Basin Stories

Volunteer spreading mulch during a Spring 2006 workday

Hall Creek: Restoration in the Neighborhood

by Shannon Smith, neighborhood coordinator

What began as a neighbor’s telephone inquiry to Clean Water Services regarding the health and well-being of Hall Creek, a tributary of the Tualatin River, has turned into a successful and ongoing restoration that has brought volunteers together at Midea Court in Southwest Portland.

The project quickly grew from that first phone call into a partnership among the nine neighbors of Midea Court who co-own 0.6 acres of the site, the Tualatin River Watershed Council (TWRC), Clean Water Services, SOLV, and the volunteer teams SOLV has coordinated. The partnership has since grown to include other landowners who have attended work parties and volunteered to expand the effort down-creek onto their own properties.

The purpose of the Hall Creek restoration is to improve habitat by bringing in a variety of native trees and shrubs that will in turn attract and sustain a greater diversity of wildlife. Over the last winter, many invasive blackberries were cleared and over 500 native bushes and trees (including dogwoods, maples, willows, ninebark, alders, and reeds) were planted, all donated courtesy of Clean Water Services. Approximately 90 percent of the first .6 acres of plantings are surviving, and the second lot is being prepared for planting in the winter of 2006-07.

A more naturally diverse habitat will improve the quality of the water that ultimately flows into the Tualatin River. Invasive grass had all but choked the creek and overtaken all other vegetation along the banks. Planting shade trees along the creek will help keep the water temperature healthy, and help to protect the flow into the Tualatin. The temperature of a river — and the health of everything in it — can best be addressed before the water gets to the river. This is why this project is so eagerly supported by SOLV and TRWC.

The Hall Creek restoration efforts continue, including mulching around the new plants to protect them from being overtaken by non-native grass. If you would like to take part in future restoration activities, please contact one of the people listed below.

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For more information, contact:

Steve Kennett (email Steve) and Jamie Kleman (email Jamie) of SOLV

Shannon Smith (email Shannon) , neighborhood coordinator

Kyle Spinks, TWRC (email Kyle) 503-629-6305 x2952), Natural Resources Technician, Tualatin Hills Park & Rec. Dist.