Upper Kellogg Creek Stormwater Management & Capital Improvement Clackamas County, Oregon

To reduce flooding and improve habitat for aquatic organisms for the communities of Clackamas County, a stormwater master plan led to a series of capital improvements along Upper Kellogg Creek. From improved roadway stormwater infrastructure to a restored waterway, this merger of Otak planning and natural system design utilizes enhanced ecological functionality for optimized stormwater conveyance.

Capital Planning Leads to Enhanced Stormwater Management and Ecological Functionality

The flood-prone Upper Kellogg Creek created chronic flooding issues for more than 100 residential properties. With grant funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, restoration of the waterway was designed to eliminate or reduce these events by adding green stormwater infrastructure to the unique location of a residential neighborhood. Enhancing 800 feet of stream and the conversion of a dry pond to a new wetland connected with an improved stormwater system combined with the removal of undersized culverts along the roadway significantly increased capacity for runoff during storm events. Replacing the undersized culverts would not only reduce overflows caused by frequent clogging from debris but also contribute toward an enhanced natural habitat by improving fish passage. Native trees and shrubs replanted along the creek added to the improved biodiversity. Altogether, this work overcame extraordinary scheduling challenges to meet grant funding requirements and engage private property owners on the way to creating a more resilient community for decades to come.