This river otter eating a steelhead was recently spotted in the middle of the Reed College campus at Reed Lake, which is the headwaters of Crystal Spring Creek.

Photo by Arthur Clausing, courtesy Reed College.

In 2010, Reed joined with Environmental Services to restore a section of Crystal Springs Creek, remove a culvert that blocked fish passage and install green street facilities along SE 28th Ave.  Since then, the restoration area is thriving and students and neighbors keep us posted on the sightings of birds and fish in Reed Canyon.

This was the first of the nine culverts that are slated to be removed or replaced along Crystal Springs Creek, reopening the entire stream for salmon, steelhead and other native fish. In August last year we shared the exciting photos of the UP Railroad culvert replacement. Look for construction this summer to replace the culvert at Tacoma Street, one in Eastmoreland Golf Course, and restoration of the stream through Westmoreland Park.  Keep up with this project on our website and through the Crystal Springs Community Partnership.