Neighborhood Stream Restoration
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Get to know our neighborhood waterways:
Getting to know your nearby creeks and streams
The urban areas of Washington County are home to many creeks and streams that feed into the Tualatin River. You may know of some of the bigger creeks, like Fanno Creek, Rock Creek, or McKay Creek, which are fed by countless smaller waterwaysStreams, creeks, or rivers. that snake through our neighborhoods, some of which don’t even have official names!
Human impact
Human activity has greatly degraded the health of our waterways, which affects the overall health of our communities and watershed. But we can slow this trend by taking care of streams and creeks.
What are neighborhood stream restoration projects?
We coordinate and fund neighborhood-scale stream restoration projects to enhance wildlife habitat and improve water quality along urban waterways. Reestablishing native trees and shrubs along urban waterways has many ecological benefits, including creating wildlife habitat, filtering rainwater runoffThe flow of excess rain running over a surface., and providing shade to keep water cool and healthy.
These multi-year projects rely on voluntary participation from landowners and neighborhood groups with streamside properties. For properties enrolled in these projects, we provide planning services, weed control, native tree and shrub plantings, and project monitoring and maintenance. If you have a property located within one of our project areas, you can expect to receive notices in the mail informing you of ongoing restoration work and opportunities to get involved.
Current neighborhood stream restoration projects
- Reviving Hall Creek
Hall Creek is a three-mile waterway that flows through Central Beaverton and unincorporated Portland. Hall Creek joins Beaverton Creek before flowing into the Tualatin River. This project aims to increase wildlife habitat by removing invasive plants and replanting native trees and shrubs. Once established, these plants will improve water quality by filtering pollution transported by rainwater runoff.
- Restoring Glencoe Swale
Glencoe Swale starts its journey near Hillsboro Airport, flowing four miles through Hillsboro before emptying into McKay Creek. This urban creek provides important habitat for fish and wildlife but has become degraded over time. Since 2018, we have worked closely with residents living along Glencoe Swale to create wildlife habitat, boost water quality, and filter rainwater runoff. We also offer residents volunteer opportunities to participate in restoring their neighborhood stream. Our partners in this effort include Friends of Trees, City of Hillsboro, and Clean Water Services.
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