Floodplain planting along Clackamas Confluence.

Project Description

The Clackamas Confluence Habitat Restoration Project is situated along Dahl Beach Park in the City of Gladstone. Dahl Beach Park serves as more than just a scenic lookout to the confluence of the Clackamas and Willamette Rivers, it also provides critical habitat for salmon and other aquatics species as they move in and out of the Clackamas River Basin. This project improved 10 acres of floodplain habitat by removing invasive weeds and restoring vegetation. It also focused on restoring instream habitat and water quality.

Project Investment: $362,965

Project Partners: City of Gladstone, SOLVE, Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), Port of Portland, Dig In Community, Metro, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB), The Nature Conservancy

Project Timeline: Winter 2015 – Spring 2017; maintenance and monitoring through 2021

Project Actions & Benefits

  1. Instream habitat. This instream habitat will benefit species like federally ESA listed Chinook, Coho, and steelhead as well as cutthroat trout and Pacific Lamprey.
  2. Floodplain connectivity. This project reconnected two separate floodplain basins along the confluence. Large wood was placed at the inlets of these floodplain connects, enhancing site stability and habitat complexity.
  3. Invasive weed management – Invasive plant removal and revegetation of native plants in the riparian zone around the confluence offer additional shade, soil stability, runoff filtration and habitat diversity. In total, 10 acres of floodplain habitat have been restored with this project.

Additional Resources

Clackamas Confluence Interpretive Sign