Information
Environmental Services, Portland Parks & Recreation, and the U.S Army Corps of Engineers worked together on a large-scale habitat enhancement project to benefit wildlife and people. The project restored 75 acres of wetland habitat in 2018.
Learn about the restoration work at the refuge
- View a time lapse of the salmon subway construction: http://bit.ly/timelapseOaksBottom
- View images of construction and Environmental Services' critter camera video: http://bit.ly/OaksBottomFlickr
Project Overview
Between July and November 2018, The Bureau of Environmental Services together with Portland Parks & Recreation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers:
- Replaced a culvert with a larger passage to improve fish passage and the flow of water between the Willamette River and the Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge.
- Excavated new channels and improved wetland habitat so young fish, including species listed as threatened or endangered, can use the calmer waters of the wetland to rest and find food.
- Removed invasive vegetation, such as purple loosestrife, and plant native seed within the construction footprint. Native plants were added in February 2019.
- Enhance opportunities for environmental education and interpretation of the refuge from the Springwater Trail with viewing platform overlooking the refuge.