River Forest Creek is a tributary of the Willamette River.  The creek flows through Risley Park and River Forest Lake before entering the Willamette on the west side of SE River Forest Drive. Our watershed council has completed a restoration project that focused on the mouth of River Forest Creek where it meets the Willamette River, as seen in the map below, in partnership with the two adjacent private landowners.

The restoration project included installation of a complex log structure in the Willamette, and a series of boulder weirs with wood incorporated that will create a series of pools in River Forest Creek. The woody material increases habitat complexity and creates areas for young fish to hide and feed away from predators. Invasive plants along the creek were also removed and native plants will be installed this fall.

Tributaries of the Willamette, such as River Forest Creek, provide important refugia and rearing habitat for juvenile salmon and other fish, particularly in the winter and spring during high flows. Portland sits at the end of the Willamette River drainage basin and it functions as a critical gateway for fish. Young salmon live in the lower Willamette and its tributaries year-round, from between a few months to a couple of years depending on the species.

The restoration of creek tributaries and off channel habitats have been identified as critical for recovery of salmon. This project is one of several restoration projects strategically being completed by watershed councils and agency partners, and is a part of the Clackamas Partnership’s collaborative approach to watershed health.

This project was funded by the Meyer Memorial Trust, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, Oregon Department of State Lands Submerged Lands Enhancement Fund, Oak Lodge Water Services, and Spirit Mountain Community Fund.