Phone: 503-823-7740
Fax: 503-823-6995
1120 SW 5th Avenue, Suite 1000, Portland, OR 97204
Learn about Portland's Watersheds
The City of Portland sits at the confluence of two of the nations’ major river systems: the Columbia River and the Willamette River. Native salmon, steelhead and other fish and wildlife species live within Portland’s urban boundary, and also migrate through Portland to other parts of the Willamette River Basin, Columbia River Basin, and beyond.
The city is divided into five primary watersheds:
Everyone in Portland lives in a watershed, and many of our daily actions impact the health of our rivers and streams. Portland is a leader in restoring urban waterways, using natural approaches to manage stormwater, and working to recover endangered species. Environmental Services is committed to protecting and restoring our watersheds for clean water, lower infrastructure costs, and making our city more livable and healthy.
Columbia Slough
The slough flows for 18 miles from Fairview Lake to the Willamette River at Kelley Point Park
Fanno Creek
The creek flows west and south before entering the Tualatin River
Johnson Creek
The creek crosses several jurisdictions before entering the Willamette River near Milwaukie
Tryon Creek
The creek flows through parts of southwest Portland then enters the Willamette River near Lake Oswego
Willamette Watershed
The watershed plan area includes Forest Park, downtown, industrial districts, and residential neighborhoods
- Willamette River Basin
- Willamette River History
- Willamette Subwatershed Improvement Strategies
- Willamette Watershed Projects
- Willamette Watershed Characterization Report
- Westside Streams Water Quality and Trend Analyses Status Report
- Tanner Creek Water Quality Characterization
- Tanner Creek Water Quality Characterization Supplement
- Portland in 1852
Watershed Management Plan
Protecting natural resources and restoring critical ecosystems
City Green Blog
Updates on Environmental Services green infrastructure and watershed work