Stephens Creek Confluence Habitat Restoration Project
Stephens Creek Confluence Habitat Enhancement Project
Environmental Services completed major construction on the Stephens Creek project in December 2008.
The confluence of Stephens Creek and the Willamette River is in Willamette Moorage Park on property owned by Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) The 3.5-acre site is part of a 35-acre complex of publicly owned natural areas known collectively as the South Portland Riverbank.
Project Benefits
The Stephens Creek confluence provides critical rearing and refuge habitat for native, endangered Chinook and coho salmon and steelhead trout, and for rainbow and cutthroat trout, and Pacific and brook lamprey. This project improved in-stream, stream bank, and floodplain wetland habitat.
Project Details
The Stephens Creek Project:
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Removed artificial structures, such as the combined sewer overflow (CSO) pipe, which limited natural floodplain connectivity
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Re-sloped stream banks to increase stability and facilitate revegetation
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Installed large wood in the project area to increase cover, shelter, and refuge potential (large wood complexes encourage formation of scour pools that provide deep, shady, cool refuge areas)
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Created off-channel habitat to provide low-velocity refuge for fish during high flows
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Revegetated the site to increase habitat complexity and provide shade and overhanging vegetation cover to Stephens Creek and the Willamette River
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Installed brush piles and snags to improve wildlife habitat
Partners
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Environmental Services
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Macadam Bay Homeowners Association
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Oregon Department of Environmental Quality - Volunteers In Action
Funding
Several sources provided project funding, including:
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Bureau of Environmental Services Watershed Investment Fund and Capital Improvement Program
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The Nature Conservancy (through Portland General Electric)
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Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership (through Bonneville Power Administration)
For More Information
Call Environmental Services at 503-823-7740.