FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * DODSON MARK S   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol NORTHWEST NATURAL GAS CO [NWN] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __X__ Director _____ 10% Owner _____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) (Last) (First) (Middle) 220 NW SECOND AVENUE 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 08/21/2009 (Street) PORTLAND, OR 97209 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 08/21/2009   S   3,000 D $ 43.2215 15,282 I By Trust (1) Common Stock               20,542.023 I See Footnote (2) Common Stock               13,000 D

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Employee Stock Option to Buy

$ 34.29

(3)

12/31/2011

Common Stock

23,000

23,000

D

Employee Stock Option to Buy

$ 44.48

(4)

12/31/2011

Common Stock

23,000

23,000

D

Employee Stock Option to Buy

$ 43.29

(5)

12/31/2011

Common Stock

25,000

25,000

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
DODSON MARK S 220 NW SECOND AVENUE PORTLAND, OR 97209	X

Signatures

MardiLyn Saathoff, Attorney-in-Fact		08/24/2009
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	These shares are held in a trust for the benefit of the reporting person's spouse. The filing of this report is not an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of these securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.
(2)	Shares have been credited to reporting person's account under the issuer's Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors and Executives.
(3)	Option was granted for 23,000 shares pursuant to Northwest Natural Gas Company's Restated Stock Option Plan (the "Plan"). The option vested in installments of 5,750 shares on each February 22, 2007 and January 1, 2008. Pursuant to the Plan, the remaining 11,500 shares became fully exercisable upon Mr. Dodson's retirement on December 31, 2008. The option expires on December 31, 2011.
(4)	Option was granted for 23,000 shares pursuant to Northwest Natural Gas Company's Restated Stock Option Plan (the "Plan"). The option vested in installment of 5,750 shares on February 21, 2008. Pursuant to the Plan, the remaining 17,250 shares became fully exercisable upon Mr. Dodson's retirement on December 31, 2008. The option expires on December 31, 2011.
(5)	Option was granted for 25,000 shares pursuant to Northwest Natural Gas Company's Restated Stock Option Plan (the "Plan"). Pursuant to the Plan, the remaining 25,000 shares became fully exercisable upon Mr. Dodson's retirement on December 31, 2008. The option expires on December 31, 2011.

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