February 4, 2014

The Portland Water Bureau’s Alder Creek Fish Passage has had a successful winter after its construction last summer.

Working under the Bull Run Water Supply Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), City crews built a “fish ladder” to improve habitat conditions for steelhead and coho salmon. Both species migrate through Alder Creek, a tributary of the Sandy River, in the winter months to reach spawning grounds. Crews built the passage using the natural basalt in the river, with supporting concrete walls to create the fish ladder.

Coho salmon and steelhead are threatened species; projects like this help the fish thrive – and stay off the endangered species list.

The Alder Creek Fish Passage is under the Highway 26 Bridge, east of Sandy.