Springwater Wetlands Enhancement in the Johnson Creek Watershed, Lents and Powellhurst-Gilbert Neighborhoods
Start Date
3-17-2025 2:00 PM
End Date
3-17-2025 2:09 PM
Abstract
Over the past two decades, Springwater Wetlands floodplain restoration has focused on reducing flooding, enhancing habitat, and improving community amenities on City of Portland property. Project construction is nearing completion. Sharing lessons learned in project plans, designs, funds, permits, floodplain enhances and construction process with the urban restoration community also important.
For context, regional climate and land use changes reduce watershed habitat function and increase local floods. Johnson Creek is one of the few free-flowing streams in Portland and has a long history of nuisance and catastrophic flooding. For over a century, government agencies focused on flood control with limited success. For example, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) skillfully lined Johnson Creek rock to alleviate flooding to no avail. About 20 years ago, the Johnson Creek Restoration Plan shifted this focused to watershed-wide floodplain restoration and prioritized the Springwater Wetlands project. This unique 70-acre, urban wetland enhancement project is in the underserved Lents and Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhoods regularly impacted by local flooding.
Implemented approaches include to: modify site topography; contain stormwater on City property; build trails for public access, maintenance, education and emergency response; plant desirable vegetation; remove invasives; dispose of contaminated fill; protect sensitive species such as red-legged frogs and migratory birds; expand onsite wetlands; install wood piles, snags, and amphibian logs; monitor habitat; maintain vegetation long-term; and adaptively manage site features (beaver dam analogs, tec.).
The project leverages many partnerships with residents, businesses, regulatory agencies, Portland Parks (PPR) and Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT). For example, Zenger Farm, a Springwater Wetlands neighbor, educates people about sustainable food systems, wetland ecology and environmental stewardship. In addition, collaboration between BES, PBOT and PPR incorporated a paved bike trail that improves access to natural areas and pedestrian transportation network, aligning with long-term connectivity plans, into this project. This project also integrates educational signs and site features made from WPA rock connecting history and the natural environment.
Subjects
Land/watershed management, Water quality
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/43080
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 License.
Springwater Wetlands Enhancement in the Johnson Creek Watershed, Lents and Powellhurst-Gilbert Neighborhoods
Over the past two decades, Springwater Wetlands floodplain restoration has focused on reducing flooding, enhancing habitat, and improving community amenities on City of Portland property. Project construction is nearing completion. Sharing lessons learned in project plans, designs, funds, permits, floodplain enhances and construction process with the urban restoration community also important.
For context, regional climate and land use changes reduce watershed habitat function and increase local floods. Johnson Creek is one of the few free-flowing streams in Portland and has a long history of nuisance and catastrophic flooding. For over a century, government agencies focused on flood control with limited success. For example, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) skillfully lined Johnson Creek rock to alleviate flooding to no avail. About 20 years ago, the Johnson Creek Restoration Plan shifted this focused to watershed-wide floodplain restoration and prioritized the Springwater Wetlands project. This unique 70-acre, urban wetland enhancement project is in the underserved Lents and Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhoods regularly impacted by local flooding.
Implemented approaches include to: modify site topography; contain stormwater on City property; build trails for public access, maintenance, education and emergency response; plant desirable vegetation; remove invasives; dispose of contaminated fill; protect sensitive species such as red-legged frogs and migratory birds; expand onsite wetlands; install wood piles, snags, and amphibian logs; monitor habitat; maintain vegetation long-term; and adaptively manage site features (beaver dam analogs, tec.).
The project leverages many partnerships with residents, businesses, regulatory agencies, Portland Parks (PPR) and Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT). For example, Zenger Farm, a Springwater Wetlands neighbor, educates people about sustainable food systems, wetland ecology and environmental stewardship. In addition, collaboration between BES, PBOT and PPR incorporated a paved bike trail that improves access to natural areas and pedestrian transportation network, aligning with long-term connectivity plans, into this project. This project also integrates educational signs and site features made from WPA rock connecting history and the natural environment.
