Project Overview
Current project efforts to restore Johnson Creek focus on returning it to a more natural state. This type of restoration provides a safe place for flood waters to spread out and soak into the ground.It also helps improve water quality and increases fish and wildlife habitat along Johnson Creek.
Johnson Creek provides important habitat for coho and Chinook salmon, as well as steelhead and cutthroat trout. While these species still exist in Johnson Creek and its tributaries, their long-term survival depends on our ability to restore habitat and improve water quality. Johnson Creek also serves as a critical habitat corridor for a wide range of migrating and resident wildlife.
Project Area and Map
The project will take place in natural areas along Johnson Creek, south of the Springwater Corridor Trail. Project boundaries span from SE 82nd to SE 92nd Avenues, in Portland's historic Lents neighborhood.
The map below displays the project's multiple work zones. The map includes details on planned wetland and floodplain improvements, street removals, public traveling routes, and construction access locations being used by the city contractor.
General Schedule
Construction began in early-April 2025 and will be completed before the end of October 2025.
Environmental Services will continue with restoration work and maintenance into the Spring of 2026.
Please be aware that construction work may occur in phases, meaning the work zone may experience periods of inactivity. Other services like landscaping will be completed during the appropriate seasons.
What's Happening Now?
The city contractor has completed creek restoration. Over the next two weeks, crews will wrap up final phases of land restoration. Construction work includes placing additional clean fill in natural areas along Johnson creek, installation of permanent fencing throughout restoration site, and minor private property repairs. Upon completion, hydroseeding and mulching to follow.
Crews have already begun removal of equipment, building materials, and protective fencing at staging yards and anticipate project completion before the end of this month. Environmental Services will continue tracking growing frog and bird populations, checking the health of new plants and trees, and monitoring water levels.
Lookahead Schedule
The traveling public should stay alert to all workers, equipment, temporary changes to traffic, on-street parking restrictions, and should anticipate delays during peak travel periods. Crews will collaborate with residents and surrounding businesses to maintain local access and services. The look-ahead schedule below can aid in planning your daily commute or help review priorities.
All work is weather-dependent, and the schedule below is subject to change due to several factors: contractor and subcontractor availabilities, readiness of building materials, underground conditions, impacts of nearby construction projects, and other unforeseen circumstances.
October 1 - 31:
Daytime work hours are Monday through Friday, and possibly Saturday, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the following location:
- Springwater Trail Corridor, between SE 82nd and 92nd Avenues — Work crews to finish removal of temporary protective fencing, punch list repairs, and installation of permanent site fencing. Cleaning of work zones resumes. All public travel lanes to remain open.
- Crews will need full access to the following construction gates located at:
- SE 82nd Avenue near Harney Street
- SE 89th Avenue and Crystal Springs Boulevard
- SE Malden Street, near SE 83rd Avenue and Lambert Street
- Crews will need full access to the following construction gates located at:
Please obey all traffic control signs and follow the directions of all flaggers onsite.
What to Expect During Construction
- A Safe Work Site —We want you to be safe around the work site. Please keep children, pets, bikes, cars, and trucks away from the tools, machines, supplies, and construction workers.
- Noise, Vibration, and Dust —Construction creates noise, vibration, and dust and disrupts normal neighborhood activity.
- Traffic Delays — The work will slow down traffic in your neighborhood. Please read the traffic signs and follow directions from the workers with flags.
- Access to Your Home or Business —You will be able to go to your home or business, but you may not be able to park as close as you would like. We will try to make sure driveways and parking lot entrances stay open.
- Parking Restrictions —We want you to be safe, so you might not be able to park your car next to workspaces, equipment, or materials. If crews are working directly in front of your home or a business, you may need to park in another place.
- Equipment Storage —Sometimes we will leave tools, machines, and supplies on your street overnight. Please stay away from them.
- Maintained Service —You can still use sewer, water, and other services while we work on your street.
- Work Hours —Work hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Sometimes we work on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Schedule Changes and Inactivity — Our work schedules can change for many reasons like weather, traffic, and problems with tools, machines, or supplies. Sometimes we need to stop between different types of work and start again later.
What will the proposed project in 2026 look like?
The images below provide a general sense of what the finished restoration project may look like.
We Want to Hear from You
Environmental Services will inform residents and businesses about project activities and respond to questions and concerns in a timely manner. We encourage you to:
- Project Webpage: Please continue to visit portland.gov/WestLents for regular project details.
- Updates: To receive email or text message updates for this project, we encourage you to sign up now. Updates provided through our free GovDelivery subscription service are the best way to stay informed about what's happening and what to expect. You can also sign up for bulletins on other projects and topics.
- Questions? Please call or email city staff stating that West Lents Floodplain Restoration Project (E10993) is your area of concern. Outreach staff will return your call or email by the next business day.
- Reporting an Emergency: In the event of flooding, call the Maintenance hotline immediately at 503-823-1700. It is staffed all hours and all days, 24/7.
Project Background
In the 1930’s, the federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) partially straightened and rock-lined the banks of Johnson Creek in this area to try to reduce flooding. Unfortunately, these changes to the creek increased downstream flooding by disconnecting the creek from its floodplain. It also made the creek warmer by removing trees along the banks, and reduced habitat for endangered salmon, steelhead and other wildlife. In some places, untreated rainwater runoff from buildings and roads goes directly into the creek.
Environmental Services and its partners have been working for 25 years to address these issues and restore Johnson Creek. The West Lents Floodplain Restoration Project is a high priority for Environmental Services. It will help restore the floodplain, improve water quality, and provide habitat for fish, birds, and other wildlife.
Project Goals
Below are planned improvements for the West Lents Floodplain Restoration Project:
- Create space on city property to safely absorb the impacts of flooding.
- Remove rock armoring from the streambanks and restore Johnson Creek to a natural channel.
- Add wood to the channel and floodplain to enhance habitat complexity.
- Establish native plant communities and public viewpoints.
- Remove abandoned roadways and underground infrastructure.
Sign Up for Project Updates
Sign up for regular email or text message updates for the West Lents Floodplain Restoration Project through our free GovDelivery subscription service. These updates are the best way to stay informed about what’s happening and what to expect. You can also sign up for bulletins on other projects and topics.
This project will help protect the health of the Johnson Creek Watershed.