We helped reconnect the community with the riverscape in a suburban park
Clean Water Services (CWS), a public water utility in the western suburbs of Portland, Oregon, is engaged with multiple ecosystem restoration projects across the Portland area. CWS and the Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District identified a reach of Fanno Creek within a neighborhood park in need of restoration due to human impacts within both the park and contributing watershed.
As part of the Fanno Creek Greenway Enhancement team, we performed geomorphic assessments, developed conceptual designs, assisted with permitting, and provided periodic construction assistance for the relocation of approximately 1,130 linear feet of Fanno Creek. The project included extensive use of wood as a bank stabilization strategy, and we also placed a substantial amount of wood throughout the floodplain. An adjacent pond was incorporated into the design as a habitat feature and design elements along the reach focused on promoting floodplain access, which enables more frequent pulsing of water into the riparian area to support wetlands and riparian vegetation for the benefit of the entire riverscape.
The desired effect of our work has been demonstrated during overbank flow events that have inundated the entire floodplain. As these processes continue, we expect to see further diversification of in- and near-channel habitat that are resilient to a variety of conditions.
At a Glance
- Offices
- Client
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- Clean Water Services (CWS)
- Partners
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- DEA, Tualatin Hills PRD,
- CWS, Biohabitats
- Award
- 2021 Design Award, Oregon Recreation & Park Association
Michael F. Adams, Jr., Principal
At its core, a river is the manifestation of water, sediment and wood, moving across the landscape, driven by gravity.
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