Spotlight – The Crystal Springs Creek Restoration Project

The Crystal Springs Creek Restoration Project in Portland is a model of urban ecological restoration that directly supports climate adaptation for fish and wildlife. Crystal Springs Creek is a 2.7-mile tributary of Johnson Creek, located in southeast Portland. Crystal Springs Creek is spring fed, which keeps water temperatures cool and stream flow uniform throughout the year. This adds cool water to Johnson Creek in the summer when stream flow can be low and warm. In 2006, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality listed Crystal Springs Creek as an impaired waterbody due to elevated summer temperatures. Warm water in Crystal Springs Lake flowing into the creek, undersized culverts, and concrete banks were identified as key problems for fish and wildlife.

Recognizing the creek’s potential as a thermal refuge for threatened species such as coho and Chinook salmon and steelhead trout, the City of Portland and its partners, including Reed College, Metro, and the Johnson Creek Watershed Council, have worked for over a decade to restore Crystal Springs Creek. The restoration effort has included the replacement of fish-blocking culverts to improve connectivity, the addition of large logs, root wads, and boulders to slow water and create pools for fish, the removal of invasive vegetation, and the addition of thousands of native plants to improve bank stability, reduce pollution, and provide shade.

The Crystal Springs Creek restoration effort has not only enhanced fish passage and spawning habitat, but has also improved climate resilience, helping to buffer the creek from climate-driven impacts like drought, extreme heat, and flooding. A restoration plan for Crystal Springs Lake would further improve conditions for fish and wildlife in Crystal Springs and Johnson Creeks by reducing heat loading from the lake.

Crystal Springs Creek now serves as a living demonstration of how urban waterway restoration can serve dual purposes: recovering endangered species and building long-term ecological resilience. By reconnecting fragmented habitats, restoring native vegetation, and reducing vulnerability to climate extremes, the project offers a blueprint for cities across the country aiming to integrate nature-based solutions into climate adaptation strategies.