DOCSLIB.ORG

Description of the Ground-Water Flow System in the Portland Basin, Oregon and Washington

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Description of the Ground-Water Flow System in the Portland Basin, Oregon and Washington Description of the Ground-Water Flow System in the Portland Basin, Oregon and Washington United States Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 2470-A Prepared in cooperation with Oregon Water Resources Department, City of Portland Bureau of Water Works, and Intergovernmental Resources Center of Clark and Skamania Counties AVAILABILITY OF BOOKS AND MAPS OF THE US. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Instructions on ordering publications of the U.S. Geological Survey, along with prices of the last offerings, are given in the current- year issues of the monthly catalog "New Publications of the U.S. Geological Survey." Prices of available U.S. Geological Survey publica­ tions released prior to the current year are listed in the most recent annual "Price and Availability List." Publications that may be listed in various U.S. Geological Survey catalogs (see back inside cover) but not listed in the most recent annual "Price and Availability List" may be no longer available. Order U.S. Geological Survey publications by mail or over the counter from the offices given below. BY MAIL OVER THE COUNTER Books Books and Maps Professional Papers, Bulletins, Water-Supply Papers, Tech­ Books and maps of the U.S. Geological Survey are available niques of Water-Resources Investigations, Circulars, publications over the counter at the following U.S. Geological Survey Earth Sci­ of general interest (such as leaflets, pamphlets, booklets), single ence Information Centers (ESIC's), all of which are authorized copies of Preliminary Determination of Epicenters, and some mis­ agents of the Superintendent of Documents: cellaneous reports, including some of the foregoing series that have gone out of print at the Superintendent of Documents, are obtain­ ANCHORAGE, Alaska Rm. 101, 4230 University Dr. able by mail from LAKEWOOD, Colorado Federal Center, Bldg. 810 U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services MENLO PARK, California Bldg. 3, Rm. 3128, 345 Box 25286, Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225 Middlefield Rd. RESTON, Virginia USGS National Center, Rm. 1C402, Subscriptions to Preliminary Determination of Epicenters can 12201 Sunrise Valley Dr. be obtained ONLY from the SALT LAKE CITY, Utah Federal Bldg., Rm. 8105, 125 Superintendent of Documents South State St. Government Printing Office SPOKANE, Washington U.S. Post Office Bldg., Rm. 135, Washington, DC 20402 West 904 Riverside Ave. WASHINGTON, D.C. Main Interior Bldg., Rm. 2650, 18th (Check or money order must be payable to Superintendent of Documents.) and C Sts., NW. Maps Only Maps Maps may be purchased over the counter at the following For maps, address mail orders to U.S. Geological Survey office: U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services Box 25286, Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225 ROLLA, Missouri 1400 Independence Rd. Description of the Ground-Water Flow System in the Portland Basin, Oregon and Washington By WILLIAM D. MCFARLAND and DAVID S. MORGAN Prepared in cooperation with Oregon Water Resources Department, City of Portland Bureau of Water Works, and Intergovernmental Resource Center U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 247Q-A U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Gordon P. Eaton, Director Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. For sale by the U.S. Geological Survey Branch of Information Services Box 25286 Federal Center Denver, CO 80225 Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data McFarland, William D. Description of the ground-water flow system in the Portland Basin, Oregon and Washing­ ton / by William D. McFarland and David S. Morgan, p. cm. (U.S. Geological Survey water-supply paper: 2470-A) "Prepared in cooperation with Oregon Water Resources Department, City of Portland Bureau of Water Works, and Intergovernmental Resource Center." Includes bibliographical references. Supt. of Docs, no.: I 19.13:2470-A 1. Groundwater flow Oregon Portland Region. I Morgan, David S. II. Oregon. Water- Resources Dept. III. Portland (Or.) Water Bureau. IV. Intergovernmental Resource Cen­ ter. V. Title. VI. Series. GB1197.7.M397 1996 96-35334 551.49'09795'49 dc20 CIP ISBN 0-607-87039-7 CONTENTS Abstract..............................................................._^ Introduction .................................................... Purpose and Scope.................................................................................................................................................... 2 Study Methods........................................................................................._^ Description of the Study Area....................................................................................................................................4 Previous Investigations ..............................................................................................................................................4 Concurrent Investigations.........................................................................................................................................^ Acknowledgments..........................................................................................^^ Geologic Setting............................................................................................................................................................... 6 Ground-Water System.......................................................................................................................................................6 Data Collection............................................................^ Well Inventory ....................................................................................................................................................7 Spring Inventory .................................................................................................................................................8 Streamflow Measurements........................................................................................................................ Data Management.............................................................................................................................................. Hydrogeologic Units ..................................................................................................................................................9 Upper Sedimentary Subsystem...........................................................................................................................9 Lower Sedimentary Subsystem.........................................................................................................................11 Older Rocks Subsystem.................................................................................................................................... 13 Hydraulic Characteristics.............................................................................................................................. Recharge...................... ..........................-..-................. ................... .......................................................16 Groimd-Water Movement................................................................-................-.-...-..-.-...--..-....-...-..-..-.--..20 Discharge. ........................................................................................................ .. -23 Springs..................................................................................................................................... .24 Streams ... ....... ... ............................ .............. ........ .. .. .. .. ...... .27 Pumpage from Wells..........-.........-..-.................................--.......- . -27 Evapotranspiration.......................................................................................................................................... -30 Water-Level Fluctuations.. ........ .. .. .... .... .. ................ .30 Clackamas County, Oregon..............................................................................................................................30 Mulmomah County, Oregon.............................................................................................................................35 Clark County, Washington . .. .......................................................................................39 Areal Water-Level Changes......-.........-...-.... ........................................................40 Summary and Conclusions. -....--.................................................................. ......-......-..-.....-..- .41 Suggestions for Future Studies......................................................-.............-..-................-........--..-...-.-...-..-- 42 Selected References....... ..... .. ................. ..... ... ..............................................................43 PLATES [Plates are in pocket] 1. Hydrogeologic map, cross sections and streamfiow measurement sites in the Portland Basin, Oregon and Washington 2. Map showing extent, thickness, and spring 1988 water levels for the unconsolidated sedimentary aquifer, Portland Basin, Oregon and Washington 3. Map showing extent, thickness, and spring 1988 water levels for the Troutdale gravel aquifer, Portland Basin, Oregon and Washington 4. Map showing extent, thickness, and spring 1988 water levels for Troutdale sandstone aquifer, Portland Basin, Oregon and Washington 5. Map showing
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Title 13 – Nature in Neighborhoods R Equest for Metro Determination of Substantial Compliance
    TITLE 13 – NATURE IN NEIGHBORHOODS R equest for Metro Determination of Substantial Compliance December 2012 Accepted by Portland City Council November 28, 2012 www.portlandoregon.gov/bps The Bureaus of Planning and Sustainability and Transportation are committed to providing equal access to information and hearings. If you need special accommodation, please call 503-823-7700, the City’s TTY at 503-823-6868, or the Oregon Relay Service at 1-800-735-2900. To obtain a copy of this document or more information about this project, please contact: Roberta Jortner, Senior Environmental Planner Bureau of Planning and Sustainability 1900 SW 4th Avenue, Suite 7100 Portland, OR 97201 Phone: 503-823-7855 | Email: [email protected] II TITLE 13, NATURE IN NEIGHBORHOODS – CITY OF PORTLAND COMPLIANCE REQUEST – DECEMBER 2012 A cknowledgements City Council B ureau of Environmental Services Sam Adams, Mayor and Commissioner in Charge Shannah Anderson Nick Fish Jane Bacchieri Amanda Fritz Susan Barthel Randy Leonard Mitch Bixby Dan Saltzman Eli Callison Amber Clayton Planning and Sustainability Commission Sara Culp Linda Dobson André Baugh, Chair Rhonda Fast Howard Shapiro, Vice Chair Robert Fraley Michelle Rudd, Vice Chair Emily Hauth Karen Gray Dawn Hottenroth Don Hanson Michele Juon Mike Houck Jennifer Karps Lai-Lani Ovalles Paul Ketcham Jill Sherman Kaitlin Lovell Chris Smith Dominic Maze Mike Rosen B ureau of Planning and Sustainability Darian Santner Susan Anderson, Director Marie Johnson Walkiewicz Joe Zehnder, Chief Planner Sallie
    [Show full text]
  • A Bug's Life in the Columbia Slough
    A Bug’s Life in the Columbia Slough: Handbook of Invertebrates and Macroinvertebrate Monitoring in the Columbia Slough June 2005 Jeff Adams WWW.COLUMBIASLOUGH.ORG Contacts: The Xerces Society for Invertebrate The Columbia Slough Watershed Conservation Council Jeff Adams Ethan Chessin [email protected] [email protected] Director of Aquatic Programs Volunteer Coodinator 4828 SE Hawtorhne Blvd. 7040 NE 47th Avenue Portland, OR 97215-3252 Portland, OR 97218-1212 503-232-6639 503-281-1132 http://www.xerces.org http://www.columbiaslough.org Funding for this handbook and the education and monitoring activities associated with this project has been provided by: ! Metropolitan Greenspaces Program – a partnership between Metro and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service ! The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation member contributions ! Northwest Service Academy ! Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board ! City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services' Community Watershed Stewardship Program All image credits belong to Jeff Adams with the following exceptions: the Joseph D. Meyers map of Portland vicinity was downloaded from the Center for Columbia River History website; the image with line drawings of a water strider and a back swimmer is used with permission from the University of Illinois Department of Entomology; and the images of the creeping water bug, left-handed snail, and sponge are used with permission from Daniel Pickard of the California Department of Fish and Game. (Cover photo: restoration site on Columbia Slough near Interstate 205. The benches had recently been created, but had not yet been planted with native vegetation.) Handbook of Macroinvertebrate Monitoring in the Columbia Slough TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Nificant Natural Area Sites and Interconnections
    .~­ ". \ i' .- / ,.• --- ./ \. \ ~ • I. • h j . .LC .' \. \ \ '.', ."'- /_ ,I • ~, I • ,{ \ I j .' ,,'" "..', r -, " (. ) ./ ..~, / / --)" ( , / '- L • r-( ."• \ " • ." L •~ rr ('., r I" ~••. / r ~ ). ," , \ . ) / ) •. ~ \ '-: '.' / -' ", ,'; ---' -, ", - ( '..\~ , " ' '. ,J \. ) .~ .\ / -" ,e.' ·r ","." ~ METROPOLITAN - e> )~ .' \ I" e :\(?-reel1space~, :- J • 'f /' r: /. ..../ .J \ • ~.' / l .. 'v' /". • '> I / I e-, ~ ./ ,I \ • .>" ) Master-Piait ) e• .,/ r ", / Ij .'-..... L e "'" '. \ e ( r e /. e e, , --- '~. e j -.', ,.­ ;' r .. •er, ) r / -'. ~ \' - ( . ~ . ., ~ ~' -\ A Cooperative Regio!lal$ystem ofNa.tural Areas, "Open Space, T~f!:..ils a~¢ Gree.nways / /', ' '.)' " forWilcJlife and p,!ople . ./( . ./ ,... ' .... / r • '. X- •.\ / e ! -, "e- ( \ - '- '\ .J • r~gional go~ernmeht (As' ofJuly 1992) "- (. • Metro is the 'directly elected thatserves , .. ,/ Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington cOUlities andilie 24 Policy Advisory COn:'!m,ittee M,ember;s: • \'citiesThat make up the P~rtlana metropolita~;rea. " "'- Ri~hard Devlin, Metro councilor and chair •e- Metr~is ;~spon~ible f~r soli~:~aste management, op~ration/of Ruth~cFariana, Metro,co~n;ilor rmd vice-chair ,_ .i ,'-- M~tro us~ \, the Washington Park Zoo, transportation-and land Sandi Hansen/Metro councilor " "- ~" ' pl~nping, 1da~inerstad, commissi~ne~ urban growth boundary management, technical ." J Judie Clackamas County . ,. services to local go\\ernments and, 'through the Metropolitan Pauline Anderson, Multnomah County commissioner ) r·, ) : fxposition)Recre,ation Gommission,man~gementofthe
    [Show full text]
  • Voluntary Local Watershed Council" Under Oregon Law
    BEFORE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR MULTNOMAH COUNTY, OREGON RESOLUTION NO. 2015-016 Recognizing the COLUMBIA SLOUGH WATERSHED COUNCIL as a "Voluntary Local Watershed Council" Under Oregon Law. The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners Finds: a. "Voluntary local watershed councils" consist of a majority of local residents, including local officials. (Oregon Revised Statute 541.910(1)). b. "Voluntary local watershed councils" must report their activities periodically to the Board of County Commissioners. (Oregon Revised Statute 541.910(3)). c. The Columbia Slough has been declared water quality limited by the State of Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. d. The Columbia Slough Watershed lies within the jurisdictions of Multnomah County, City of Portland, City of Gresham, and City of Fairview. e. The Columbia Slough Watershed Council is a local, citizen-led organization organized in 1994 reflecting the interests of the watershed, with representation from local government, special purpose districts, neighborhoods, businesses, environmental interests, recreation advocates, scientists, and educators. f. The Columbia Slough Watershed Council meets State and Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board guidelines. g. The Columbia Slough Watershed Council has requested formal recognition by the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners. h. Formal recognition will enable the watershed council to be eligible for Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board grant funds to support council activities directed to assessing watershed conditions, developing action plans, implementing projects, and educating watershed residents. Public stewardship and public involvement are critical elements in improving and protecting water quality and watershed health in the Columbia Slough watershed to meet County goals for clean water. The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners Resolves: 1.
    [Show full text]
  • City of Portland Watershed Health Index ASCE-EWRG & APWA 2012 Sustainable Stormwater Symposium Acknowledgements
    City of Portland Watershed Health Index ASCE-EWRG & APWA 2012 Sustainable Stormwater Symposium Acknowledgements Portland City Council BESPresentation and GSI MarchTeam 8, 2006 It takes a Community to create •Jenniferand Antak, implement Shannonan effective Axtell - BES Watershed •JuliePlan Wilson, GSI Portland Watershed Management Plan Portland City Council WatershedPresentation Approach March 8, 2006 •Cost-effective restoration integratedIt takes a Community •Adaptiveto create strategies and •Addressimplement multiple regulatory requirements.an effective Watershed Plan *Rather than starting with the regulations, Portland focuses on goals and strategies for healthy watersheds. 5 Portland Watersheds Portland Watershed Management Plan Portland Watershed Management Plan Clean Water Act MS4, NPDES and TMDLs CSO Control Stipulated Order Safe Drink Water Act UICs and Groundwater CERCLA (Superfund) Portland Watershed Portland Harbor Management Plan Projects, programs Objectives and and policies Endangered Species Act Salmon and Steelhead Strategies Oregon Statewide Planning Goals 5, 6 and 15 Natural Resource Protection Air, Water and Land Quality Willamette Greenway METRO Growth Management Policies Titles 3 and 13 Portland City Code and Comprehensive Plan NEW? Portland Watershed Management Plan Key Milestones 5-Year Strategy Watershed Plan Milestones •2006: Portland Watershed Management Plan (PWMP) (est. objectives, strategies and actions) •2009: Measures: priority indicators and metrics •2010: Watershed Health Index •2010: Portland Area Watershed Monitoring and Assessment Program (PAWMAP) •2011: First year of PAWMAP data collection •Completion of 5-year Strategy •2012: Watershed Health Index Finalized Watershed Monitoring Objectives Why do we monitor? And how to ensure that monitoring supports watershed restoration efforts. Watershed Health Goals • Hydrology – Move toward normative stream flow conditions to protect and improve watershed and stream health, channel functions, and public health and safety.
    [Show full text]
  • Natural Resource Inventory
    Natural Resource Inventory PORTLAND PLAN BACKGROUND REPORT FALL 2009 Acknowledgments Natural Resource Inventory Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) PROSPERITY AND BUSINESS SUCCESS Mayor Sam Adams, Commissioner-in-charge Susan Anderson, Director SUSTAINABILITY AND THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT Joe Zehnder, Chief Planner Steve Dotterrer, Principal Planner Eric Engstrom, Principal Planner DESIGN, PLANNING AND PUBLIC SPACES Gil Kelley, Former Director, Bureau of Planning Project Team NEIGHBORHOODS & HOUSING Roberta Jortner, Environmental Planning Manager, BPS Mindy Brooks; Shannon Buono; Katie Hinman; TRANSPORTATION, TECHNOLOGY AND ACCESS Kevin Martin; Chris Scarzello; Elliot Scott Document Cartography and Design EDUCATION AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT Gary Odenthal, GIS Coordinator, BPS Christine Rains, Graphic Designer, BPS Contributors HUMAN HEALTH, FOOD AND PUBLIC SAFETY Bureau of Environmental Services, Watershed Management Group, with special recognition of: QUALITY OF LIFE, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND EQUITY Shannon Axtell; Jennifer Devlin; Dawn Hottenroth; Dave Helzer; Josh Robben; Chris Prescott; Ry Thompson; Ali Young ARTS, CULTURE AND INNOVATION Bureau of Parks and Recreation Mart Hughes; Deborah Lev Metro Lori Hennings; Justin Houk; Paul Ketcham Project Technical Reviewers Susan Barnes, Patty Snow, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife; Tom Bouillion, Port of Portland; Bob Eaton, Dave Hendricks, Multnomah County Drainage District; Paul Fishman, SWCA Environmental Consultants; Karen Font Williams, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality; Mike Houck, Urban Greenspaces Institute; Jim Labbe, Bob Sallinger, Audubon Society of Portland; Tom McGuire, Adolfson Associates; Nancy Munn, NOAA Fisheries; Jennifer Thompson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Alan Yeakley, Portland State University To help ensure equal access to City programs, services and activities, the City of Portland will reasonably modify policies/procedures and provide auxiliary aids/services to persons with disabilities.
    [Show full text]
  • Columbia Slough Sediment Cleanup: Option for Liability Release Through Cash Settlements
    Fact Sheet Columbia Slough Sediment Cleanup: Option for Liability Release Through Cash Settlements Background Alternative approach The Department of Environmental Quality In 2008, DEQ provided an alternative option for issued a Record of Decision in 2005 that parties to settle their potential liability for Northwest Region provides the framework for cleaning up Columbia Slough sediment contamination. DEQ Cleanup Program contaminated sediment within the Columbia developed a settlement framework that calculates 700 NE Multnomah St. Slough. The primary components of this a “cash-out” payment for each facility based on Suite 600 framework are: estimated costs that would be incurred in a Portland, OR 97232 Phone: 503-229-5040 sediment investigation and cleanup. Settling 800-452-4011 • Upland source control parties would pay this amount to a state fund Fax: 503-229-5850 • Sediment hot spot remediation dedicated to sediment investigation and cleanup Contact: Sarah Miller • Monitored natural recovery of priority areas within the Columbia Slough. As www.oregon.gov/DEQ of October 2019, DEQ has completed 16 The Columbia Slough is an approximately 31- settlements under this approach and is mile waterway extending from Fairview Lake, negotiating four additional settlements. near the city of Fairview, to Kelly Point Park near the confluence of the Willamette and The basic settlement amount associated with a Columbia Rivers. Sediment in the Columbia single discharge point to the slough has remained Slough is contaminated with a variety of the same since 2009. DEQ increased the amount hazardous substances such as PCBs, pesticides on March 30, 2018, in consideration of two and metals. Industrial, commercial and factors: cost inflation and our experience agricultural facilities located along the Columbia conducting and overseeing sediment cleanup Slough may have contributed to sediment projects in the Columbia Slough, which have contamination through wastewater discharge, cost between $500,000 and $2 million dollars.
    [Show full text]
  • Abundance and Distribution of Fish Species in City of Portland Streams
    ABUNDANCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF FISH SPECIES IN CITY OF PORTLAND STREAMS COMPLETION REPORT 2009 Project Period: 1 March 2008 to 30 June 2009 Prepared by: Erick S. Van Dyke Adam J. Storch Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Ocean Salmon and Columbia River Program Clackamas, OR Prepared for: City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services Portland, OR 97204-1912 IGA Number 020-8038 December 2009 TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT........................................................................................................................................ i INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................................................................1 STUDY AREA ...................................................................................................................................2 METHODS .........................................................................................................................................5 Seasonal Fish Assemblage and Abundance...............................................................................6 Fish Presence in Summer Habitat Units ....................................................................................8 Index of Biotic Integrity.............................................................................................................9 RESULTS .........................................................................................................................................10 Seasonal Fish Assemblage and Abundance.............................................................................10
    [Show full text]
  • Columbia Slough Sediment Analysis
    Columbia Slough Sediment Analysis 2006 Sampling Prepared by: City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services January 2009 Prepared for: Oregon Department of Environmental Quality Page intentionally left blank EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The City of Portland, Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) have been engaged in investigating and improving sediment quality in the Columbia Slough for over ten years. During this time, extensive remedial investigations, focused investigations, and feasibility studies have been conducted. BES is currently participating in the state’s Voluntary Cleanup Program to address contaminated sediments in the Slough. As part of the program, BES and DEQ signed an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) which describes the actions each agency will take to address sediment quality including conducting long-term monitoring. The Long-term Monitoring Plan, which is an element of the remedial approach for the Columbia Slough, includes sampling fish and sediment every 10 years to assess progress in achieving protective levels, evaluate spatial and temporal trends, and identify areas where more focused remedial efforts may be warranted. During the summer of 2006, BES collected 78 surface sediment samples for analysis of contaminants of interest (COI). The sediment samples were analyzed for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), metals, and pesticides. The first broad-scale sampling event was conducted in 1994. These data were comprised of sediment samples from 10 segments/reaches throughout the slough. The 2006 samples consisted of 78 sediment samples from the same reaches. In the 2006 sediment data, metals and PAHs were nearly always detected, pesticides ranged widely in percent detection, and many PCB Aroclors were never detected in any sample while others were detected infrequently.
    [Show full text]
  • The Benefits of Three Columbia Slough Restoration Projects on The
    1 The Benefits of Three Columbia Slough Restoration Projects on the Natural and Urban Environment. Chris Brown, Arielle Glade, Mary Head, Joe Miller and Brian Thatcher Abstract: We sampled three different restoration projects; the Whitaker Ponds, the Vanport Wetlands and the Section 1135 Project, to determine what ecological and community benefits restoration is having on the slough and the local community. The Whitaker Ponds, once a junkyard, has been restored to a semi-pristine state and now acts as a community environmental learning center to create awareness of watershed importance. The Vanport wetlands is a young mitigation project that has already shown to aid in wildlife recovery and species diversity. The $4.5 million section 1135 restoration project consists of several components to focus on system restoration. Each of these projects has shown to be successful early on, and a more concerted effort to collect quantitative data will help in steering future projects. Key Words: Columbia River Slough, ecosystem, wetland restoration, urban ecosystems 2 Introduction The Columbia River Slough is a heavily industrialized and highly impacted area located in north Portland, Oregon. Within the past decade the value of its natural state has been realized, and efforts are being made to restore various areas. As land becomes available, the regional Metro government and other government agencies are acquiring lands to use as open space, recreation, and wildlife habitat (personal communication, Jay Mower, CRS watershed council). Currently, there are dozens of restoration projects by various government agencies, non-profit groups and volunteer workers. However, there is no concise relationship between these projects, nor any methodology to measure the projects’ effectiveness.
    [Show full text]
  • Lower Willamette River Environmental Dredging and Ecosystem Restoration Project
    LOWER WILLAMETTE RIVER ENVIRONMENTAL DREDGING AND ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION PROJECT INTEGRATED FEASIBILITY STUDY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT DRAFT FINAL REPORT March 2015 Prepared by: Tetra Tech, Inc. 1020 SW Taylor St. Suite 530 Portland, OR 97205 This page left blank intentionally EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This Integrated Feasibility Study and Environmental Assessment (FS-EA) evaluates ecosystem restoration actions in the Lower Willamette River, led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and the non-Federal sponsor, the City of Portland (City). The study area encompasses the Lower Willamette River Watershed and its tributaries, from its confluence with the Columbia River at River Mile (RM) 0 to Willamette Falls, located at RM 26. The goal of this study is to identify a cost effective ecosystem restoration plan that maximizes habitat benefits while minimizing impacts to environmental, cultural, and socioeconomic resources. This report contains a summary of the feasibility study from plan formulation through selection of a recommended plan, 35% designs and cost estimating, a description of the baseline conditions, and description of impacts that may result from implementation of the recommended plan. This integrated report complies with NEPA requirements. Sections 1500.1(c) and 1508.9(a) (1) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (as amended) require federal agencies to “provide sufficient evidence and analysis for determining whether to prepare an environmental impact statement or a finding of no significant impact” on actions authorized, funded, or carried out by the federal government to insure such actions adequately address “environmental consequences, and take actions that protect, restore, and enhance the environment." The Willamette River watershed was once an extensive and interconnected system of active channels, open slack waters, emergent wetlands, riparian forests, and adjacent upland forests.
    [Show full text]
  • Natural Areas Restoration Plan October 2010
    Natural Areas Restoration Plan October 2010 Update: March 2015 Natural Areas Restoration Plan Update March 18, 2015 Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) completed the first system wide Natural Areas Restoration Plan (plan) in October 2010. The plan was completed as a requirement for Salmon Safe certification. It established restoration goals and strategies, management priorities and implementation actions. It is currently used to set restoration priorities (staff effort and funding) for natural areas. The plan stated that there would be a review and update every 3-5 years. The 2014 update modified the functional methodology and revised the weighting to remove the emphasis on salmonids and their habitat needs. The 2014 Natural Area Management Priority Matrix changes are based on the updated natural resource function methodology and ecological health determined by the best professional judgment of the ecologist managing the site. The goals, strategies and implementation actions remain the same. This updates also includes the natural area properties purchased since 2010. Methodology Update The methodology update evaluated additional functions and created a new weighting system. The original plan weighted functions associated with salmon habitat the highest while this update does not. Some of the updated functions were assigned weighted scores on a scale of 3 (high) to 1 (low) similar to the scoring used in the 2010 plan. A natural area was also given points for Terrestrial Ecology Enhancement Strategy (TEES) special status habitats and City of Portland At-Risk Species. The functions included are: (see attached memo for details): Streams: Perennial, non-perennial and within 100 feet of the natural area.
    [Show full text]