Metro Waterways - Cedar Creek

Cedar Creek Priority Planning Area

The McKenzie River, the Middle Fork of the Willamette and the main stem of the Willamette River generally define the geographic boundary of Springfield. The proximity of a high-quality water supply played an important role in Springfield’s growth and development. The water resources which surround and lie within Springfield continue to be a crucial element in the social and economic well-being of Springfield.

Springfield’s focus waterways include three distinct geographic areas: Cedar Creek/McKenzie River; the lower reach of the Mill Race; and the combined Weyerhaeuser Outfall and West Springfield Q Street stormwater drainage basins.

Projects developed in these geographic areas will help Springfield achieve its long-term water resource management objectives, including flood-hazard protection, adequate drainage service, water quality protection, public uses of the waterways, and protection of endangered or threatened fish and other species.

Due to ongoing development and concerns about increased potential for various impacts due to planned urbanization, the 11-square mile-Cedar Creek drainage basin has been identified as the highest priority element of the project work plan for Springfield. Cedar Creek is a tributary of the McKenzie River. It drains a rural residential and a developing urban area to the east and north of the city as well the majority of the developed area within the city east of 64th Street. The area has been the scene of significant bank erosion and flooding problems in recent years. Additionally, one of the oldest water rights on the McKenzie River system permits the diversion of water directly into Cedar Creek – indeed at certain times of each year the diversion activity accounts for a significant amount of its flows. Development and implementation of a detailed plan will have the potential to solve a variety of problems impacting the Cedar Creek floodplain, and will benefit city and county residents living in this area.

Key Observations
The PDF file below contains key observations that have been drawn from the preliminary draft of the Metro Waterways Study Without-Project Condition Report (February 2006) and are meant to be a summary of the most important points from this report. This list will be updated as additional information becomes available and the Without-Project Condition Report is updated. The key observations are sorted by the following topic areas: physical conditions; land use and population; biological resources; water resources; and parks, open space, and recreation.

Cedar Creek Key Observations (41 kb PDF)*
Waterway Assessments - Cedar Creek Planning Area (1.0 mb PDF)*
Appendix I: Cedar Creek Planning Area Restoration Options (8 mb PDF)*

*PDF files require Acrobat Reader.