Flavel Ridge Wetland

On a sunny day last week, when the first red flowering currants were just beginning to bloom, a tucked-away city property got a much needed spring cleaning.

Flavel Ridge Wetland, near Johnson Creek on the Portland-Clackamas border, is home to Oregon salamanders, beaver, great blue heron, and even musk monkey flower, a native plant rare in the Portland area. Fed by groundwater seeps, and partially impounded by a beaver dam, the wetland provides cool, clean water to Johnson Creek year-round.

Oregon salamander safely relocated during recent cleanup

Because of its important role in maintaining cool water temperatures in Johnson Creek - especially critical during hot summer months - the Bureau of Environmental Services purchased the property in 2012. Since then, our revegetation team has begun removing invasive plants like Himalayan blackberry and clematis, and has planted 850 native trees and 1,050 shrubs.

Unfortunately, we recently noticed that tires and other debris had been illegally dumped in and around the wetland. It took a crew of five people the better part of a day to pull 131 tires out of the pond and haul furniture, rugs, drywall, televisions and other debris off the site. In total, over 5,000 pounds of debris was removed and recycled or properly disposed. We are now implementing deterrents to dumping at this site.

Tires racked up behind the beaver dam

Approximately a quarter of the tires removed from the property

Illegal dumping is a persistent problem across the metro area, and it impacts water quality and habitat in our natural areas. Please do your part and call police if you observe illegal dumping actively occurring. Do not confront the dumper directly. To report materials that have already been dumped call Metro at 503-234-3000 or report it online: www.oregonmetro.gov/tools-living/garbage-and-recycling/rid-patrol.