This document discusses plans for restoring habitat and improving public access at Willamette Falls Legacy Project. It outlines goals and key elements for restoring riparian habitat, improving native fish habitat, and enhancing water quality. Interim stormwater management and flood assessment are also addressed. Next steps include developing a Willamette River Walk for public access and viewing the falls, using demonstration plans that were adopted by the local city council. The overall goal is to restore the ecological and cultural integrity of Willamette Falls while improving recreation opportunities.

1. The Most Spectacular Place
We Don’t Visit
Willamette Falls Legacy Project

3. Upstream View

4. Topography

5. Past

6. Present

7. The Legacy

8. The Four Core Values

9. Only Existing Access

10. Riverfront Access

11. Get Close to the Water

12. Cultural and Historic Interpretation

13. Preserving Site Character

14. By Incorporating Historic and Cultural Features

15. Economic Development

16. The New Blue Heron

17. Early Site Specific Opportunities

18. Agenda
• Willamette Falls Legacy
Project
• Habitat Restoration
– Riparian Habitat
– Native Fish Habitat
– Water Quality
• Interim Stormwater
Management
• Flood Assessment

19. RiparianHabitat
• Key
Elements
• Desired
Outcomes
• Links to
Other
Goals
NativeFishHabitat
• Key
Elements
• Desired
Outcomes
• Links to
Other
Goals
WaterQuality
• Key
Elements
• Desired
Outcomes
• Links to
Other
Goals

20. Riparian Habitat – Key Elements
• A mix of native trees and shrubs, typically adapted to seasonal flooding
such as: Oregon ash, cottonwood, red alder, red-osier dogwood, red
elderberry as well as sedges, rushes and ferns.
• Rocky outcrops including basalt outcrops and bluffs which provide
unique habitat for insects, amphibians, and rare plants.

21. Riparian Habitat Desired Outcomes
• Restore native trees and shrubs
along the Willamette
• Protect and restore rocky outcrops
by removing buildings and structures.
• Provide important habitat for
migratory birds and other wildlife.
• Improve water quality through
filtration, stormwater attenuation,
woody debris, and leaf litter inputs into
the river.

22. Restoring Native Vegetation

23. Existing Shoreline Features

24. Protect and Restore Misty Rock Bluffs

25. Riparian Habitat link to other Key Goals
• Public Access:
Protection of rocky outcrops and riparian areas provide scenic views for the
public. Restoring native vegetation will provide a natural feeling to portions
of the highly developed site and increase wildlife watching opportunities.

26. Riparian Habitat link to other Key Goals
• Public Access:
Protection of rocky outcrops and riparian areas provide scenic views for the
public. Restoring native vegetation will provide a natural feeling to portions
of the highly developed site and increase wildlife watching opportunities.

27. • Cultural and Historic Interpretation:
Protection of rocky outcrops are likely to be areas of significant cultural
importance to the tribes.
Riparian Habitat link to other Key Goals

28. Native Fish Habitat
Key Elements
River shoreline with a
mixture of habitat
elements important for
native fish.
The Willamette Falls
area is the gateway for
all migratory fish.

29. Native Fish Habitat –Desired Outcomes
• Restore shoreline habitat
complexity, including
alcoves and inlets for cool
water refugia and off-
channel habitat during
periods of high river flow.
• Provide important resting
and movement habitat for
anadromous fish species.

30. Historic Shoreline

31. Tail Races

32. Alcoves

33. • Cultural and Historic Interpretation:
Salmon fishing and lamprey harvest
are culturally important to the tribes.
• Access: Interpreting salmon and
lamprey life cycles are likely to be key
parts of any interpretation program.
• Economic Development: Restoration
jobs could provide additional jobs and
revenue for the community.
Links to other Key Goals

34. Water Quality Key Elements
• Springs and seeps that provide
cold water input to the River.
• The 54 cfs water right could be
returned to in stream flows for water
quality and fish habitat.
• Surface water (primarily treated
stormwater) could provide additional
flows through historic side
channels and alcoves.
• Healthy water quality (clean and
cool water) is important to native
fish and other wildlife that use the
site.

35. Water Quality –Desired Outcomes
• Improve water temperature and chemistry above
existing conditions at the site.

36. Flow through the Upper Pool

37. Water Quality in the Upper Pool

38. Spills and Overflows

39. Cultural and historic interpretation:
Interpretative signage can describe the water quality improvements at the site.
Water Quality Links to Other Goals

40. Agenda
• Willamette Falls Legacy
Project
• Habitat Restoration Targets
– Riparian Habitat
– Native Fish Habitat
– Water Quality
• Interim Stormwater
Management
• Flood Assessment

41. Green Stormwater Management

42. Treatment at the Tailraces

43. Agenda
• Willamette Falls Legacy
Project
• Habitat Restoration Targets
– Riparian Habitat
– Native Fish Habitat
– Water Quality
• Interim Stormwater
Management
• Flood Assessment

44. Historic Flooding

45. Flooding at the Falls

46. A Quiet Day

47. Vision Report and Master Plan adopted last
night by Oregon City Council

48. Next Steps – Willamette River Walk
• Public access out to view
the Falls should happen
before anything else on
the former Blue Heron
mill site.
• Thus, the community and
project partners have
identified the opportunity
for a public walkway
along the Willamette
River

49. Demonstration Plans A and C

50. Questions?
Marjorie Wolfe, PE, CFM
mwolfe@wolfwaterresources.com
Brian Vaughn
brian.vaughn@oregonmetro.gov

51. for more information visit