Restoration
Restoring habitat for wildlife and watershed health is a big part of the Partnership's mission. Much of this work initials removing invasive species (e.g., reed canary grass, yellow flag iris, domestic waterfowl), but the bigger picture is replacing these detrimental plants and animals with native species—ones that provide greater ecosystem services and maintain natural balances better.
Some of the current and upcoming projects (such as culvert replacements) are jobs for professionals with heavy equipment and advanced degrees; multiple agencies, city bureaus, and nonprofit groups are currently part of the effort. In the long run though, local residents will need to keep an eye on the creek and lend a hand from time to time, and there are many ways to get involved. Check our home page for News / Events, our Calendar page, and the Johnson Creek Watershed Council's calendar (some events concern Crystal Springs Creek). SOLV has hosted plantings on the creek and lists volunteer opportunities here (just limit the search area to "Portland" and "5 miles". Another CSP member, the East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District (EMSWCD) provides workshops on making your own yard a better place for native species and to contribute to stormwater management.
Some of the current and upcoming projects (such as culvert replacements) are jobs for professionals with heavy equipment and advanced degrees; multiple agencies, city bureaus, and nonprofit groups are currently part of the effort. In the long run though, local residents will need to keep an eye on the creek and lend a hand from time to time, and there are many ways to get involved. Check our home page for News / Events, our Calendar page, and the Johnson Creek Watershed Council's calendar (some events concern Crystal Springs Creek). SOLV has hosted plantings on the creek and lists volunteer opportunities here (just limit the search area to "Portland" and "5 miles". Another CSP member, the East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District (EMSWCD) provides workshops on making your own yard a better place for native species and to contribute to stormwater management.
CSP Partner Restoration Examples
- Janet Johnson and Friends of Crystal Springs Creek have done extensive work over the last couple of years improving the quality of the creek around Westmoreland Union Manor. One of the highlights of this effort has been developing a garden designed to attract pollinators. Both Janet and the CSP sponsor ongoing work parties to improve and maintain the work begun here.
- Zac Perry and Reed College have invested millions into restoring Reed Canyon — partial headwaters to Crystal Springs Creek — and developing infrastructure to aid salmon. Volunteers are welcome twice a year (spring and fall) on the biennial Canyon Day event.
- CSP organizes monthly work parties on a fairly regular basis at different locations along the creek. Usually on the fourth Sunday of each month, we plant native species, remove invasive weeds and trash, and spread mulch. We help maintain native plantings originally established by the Bureau of Environmental Services at locations including Westmoreland Park and the Brannen Property.
Restoration Issues
|
Like other urban streams, Crystal Springs Creek faces a number of issues affecting stream health, but since it is primarily spring-fed some problems (such as incision, pollution from surface runoff, and low-flow during summer) are much less pronounced. The main challenges to restoring stream and riparian health to Crystal Springs Creek are summarized in the list below, and may be divided into four categories: things affecting water quality, things affecting water flow and sediment, things affecting water temperature, and plant and animal species present. Note that they all tend to affect each other and mess up the categories!
|
CSP members removing reed canary grass at Union Manor, Nov. 2015
|
Water Quality
Surface runoff from lawns, streets and roofs.
Though a relatively minor issue here compared to other urban streams, surface water in urban areas carries soil, fertilizer and pesticides, contaminants from vehicular traffic (everything from oil to heavy metals to tire dust). Streets and roofs are normally impermeable, meaning that rain washes directly off them and collects and transports contaminants as it goes. Landscaped areas and lawns are better at retaining rainwater but what does run off may be contaminated with fertilizers and herbicides.
Remedies for this issue include reducing, diverting and/or filtering runoff by increasing the amount of permeable surfaces (see Green Streets and rain gardens) and by collecting runoff from impermeable surfaces and diverting it to a bioswale. You can help by reducing or eliminating chemical use on lawns and gardens.
In Westmoreland Park (left) years of overpopulation by wild and domestic varieties of waterfowl reduced the banks to eroded, hard-packed dirt littered with duck and goose feces. When it rained both the soil and goose poop wash into the duck pond and downstream, raising the fecal coliform bacteria to unhealthy levels, and contributing to boom-and-bust cycles of algae blooms that reduce dissolved oxygen in the water, a process called eutrophication. In 2013-2014 Westmoreland Park underwent a dramatic restoration project led by the City of Portland and the US Army Corps of Engineers, eliminating the duck pond and replacing it with a meandering stream channel surrounded by an emergent wetland planted with native trees, shrubs, rushes and sedges (below)
Though a relatively minor issue here compared to other urban streams, surface water in urban areas carries soil, fertilizer and pesticides, contaminants from vehicular traffic (everything from oil to heavy metals to tire dust). Streets and roofs are normally impermeable, meaning that rain washes directly off them and collects and transports contaminants as it goes. Landscaped areas and lawns are better at retaining rainwater but what does run off may be contaminated with fertilizers and herbicides.
Remedies for this issue include reducing, diverting and/or filtering runoff by increasing the amount of permeable surfaces (see Green Streets and rain gardens) and by collecting runoff from impermeable surfaces and diverting it to a bioswale. You can help by reducing or eliminating chemical use on lawns and gardens.
In Westmoreland Park (left) years of overpopulation by wild and domestic varieties of waterfowl reduced the banks to eroded, hard-packed dirt littered with duck and goose feces. When it rained both the soil and goose poop wash into the duck pond and downstream, raising the fecal coliform bacteria to unhealthy levels, and contributing to boom-and-bust cycles of algae blooms that reduce dissolved oxygen in the water, a process called eutrophication. In 2013-2014 Westmoreland Park underwent a dramatic restoration project led by the City of Portland and the US Army Corps of Engineers, eliminating the duck pond and replacing it with a meandering stream channel surrounded by an emergent wetland planted with native trees, shrubs, rushes and sedges (below)
In 2013 a restored stream channel with native plants replaced the concrete-lined pond at Westmoreland Park.
Water Flow and Sediment
Undersized culvert causing ponding at SE Glenwood St.
Undersized culverts and dams reduce upstream velocities; when this happens silt and fine organic debris build up on the gravel stream bottom. Salmon need clean gravel in which to lay their eggs, when fine sediment smothers eggs they die from lack of oxygen. Within the culvert the current is too strong for juvenile fish to swim against and they eventually get pushed out of the system into the Willamette River.
On the other hand, where the creek is confined to a straight, concrete-lined channel there is no place for juvenile salmon to find food and cover. The last two undersized culverts (at SE Glenwood St. and SE Bybee Blvd.) were replaced in summer of 2016.
On the other hand, where the creek is confined to a straight, concrete-lined channel there is no place for juvenile salmon to find food and cover. The last two undersized culverts (at SE Glenwood St. and SE Bybee Blvd.) were replaced in summer of 2016.
The new box culvert in Summer 2016 with native plants just started.
|
The new box culvert in October 2017 with revegetated banks. Note the rise in creek level, probably caused by increased aquatic vegetation.
|
Water Temperature
Lack of shade, ponding of water, and slow currents combine to raise temperatures above healthy levels for fish and other aquatic life. Undersized culverts and dams spread out and slow down the water, letting the sun act on it longer, thus raising its temperature. Salmon eggs and juvenile salmon are especially susceptible to elevated temperatures, which stress them and contribute to low dissolved oxygen in the water. Replacing undersized culverts and planting trees along stream banks help to shade the water and to keep it moving along.
Plant and Animal Species Present
An Oregon floater (Anodonta oregonensis), a native freshwater mussel.
All of the alterations made to the physical and chemical condition of the creek affect which plants and animals thrive and which do not, and to some degree vice versa. Salmon and native mussel populations are negatively affected by all of the above listed factors, while some species such as the Asian clams may be favored. Aggressive introduced species (such as English ivy and reed canary grass) can severely alter the character of the riparian zone and in-stream habitat so that native species cannot thrive and species diversity is severely reduced. In some cases removal of invasive species is in order. In others simply improving conditions for native species may help bring about their recovery and a return to a more diverse ecosystem. See the Plants and Animals of Crystal Springs Creek page for our list of selected species (under development).
Resources
Water quality and temperature: The Student Watershed Research Program
Stormwater management:
BIOFILTERS (Bioswales, Vegetative Buffers, & Constructed Wetlands) For Storm Water Discharge Pollution Removal
Watergardens as Stormwater Infrastructure in Portland, Oregon
Culverts: Geomorphic Impacts of Culvert Replacement and Removal: Avoiding Channel Incision
Riparian health: Oregon Riparian Assessment Framework
Stormwater management:
BIOFILTERS (Bioswales, Vegetative Buffers, & Constructed Wetlands) For Storm Water Discharge Pollution Removal
Watergardens as Stormwater Infrastructure in Portland, Oregon
Culverts: Geomorphic Impacts of Culvert Replacement and Removal: Avoiding Channel Incision
Riparian health: Oregon Riparian Assessment Framework
