The Sandy River Basin Partners are working to restore habitat for native salmon and steelhead in the Sandy River Basin. Below are several projects that highlight their efforts.

Marmot Dam Photo courtesy Josh Kling, Western Rivers Conservancy

Removal of Marmot and Little Sandy Dams
Project lead: Portland General Electric
In May 1999, Portland General Electric (PGE) announced plans to decommission its 90-year-old hydroelectric project on the Sandy River. The project consists of dismantling the 47-foot-high Marmot Dam, a concrete-lined canal that takes water from Marmot Dam to the Little Sandy River, the 16-foot-high Little Sandy Dam, a 15,000-foot-long wooden-box flume, and a 22-megawatt powerhouse. In addition to restoring the free-flowing river conditions, PGE is transferring about 1,500 acres of adjacent lands to Western Rivers Conservancy. Western Rivers Conservancy is acquiring an additional 3,500 acres of land surrounding PGE's property in order to create new conservation corridors along thirteen miles of the Sandy River and four miles of the Little Sandy River. Marmot Dam was removed in 2007 and Little Sandy Dam will be removed in 2008. Learn more at PGE's website.

Take a look at Marmot dam and learn why PGE thinks it's important to remove the dams. Watch this clip from the video “Sandy River Legacies.” QuickTime version | Windows Media version.

Bull Run Habitat Conservation Plan
Project lead: City of Portland, Water Bureau
The City of Portland's primary source for drinking water is the Bull Run River, one of the Sandy River's largest tributaries. For more than 110 years, the City has drawn cold, clean water from the Bull Run and piped it to the taps of Portland-area residents. The construction of the drinking water system has reduced flows, altered water temperatures, and changed fish habitat conditions in the lower Bull Run River. To soften the impact on the habitat for fish species in the Sandy River Basin, the Portland Water Bureau has developed a 50-year Habitat Conservation Plan. Learn more at City of Portland's website.

To learn more about the Bull Run Fish Restoration program, watch this clip from the video “Sandy River Legacies.” QuickTime version | Windows Media version.


Short-Term Sandy River Basin Salmon Habitat Conservation and Restoration Strategy
Project lead: Sandy River Basin Partners
In 2006, the Partners completed a near-term habitat conservation and restoration strategy which identifies priority locations and priority action types. The strategy is a scientifically-based approach to conserving streams currently in good condition, and restoring impaired streams to improve fish habitat and salmonid populations. Over the next 5-10 years, the Partners have agreed to focus their collective effort and attention on three priority watersheds within the Sandy River Basin: mainstem Sandy River (mouth to Zigzag confluence), Salmon river, and Upper Sandy River (above Zigzag River confluence). All three watersheds are anchor habitats for salmon and steelhead. The short-term strategy is consistent with the overall long-term stategy.

For more information, read the full Partners strategy .

Invasive Weed Removal
Project lead: The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy owns several properties in the Sandy River Basin. Nature Conservancy ecologists monitor streamside habitats, amphibian populations, and water quality in these properties; volunteers work with hundreds of private landowners throughout the Basin. Staff and volunteers remove invasive, non-native Scots broom, Japanese knotweed, and Himalayan blackberry; volunteer naturalists lead interpretive field trips. Learn more at The Nature Conservancy website.

Watching videos
Videos are available in two formats. Macintosh computers typically have QuickTime software installed; PCs tend to have Windows Media Player.

QuickTime software is available here.
Windows Media software is available here.