Clackamas Partnership Project Tracker

Welcome to The Clackamas Partnership!

The Clackamas Partnership is a collaboration of Portland metropolitan area watershed councils, government agencies, tribes, and other organizations committed to improving watershed health. The Partnership recently developed a Strategic Restoration Action Plan to guide voluntary restoration actions designed to improve stream habitat, water quality, and native fish populations. The Strategic Plan covers the Clackamas River Basin, a stretch of the Willamette River, and other tributaries flowing into the east side of the Willamette River, including Abernethy, Kellogg, and Johnson Creeks. Historically, the Clackamas River and these tributaries supported thriving salmon, steelhead, and other native fish populations.

The Strategic Plan focuses on salmon and steelhead populations that are listed under the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). The Plan also addresses anadromous Pacific lamprey and resident Clackamas River Basin bull trout populations identified in federal and state native fish recovery and conservation plans.

Restoration actions are guided by the habitat and population objectives and conservation approaches set forth in the following plans:

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's (ODFW) Lower Columbia River Conservation & Recovery Plan for Oregon Populations of Salmon & Steelhead
Focus species: Spring and fall Chinook salmon, chum salmon, coho salmon, winter steelhead
Co-benefit species: Redband trout; cutthroat trout
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (USFWS) Conservation Agreement for Pacific Lamprey and 2020 Regional Pacific Lamprey Implementation Plan for the Lower Columbia/Willamette Regional Management Unit Willamette Sub-Unit

USFWS' Final Recovery Plan for the Coterminous United States Population of Bull Trout
Focus species: Bull trout
Co-benefit species: Redband trout; cutthroat trout

The Clackamas Partnership was awarded a grant through the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board's (OWEB) Focused Investment Partnership (FIP) program. The $8,744,080 grant will support fish habitat restoration, outreach, monitoring, and other activities over a 6-year investment period, 2019 - 2025. The Partnership estimates leveraging an equal amount of additional funding from Partnership organizations and other sources to support the restoration program.

Project Map

This map shows approximate Project Locations. For more detail, view the comprehensive map page.

Cluster Project Locations

Project Stage

Featured Projects

Lower Clackamas/ Johnson Creek Confluence Side Channel Reconnection Project

Looking down inlet of side channel from large wood structure, Clackamas River to right

Limiting Factor	Isolated Side Channels and Off-Channel Habitats
Lead Implementer	Clackamas River Basin Council
Other Organizations
Stage	Implementation
Duration	2023 - 2026

This project at River Mile 4.6 in the lower Clackamas River increased the inundation frequency and duration of a 1700' relic side channel, removed a culvert in the side channel, and increase the quantity and complexity of the side channels and alcoves at the site. The project included construction of large wood structures along the newly connected side channel as well as several large structures at the inlet and outlet. Over 7 acres of riparian area was treated for invasive plants and then planted after construction. CRBC conduced 3 years of plant stewardship which includes treating invasive plants and monitoring the planted sites for success.

Newell North Restoration Project

Post implementation North Newell Creek Canyon

Limiting Factor	Degraded Riparian Areas and Large Wood Recruitment
Lead Implementer	Greater Oregon City Watershed Council
Other Organizations
Stage	Implementation
Duration	2014 - 2020

This North Newell Restoration Project is intended to restore approximately 60 acres of the Newell Creek North Natural Area in Oregon City. Work includes invasive species treatments (blackberry, Hawthorne, holly, ivy, etc), planting of trees and shrubs, and maintenance of the plantings. The project includes restoring riparian areas on both Newell and Abernethy Creeks.

Project Partners: Greater Oregon City Watershed Council, Metro and the Clackamas Soil Water Conservation District.

South Fork Clackamas River Habitat Restoration Project

Looking downstream at upper log jam, note man on the bank in upper right of photo is over 6' tall

Limiting Factor	Degraded Channel Structure and Complexity
Lead Implementer	U.S. Forest Service
Other Organizations	Clackamas River Basin Council
Stage	Implementation
Duration	2023 - 2026

After the devastating fires of 2020 the Mt Hood NF working with CRBC added 50 trees killed by during the fires to the lower 1000' of the South Fork Clackamas River. The project included constructing one 15 log apex log structure near the confluence of the SFK and mainstem Clackamas and tipping another 35 trees into the river. The largest tree was over 5 feet in diameter and 200 feet tall. Areas disturbed by the fire were treated for invasive weeds and replanted. Adding instream woody debris is a common strategy to increase habitat complexity, or alter the stream channel by reducing water velocity and increasing stream depth and pool frequency