SW Stephenson Roadside Swales
Environmental Services completed work in March 2016 on a stormwater management project on SW Stephenson Street between SW 35th Avenue and Boones Ferry Road (see map below). This project helps protect water quality in Tryon creek.
Project Background
Ditches on SW Stephenson carry stormwater runoff from the street directly to Tryon Creek and its tributaries. The fast-moving water causes erosion and carries pollutants washed off streets.
This project constructed swales planted with a combination of grasses and low-growing plants to help protect the channel from erosion and reduce stormwater pollutants. As part of the project, the Portland Bureau of Transportation added four-foot wide, paved shoulders.
The Fanno-Tryon Watershed Management Plan identified these improvements as a way to improve drainage and pedestrian safety and protect water quality. Over one-third of the roads in the watershed are paved and have no curbs. Ditches border most of them.
For More Information
Contact 503-865-4300.