Water Environment Services

Water Environment Services

Webinar: Soil: The Magic Ingredient

Presented by James Cassidy, Instructor of Soil Science, Oregon State University
Healthy soil, rich in organic matter and microbial life, is great for our plants but it also helps to mitigate the impact of those extreme weather events that go hand-in-hand with a changing climate. Join James Cassidy, OSU Instructor of Soil Science to learn how soils form, how soils store water and nutrients, and how to apply this knowledge to your backyard gardening.

There will be time for discussion, so come prepared with your garden questions!

Webinar: Habitat Gardening for Pollinators in a Changing World

Presented by Angela Laws, Endangered Species Conservation Biologist, Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Addressing climate change and protecting biodiversity go hand-in-hand. Join Angela Laws from the Xerces Society to learn about some of the many ways that pollinators and other invertebrates may be affected by climate change. We’ll discuss actions that everyone can take to help protect pollinator biodiversity, including gardening to create climate-smart habitat around our homes and communities.

Webinar: The Impact of Land Use Changes and Climate on Bird Species

Presented by Matthew Betts, Professor and Ruth Spaniol Chair, Dept. Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University

Join Professor Matthew Betts from OSU’s Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society to learn how climate change is affecting bird species across the US. Research from H.J. Andrews Long-term Ecological Research Program is informing how we better manage forests and our land to help reduce climate-induced declines of bird populations.

There will be time for discussion, so come prepared with your garden questions!

Webinar: Trees for Climate Resilience and Watershed Health

Presented by Brian French, Certified Arborist, Tree Risk Assessor, and Climber, Arboriculture International, LLC
Trees provide many benefits, including providing habitat for wildlife, sequestering carbon, and helping to reduce stormwater runoff. They are also one of the greatest defenses against climate change. How are our trees coping? What does stress look like and which species are more resilient? In this session, we will learn from arborist, tree risk assessor, and climber Brian French on how to manage and nurture our trees.

Upper Kellogg Capital Improvements Projects (funded by American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA))

Status

Updated: Feb. 5, 2025

WES’ construction contractor, Braun Construction, has completed the following:

  • Installed construction fencing around restoration area for safety
  • Installed erosion control measures to prevent the movement of sediment
  • Potholing (dug small holes in the ground to expose underground utilities) in Clackamas Rd and near detention pond on SE Tidwells Way
  • Preliminary tree removal and clearing

What’s Next?

  • Install a new storm pipe and catch basins along Clackamas Road
  • Begin grading and restoring the pond on Tidwells Way

Note: During this construction period, roads will not be closed, and there will be minimal interruptions to normal traffic patterns.

WES has submitted permit applications for the project's stream restoration and culvert replacement portions. Construction will begin as soon as permits are received, and the entire project will be completed by the end of 2026.

WES is reducing flooding and improving habitat along Kellogg Creek (between SE Clackamas Road and SE Thiessen Road) by removing and/or replacing culverts and stream crossings as well as restoring Kellogg Creek.

Below is a detailed list of all activities supporting the restoration efforts of Upper Kellogg Creek. Each project is outlined in the Clackamas Water Environment Services (WES) Storm System Master Plan (SSMP), which details our approach for storm system infrastructure operations, maintenance and expansion with the goal of improving surface water quality and infrastructure within the WES service area.

For reference, a “culvert” is a device, usually a pipe or arched tunnel, that transports water underneath a road, railway, or other type of embankment.

(1) SE Clackamas Road Drainage Infrastructure 

Location: This project area is located west of where SE Clackamas Road crosses Kellogg Creek, southwest of Ann-Toni Schreiber Park.

Map of SE Clackamas Road Drainage Infrastructure
Figure 1: SE Clackamas Road Drainage Infrastructure (CIP 1091)

The opportunity: Currently, a stream drains into an undersized ditch inlet south of SE Tidwells Way. The excess water is collected by a standard ditch inlet at the edge of a residential property and transported by storm pipes down SE Clackamas Road directly into Kellogg Creek. The ditch inlet is not large enough to capture the stream flow, especially when debris collects at the inlet. The stream exceeds the capacity of the inlet and causes flooding on SE Clackamas Road and neighboring homes. 

The solution: 

  • Construction and/or replacement of approximately 600 lineal feet of 12 to 18-inch diameter storm drain in Clackamas Rd. and
  • Replacement of drain and pond on SE Tidwells Way with 300 lineal feet constructed wetland and swale. 

(2) Aldercrest Culvert Replacement & Kellogg Creek Restoration

Location: The project area is located on Kellogg Creek, between SE Clackamas Road and SE Thiessen Road. 

Aldercrest Culvert Replacement & Kellogg Creek Restoration (CIP 1079)
Figure 2: Aldercrest Culvert Replacement & Kellogg Creek Restoration (CIP 1079)

The opportunity: Currently, the creek is confined and restricted by ten private driveway culverts and a concrete channel. Three of these driveways cross use narrow culverts, resulting in streamflow backing up and exacerbating nuisance flooding on Clackamas Road. The creek also passes through a pair of parallel culverts, which are not associated with any crossing of the stream. These parallel culverts impede natural stream flow. 

The solution: 

  • Remove culverts under three driveways and replace narrow stream crossing with a 20-foot span, three-sided concrete box culvert,
  • Restore 750 lineal feet of stream channel,
  • Weed control of invasive plant species and re-planting and
  • Install large wood structures to provide improved habitat in Upper Kellogg Creek. 

(3) Thiessen Culvert Replacement & Kellogg Creek Restoration

Location: The project area is located on SE Thiessen Road where it crosses Kellogg Creek, just west of SE Aldercrest Court. 

The opportunity: Kellogg Creek flows through an undersized (6-foot diameter) culvert which causes the creek to back up at SE Thiessen Road and flood the road and properties upstream. Due to the significant backwater caused by this culvert, the location was identified as one of the highest priority road crossing culvert replacements in the 2019 Upper Kellogg Basin Assessment prepared for WES. 

The solution: WES is partnering with Clackamas County’s Department of Transportation & Engineering (DTD) on this project; learn more about this project.

Contact
Department Staff
Leah Johanson
Senior Civil Engineer
503-502-4514
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