We've had a lot of exciting news about restoration efforts and partnership in Crystal Springs Creek over the last couple of years, including the bird and wildlife sitings along the creek, and the 24-hour construction blitz that replaced one of the nine culverts that block fish passage. 

Now it's time for the next phase of the project, which involves replacing the culvert under SE Tacoma Street and restoring wetland habitat in Westmoreland Park, where Crystal Springs Creek currently flows into a large, shallow pond.  Construction will start this summer, and will result in improved habitat and cooler, cleaner water in Crystal Springs, as well as other improvements to the park. 

There are nine culverts on Crystal Springs Creek between SE 28th Avenue and the creek’s confluence with Johnson Creek. Environmental Services and partners are working to restore the watershed for the the migratory salmon and steelhead that use the creek, as well as the people, river otter, heron, eagles and frogs that live there. City partnership with local and federal agencies and community partners, is making it possible to replace all nine culverts by 2015. To date, five of the culverts have been removed or replaced, and for the first time since the early 1970s, winter salmon are returning to the headwaters of Crystal Springs Creek in Reed College Canyon.  The Tacoma Street culvert project this summer will be the sixth culvert improvement.

For more information about the project and construction impacts, see this news release from Portland Parks and Recreation and the Environmental Services website for Crystal Springs.

 photo (c) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers