of the Sea (accidents or casualties of the sea).

    Related services

    Find out if you're in our service area.

    Service Area

    Related services to help you with working farms, forests, and garden conservation:

    Staff contact

    Kammy Kern-Korot

    (she/her)

    Senior Conservationist

    Contact me about:

    Oregon oak, savanna, wetlands and riparianRiparian areas The land alongside a creek, river, pond, or other body of water habitats; Emerald Ash and Mediterranean Oak Borers; conservation planning and native plantings for pollinators and other wildlife on rural lands.
    503-238-4775
    x 108
    971-265-9870