Watershed Health & Watershed Action Planning
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Water Environment Services (WES), on behalf of Clackamas County Service District No. 1 (CCSD #1) has begun implementing the recently completed Watershed Action Plans (WAPs) for the Kellogg-Mt. Scott and Rock Creek basins. Stakeholder committees in each watershed helped identify high priority projects aimed at wisely directing program investments. |
CCSD #1 has funded five new or expanded projects for 2009-10 that will help achieve watershed improvement and management goals. Watershed priorities are focused on improvements in the following four areas:
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Hydrology- managing storm water runoff in a manner that minimizes flooding and stream channel degradation
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Water Quality- reducing in-stream contamination
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Habitat- promoting the function and/or restoration of functioning and healthy streams and riparian areas
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Biological- maintaining viable conditions for aquatic insect and diverse fish and wildlife populations
The WAP development process identified actions addressing these four areas by focusing on three primary areas of emphasis:
- understanding current conditions in the watersheds, and factors limiting watershed health;
- examining current stormwater management practices in terms of their efficiency and effectiveness;
- and developing a method for prioritizing work based on levels of service.
Each project recommended in the Watershed Action Plans was prioritized based on its ability to help the District meet its goals. The process for developing these goals is documented in Chapter 6 of the Watershed Action Plans.
Watersheds provide many quality of life benefits to the people and animals that reside in and around them. Some of the functions of healthy urban watersheds perform are:
- Draining surface runoff back to rivers and streams
- Protecting against floods by absorbing rainfall, storing it and safely releasing it
- Filtering pollutants before they reach our rivers and streams
- Maintaining cool, running water for plants and animals
- Enhancing property values
- Furnishing educational and recreational opportunities
- Providing green, open spaces for humans and animals
- Sustaining the groundwater supply
- Carbon Sequestration
Kellogg-Mt. Scott Study Area Rock Creek Study Area
Volunteer Stewards document adult salmon in CCSD #1 Watersheds
