Springwater Wetland Enhancement Project

Sewer and Stormwater

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Environmental Services recently completed construction the Springwater Wetland Enhancement Project. This restoration project connects community with nature, reduces local flooding, improves wildlife habitat and naturally manages stormwater in the Johnson Creek watershed.

Construction started in Spring 2024. This project to help restore Johnson Creek is now complete.

Project Overview

The Springwater Wetland Enhancement Project builds on Environmental Services’ efforts to reduce flooding east of I-205. By expanding wetlands and restoring native plants, the project creates more space in the Johnson Creek floodplain to hold water in public green areas. This helps lower overall flood risks in the Lents and Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhoods. The restored wetlands also improve water quality and provide vital habitat for sensitive wildlife, including frogs, salamanders, birds, and bats.

Project Area and Map

The project boundaries are within the unique urban wetlands and natural areas along the Springwater Corridor Trail, from Beggar’s Tick Natural Area to Zenger Farm. The project is located on public property between SE 111th and SE 122nd Avenues, from SE Harold Street and SE Foster Road.

This simplified map for the Springwater Wetland Enhancement Project. — Above is a simplified map of completed improvements and project boundaries for the Springwater Wetland Enhancement Project. The map shows maintenance and public access points, wetland improvements, and where the interpretive site is located. This map is not to scale and does not provide an accurate measurement of the actual distances between places or size of features.

General Schedule 

Construction started in Spring 2024 and ended in Summer 2025.

Environmental Services will support new native plants until they are well established, for at least five years.

What’s Happening Now?

Construction of wetland and access areas are complete, but Environmental Services (BES) continues with restoration work. Teams will continue tracking growing frog and bird populations, checking the health of new plant, and monitoring water levels.

Work crews have placed yellow and orange flags to protect nearby trees and plants. For your safety and the health of these growing areas, please avoid entering them.

Currently, the project team updating the Federal Insurance Rate Maps. Improved flood software and data about shape and height of the land show that more water will be contained within the public green space than before, which reduces flooding in local homes and businesses.

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. The following resources will help you stay informed and report concerns:

Project Webpage: Continue to visit portland.gov/bes/SpringwaterWetlands for 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? Call or email city staff stating that Springwater Wetland Enhancement Project (E07383) 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 Johnson Creek watershed, Environmental Services has completed several major restoration projects since 1998. Learn about completed and upcoming projects on our restoration and monitoring map found on this page about watershed restoration.

Johnson Creek projects include the following:

This project will restore publicly owned property. This project will hold more floodwater on public land to reduce flood risk to local homes and businesses. As part of the project, Environmental Services will update the National Flood Insurance Maps for the Johnson Creek Floodplain in this area.

Map of the Johnson Creek watershed shows completed and upcoming projects with fish icons.

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As our restoration work informs and changes the flood risk along Johnson Creek, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requires us to update the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps for the area. Once FEMA certifies these maps, certain properties may be required to get flood insurance under the National Flood Insurance Program.

Environmental Services is remapping the 100-year floodplain for Johnson Creek in the Lents and Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhoods because of new data gathered for the Springwater Wetland Enhancement Project. This work will also help fulfill commitments made to the local community during the Lents Collaborative Oregon Solutions project.

Project Goals

Reduce flooding to private properties.
Support community access to natural areas.
Enhance water quality.
Improve habitat for sensitive wildlife such as frogs and birds.
Adds trails and viewing areas incorporating historic Works Progress Administration (WPA) rock from other Johnson Creek restoration sites.

Environmental Services has made several changes in the wetlands to restore the natural areas and reduce flood risks. The project has completed the following:

Added places on public property where flood water can go when Johnson Creek is high.
Proper disposal of contaminated soil that contains petroleum.
Removed nuisance and non-native plants and replace them with native plants.
Built adequate trails for access and emergency response.

Sign Up for Project Updates

Sign up for weekly email or text message updates for Springwater Wetlands and 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.