top of page

Clackamas

Clackamas County is known for its agriculture, timber, manufacturing, and commerce. The largest bodies of water in the county are the Willamette River, Clackamas River, and Bull Run Lake. The Native American nations that assert interests on this land are the Clackamas, Siletz, Grand Ronde, Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla tribes.

What people are talking about

Heat waves in Oregon have been affecting the snowpacks on many mountains, including Mt. Hood. The rapid melt of the snow caused campers to have to evacuate from their campsites as the water came down (Oregon’s Snowpack Was Worryingly Low Even Before the Recent Heat Wave. (2021, July 11)). Environmental managers are concerned about this sudden flood of water coming from the mountain since it was supposed to be used in the future months (Oregon’s Snowpack Was Worryingly Low Even Before the Recent Heat Wave. (2021, July 11)). Flooding has been recorded in Clackamas county since 1964 (Clackamas County, Oregon. (2023)). Severe rain events will typically cause a lot of flooding from nearby water bodies, especially the Willamette River. The historic flood of 1996 was unexpected and caused thousands of people trauma from the event (Remembering Oregon’s epic 1996 flood (photos). (2020, February 5)). The Willamette rose within hours, covering the streets between Milwaukie and Gladstone. Eight people died, and President Clinton, at the time, declared the event as a state emergency ((Remembering Oregon’s epic 1996 flood (photos). (2020, February 5)). However, this kind of drastic event is not the last, as hydrologists predict ((Remembering Oregon’s epic 1996 flood (photos). (2020, February 5)). A flash flood took the life of a hiker when the flood restricted his access to go through a bridge that was destroyed (One dead in Mt. Hood NF flash flood. (2020, July 27)). Landslides are also common following heavy rain, along with the recent fires that made hillsides more vulnerable to moving sediment (Clackamas County warns of potential landslides, floods due to heavy rain on burned areas. (2020, November 4)); (Clackamas County warns of potential landslides, floods due to heavy rain on burned areas. (2020, November 4)). Not only do these landslides cause dangerous road conditions and damage structures, but they also add an excess amount of sediment into the waterways below them, muddying the water (Flooding, landslides from heavy rains close roads around region. (2020, December 21)). Clackamas county experiences a lot of floods, with some cities, including the city of Milwaukie, providing free sandbags to reduce water damage (Water rescue team evacuates Milwaukie neighborhood during flood. (2015, December 7)); (Sandbags for Heavy Rain or Flooding. (2023)); (Clackamas County, Oregon. (2023)). Some safety tips during a flood include avoiding contact with water as it can be polluted, wearing watertight boots, and don’t walk into a flowing stream of six inches of higher (Water rescue team evacuates Milwaukie neighborhood during flood. (2015, December 7)); (Sandbags for Heavy Rain or Flooding. (2023)). Lake Oswego is a privately owned natural lake that has been enlarged and adjusted with the construction of a dam. A lot of Phosphorous inputs go into this lake, and with the following rain events, influenced a harsh growth of algal blooms (A Lakefront Brawl Poisons Oregon’s Most Exclusive Waters. (2022, July 23)). The locals of Lake Oswego are attached to this lake, and say it is what gives the city its charm (A Lakefront Brawl Poisons Oregon’s Most Exclusive Waters. (2022, July 23)). The recent algal blooms have caused many critics to write aggressive letters to the Lake Oswego Corporation, which is responsible for managing the lake (A Lakefront Brawl Poisons Oregon’s Most Exclusive Waters. (2022, July 23)). While everyone is in agreement for removing the algae from the lake, no one can come to an agreement on how it should be handled (A Lakefront Brawl Poisons Oregon’s Most Exclusive Waters. (2022, July 23)). Many homeowners feel that their property is being degraded in value due to the actions of the Corporation, however attempts were made to decrease the amount of algae present in the lake. Aerators and the reduced of inflow from the Tuialatin River were both done as a means to reduce algae, although the results were mixed (A Lakefront Brawl Poisons Oregon’s Most Exclusive Waters. (2022, July 23)). The next proposed step is to increase funding for their plan to neutralize the algae using about a million points of alum and sodium bicarbonate, which the residents will pay in higher stormwater bills (A Lakefront Brawl Poisons Oregon’s Most Exclusive Waters. (2022, July 23)). One of Oregon’s largest dams was the 15-meter tall Marmot dam before it was decommissioned and removed (Marmot Dam Removal . (2007, May 16)). The dam’s removal allowed migratory fish access through the Sandy river, which removed 20,000 m^3 of sediment and caused minimal disturbance to the river while increasing flow by 30% shortly after (Initial Fluvial Response to the Removal of Oregon’s Marmot Dam. (2008, July 1)). Another dam called Clear Branch was removed after its water-quality standards were not met for the bull trout and salmon (Oregon Denies Key Authorization for Controversial Dam in Mt. Hood National Forest. (2021, September 7)). With its removal, conservationists, the Department of Environmental Quality, and locals successfully prevented the loss of endangered species (Oregon Denies Key Authorization for Controversial Dam in Mt. Hood National Forest. (2021, September 7)); (Low-head dam removal enhances fish passage in Eagle Creek. (2021, November 18)). The Bull Run Watershed, which supplies the city of Portland with drinking water, is monitored for a parasitic organism known as cryptosporidium (Halfway into 10-year timeline for Bull Run filtration, Portland is still monitoring water. (2023, January 4)). This parasite comes from animal feces and can severely affect those with weakened immune systems and threatening diseases. Symptoms include stomach pain, diarrhea, and vomiting (Portland switching water source after potentially deadly parasite found. (2017, February 16)); (Halfway into 10-year timeline for Bull Run filtration, Portland is still monitoring water. (2023, January 4)). The Oregon Health Authority requested the city to build a filtration system by 2027 for removing this parasite alongside other debris (Portland switching water source after potentially deadly parasite found. (2017, February 16)); (Halfway into 10-year timeline for Bull Run filtration, Portland is still monitoring water. (2023, January 4)). A switch to groundwater was made to provide residents with clean drinking water. The funding for this new filtration system comes from the ratepayers, who will be paying about $500 million to complete the project (Portland water ratepayers to pay up to $500 million to prevent a rare drinking water threat. (2011, March 6)). The controversial right to public access to Lake Oswego lake, owned privately by the Lake Oswego Corporation (Oswego Lake deemed a public body of water, public access from parks still illegal. (2022, April 20)). Lake Oswego lake used to be called Sucker Lake when Oregon became a state in 1859, and was only half of its current size (Oswego Lake deemed a public body of water, public access from parks still illegal. (2022, April 20)). The rights to the lake used to be the state’s until the land was given ownership to the corporation after the lake was expanded (Oswego Lake deemed a public body of water, public access from parks still illegal. (2022, April 20)). Only a small section of the lake is now owned by the city, however, it is still considered private property and unable to be used publicly (Oregon Supreme Court ponders: Must the public be allowed access to Oswego Lake?. (2018, May 4)). The residents of Lake Oswego are the only ones able to use the lake when it opens during the summer months since they pay taxes that maintain the lake (Oregon Supreme Court ponders: Must the public be allowed access to Oswego Lake?. (2018, May 4)). With numerous trials and court cases, those involved continuously fight to support their side (Judge removed from Oswego Lake access case. (2022, July 21)). The Eagle Fern Dam has obstructed the migratory paths of many fish species, reducing their ability to reach their spawning point (Low-head dam removal enhances fish passage in Eagle Creek. (2021, November 18)). The dam was initially built for recreational purposes, including swimming and boating. Upon its removal, stream flow improved to its natural conditions, and salmon were not obstructed by physical barriers such as culverts and low-head dams (Dam Removal on Oregon Creek Improves Fishery. (2021, November 20)). The restoration project was initiated by ODFW with many local, state, and federal partners (Low-head dam removal enhances fish passage in Eagle Creek. (2021, November 18)). In another section of Eagle Creek, log structures were placed after a wildfire to prevent flooding (Winter Flows Can’t Shake CRBC Log Structures at Eagle Creek. (2021, March 12)). Wildfires often threaten the Bull Run watershed with sediment from the wildfire or fertilizer fire retardant from planes going into the watershed (Why The Eagle Creek Fire Is A Major Threat To Portland's Drinking Water. (2017, September 7)). The Clackamas Fund allows conservation to occur in impaired stream systems that are declining in fish populations. PGE, Metro, U.S. Forest Service, and many other community partners are using $8 million in funds to restore stream flow, cool water temperature by adding shade, gravel for natural filtration, and more (Restoring Habitats. (2023)). 21 sites in the Clackamas are receiving these funds through 2030 to improve fish habitats (Restoring Habitats. (2023)). Metro took on a large restoration project to restore over 100,000 native trees and shrubs for Goose Creek and sections of the Clackamas River to be restored from mining and floods (Metro tackles largest ever restoration of natural area along Clackamas River. (2016, November 17)). Rock Creek is another impaired stream that helps salmonid species migrate. With the help of David Gorman, 2,200 ft of Rock Creek was improved for its stream morphology, resiliency to flooding events, riparian habitat, and erosion reduction (Rock Creek Confluence Stream Habitat Restoration – Clackamas County, Oregon. (2023)). Certain creeks are impaired from being a dump for stormwater runoff, which was the case for Carli Creek. As a result, the creek was observed to have very high levels of Copper, Zinc, and Lead (A Cleaner Clackamas River. (2019, March 19)). The Clackamas County Water Environment Services formulated a project to reduce these pollutants and improve its habitat quality for fish and other wildlife while the stormwater system was improved (A Cleaner Clackamas River. (2019, March 19)). Invasive species are a major reason for reduced native species, with many organizations focusing on their removal to improve habitat conditions for native species (Partners combine efforts to tackle invasive weeds along Clackamas River. (2019, March 26)).  A restoration project along Beaver Creek attracted beavers to chew on its new resources. They quickly adjust to this newly improved habitat and create dams, flood the plains, and reduce the number of trees, which can potentially cause damage to property nearby (If you plant it, they will come: working with beavers to restore habitat. (2018, August 16)). Metro works with property owners to ensure that beavers keep to their natural habitat and build dams that supply resources for many endangered fish and other hundreds of species (If you plant it, they will come: working with beavers to restore habitat. (2018, August 16)). During their season, beavers will cut down many trees, which Oregon City parks have helped prevent by using chicken wire, especially for recently planted native trees (Beavers, development, weather take toll on trees along Clackamas River. (2017, February 6)). Beavers are known to migrate and sometimes get lost in urban spaces. An instance of a wandering beaver was found in a neighborhood, to which police officers responded and lead the beaver back to its habitat (Beaver receives Oregon City Police help finding way to safety: Clackamas County Roundup. (2013, March 11)). From overflows to leaking sewers, sewage has entered the waterbodies of Clackamas county one way or another. Mt. Scott Creek was observed to experience a sewage leak and cause contamination with the downstream area (Sewage leak into Mt. Scott Creek stopped; public advised to avoid contact with creek water for 48 hours. (2022, August 13)). Clackamas Water Environment Services (WES) ensured the stop to this spill, although the public was advised not to contact the water for 48 hours to prevent bacterial contamination (Sewage leak into Mt. Scott Creek stopped; public advised to avoid contact with creek water for 48 hours. (2022, August 13)); (Sewage leak into Mt. Scott Creek prompts warning to avoid water. (2022, August 13)). The sewage overflow occurred at a Gladstone pump station, where 80,000 gallons of raw sewage spilled into the Clackamas River (Water Environment Services responds to sewage overflow into the Clackamas River. (2018, January 30)). The WES dealt with this spill, and a 48-hour notice was issued for the public to avoid contact with the water source (Water Environment Services responds to sewage overflow into the Clackamas River. (2018, November 17)). Another sewage overflow occurred near Clackamette Park, with a similar warning given to locals (Sanitary Sewer Overflow Near Clackamette Park. (2022, November 7)). 

bottom of page