ODFW AQUATIC INVENTORIES PROJECT

STREAM REPORT STREAM: Johnson Creek LLID: 1226465454422 BASIN: Willamette River HUC NUMBER: 17090012 SURVEY DATE: June 26 – July 30, 2019 ECOREGION: Willamette Valley Plains - Foothills STREAM ORDER: 3 FIRST ORDER TRIBUTARIES: 32 WATERSHED AREA: 140km2 USGS MAPS: Lake Oswego, Gladstone, Damascus, Sandy SURVEY CREW: Ricky Hays and Aaron Taft REPORT PREPARED BY: Peggy Kavanagh GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

The Johnson Creek stream habitat survey began at its confluence with the Willamette River and ended at a property boundary upstream of the Kelley Creek confluence. Twelve reaches were designated based on tributary influence, land use, and geomorphology. There were 20 kilometers of primary channel length and 0.8 kilometers of side channel habitat. The land uses were greenway, industrial, rural residential, and urban. The stream habitat was composed primarily of scour pools, dammed and backwater pools, and riffles. The substrate was a mix of gravel, cobble, sand, and boulders. The trees encountered most frequently during riparian transects were hardwoods 3-15cm dbh. Non-natives noted during the survey included Asian clam shells, bamboo, morning glory, garlic mustard, Japanese knotweed, Norway maple, English ivy, Traveler’s joy, reed canary grass, Himalayan blackberry, and English holly. REACH 1: (T01S-R01E-S38SW) – 1301 meters – Reach 1 began at the junction of the Willamette River and

Johnson Creek and extended to a property boundary. There were 1,301 meters of primary channel habitat and 13 meters of side channel habitat. The stream channel was constrained by terraces in a broad valley. The average valley width index was 15.5 (range: 2.0-20.0). The average gradient was 1.4 percent. The land uses were urban and rural residential. The streamside vegetation included deciduous trees 15-30cm dbh. The stream channel was dominated by riffles (73%) with a substrate predominantly composed of cobble (27%) and gravel (32%). The average residual pool depth was 0.70 meters. Instream wood volume was 3.7m3/100m. Morning glory was noted during a riparian transect. The trees encountered most frequently during riparian survey were hardwoods 3-30cm dbh. Total number of trees per 100m2: 0.3 conifers and 2.7 hardwoods (based on 2 riparian transects).

REACH 2: (T01S-R01E-S59NW) – 680 meters – The second reach extended to Crystal Springs Creek.

There were 680 meters of primary channel habitat. The stream channels were constrained by high terraces in a broad valley. The average valley width index was 15.3 (range: 11.0-20.0). The land uses were industrial and urban. The streamside vegetation included deciduous trees 15-50cm dbh. The average gradient was 0.7 percent. Scour pools (44%) and riffles (46%) dominated the stream habitat; gravel (35%) and cobble (38%) comprised much of the stream substrate. The average residual pool depth was 0.62 meters. Instream wood volume was 0.8m3/100m. Hardwoods 3-15cm dbh were encountered most frequently during the riparian transects. The total number of trees per 100m2: 0.0 conifers and 2.5 hardwoods (based on 2 riparian transects).

REACH 3: (T01S-R01E-S58NW) – 471 meters – The third reach began at the confluence of Crystal Springs Creek and ended when the land use changed. There were 471 meters of primary channel habitat and 6 meters of side channel habitat. The stream channel was constrained by high terraces within a broad valley with a valley width index of 11.0. The land uses were greenway and urban. The average gradient was 0.4 percent. The surveyed stream habitat was comprised primarily of scour pools (72%) with gravel (35%) and cobble (45%) substrates. The average residual pool depth was 0.73 meters. Instream wood volume was 0.2m3/100m. Hardwood trees 3-15cm dbh were the tree type encountered most frequently during the riparian transect. The total number of trees per 100m2: 0.0 conifers and 4.7 hardwoods (based on 1 riparian transect).

REACH 4: (T01S-R01E-S58NW) – 475 meters – Reach 4 spanned an industrial area. There were 475

meters of primary channel habitat and 18 meters of side channel habitat. The stream channel was constrained by terraces in a broad valley. The valley width index was 20.0. The average gradient was 0.7 percent. The land uses were industrial and greenway. The streamside vegetation included deciduous trees 30-50cm dbh. The stream channel was predominantly scour pools (54%) and riffles (38%). The main stream substrates were gravel (38%) and cobble (41%). The average residual pool depth was 0.78 meters. Instream wood volume was 1.0m3/100m. Traveler’s joy, black locust tree, reed canary grass, and Himalayan blackberries were noted during the riparian transect. The trees encountered most frequently during riparian survey were hardwoods 3-15cm dbh. Total number of trees per 100m2: 0.0 conifers and 2.7 hardwoods (based on 1 riparian transect).

REACH 5: (T01S-R01E-S58NW) – 1050 meters – The fifth reach spanned a golf course. There were 1,050

meters of primary channel length. The stream channels were constrained by high terraces in a broad valley. The average valley width index was 15.8 (range: 10.0-20.0). The land uses were golf course and rural residential. The streamside vegetation included deciduous trees 50-90cm dbh. The average gradient was 0.9 percent. Scour pools (56%) and riffles (38%) with gravel (33%) and cobble (33%) composed the stream habitat. The average residual pool depth was 0.71 meters. Instream wood volume was 1.7m3/100m. English ivy, English holly, Traveler’s joy, and Himalayan blackberry were noted during the riparian transects. The trees were encountered most frequently during the riparian transects were hardwoods 3-15cm dbh. The total number of trees per 100m2: 0.7 conifers and 6.8 hardwoods (based on 2 riparian transects).

REACH 6: (T01S-R01E-S57SW) – 797 meters – Reach 6 spanned a residential area with parks (Tideman

Johnson Natural Area) and habitat restoration (placed logs). There were 797 meters of primary channel habitat and 399 meters of side channel habitat. The stream channels were constrained by high terraces within a broad valley. The average valley width index was 12.2 (range: 3.5-17.0). The land uses were greenway and rural residential. The average gradient was 1.0 percent. The stream habitat was a mix of beaver pools (31%), scour pools (35%), and riffles (27%). Gravel (30%), cobble (26%), and bedrock (17%) comprised the stream substrate. The average residual pool depth was 0.60 meters. Instream wood volume was 10.5m3/100m. Reed canary grass, Himalayan blackberries, and English ivy were noted in the riparian transects. The trees were encountered most frequently during the riparian transects were hardwoods 3-15cm dbh. The total number of trees per 100m2: 0.7 conifers and 12.8 hardwoods (based on 2 riparian transects).

REACH 7: (T01S-R01E-S19SW) – 2940 meters – Reach 7 ran parallel to Johnson Creek Boulevard. There

were 2,940 meters of primary channel habitat. The stream channel was constrained by terraces in a broad valley. The average valley width index was 17.5 (range: 9.0-20.0). The average gradient was 0.9 percent. The land uses were rural residential and urban. The streamside vegetation included deciduous trees 30-90cm dbh. The stream channel was dominated by scour pools (49%) and riffles (40%) with a substrate composition of gravel (26%), cobble (38%), and boulder (25%). The average residual pool depth was 0.47 meters. Instream wood volume was 0.4m3/100m. Traveler’s joy, English ivy, reed canary grass, Japanese knotweed, and Himalayan blackberry were noted during the riparian transects. The trees encountered most frequently during riparian surveys were hardwoods 3-15cm dbh. Total number of trees per 100m2: 0.1 conifers and 2.6 hardwoods (based on 6 riparian transects).

REACH 8: (T01S-R02E-S29SW) – 2534 meters – Reach 8 flowed through greenways with habitat restoration. There were 2,534 meters of primary channel length and 252 meters of side channel habitat. The stream channels were constrained by high terraces in a broad valley. The average valley width index was 19.7 (range: 17.0- 20.0). The land uses were urban and greenway (Spring Water Corridor Trail, West Lents Floodplain). The streamside vegetation included deciduous trees 30-50cm dbh. The average gradient was 0.7 percent. Scour pools (68%) with a mix of gravel (30%), cobble (23%), and sand (17%) substrates comprised most of the reach habitat. The average residual pool depth was 0.54 meters. Instream wood volume was 2.8m3/100m. Reed canary grass, Himalayan blackberry, Traveler’s joy, and English ivy were noted during the riparian transects. The trees were encountered most frequently during the riparian transects were hardwoods 3-15cm dbh. The total number of trees per 100m2: 0.0 conifers and 1.3 hardwoods (based on 5 riparian transects).

REACH 9: (T01S-R02E-S21SW) – 1300 meters – Reach 9 flowed through large industrial properties. There

were 1,300 meters of primary channel habitat. The stream channel was constrained by high terraces within a broad valley with a valley width index of 20.0. The land uses were industrial and urban. The average gradient was 0.3 percent. The streamside vegetation included deciduous trees 15-30cm dbh. The surveyed stream habitat was comprised primarily of beaver-dam pools (44%), scour pools (37%), and riffles (18%) with substrate composed of gravel (40%), cobble (19%), and sand (14%). The average residual pool depth was 0.37 meters. Instream wood volume was 1.5m3/100m. Reed canary grass and Himalayan blackberry were noted in the riparian transect. The trees were encountered most frequently during the riparian transects were hardwoods 3-15cm dbh. The total number of trees per 100m2: 0.0 conifers and 2.7 hardwoods (based on 1 riparian transect). Veteran’s Creek entered this reach.

REACH 10: (T01S-R02E-S15SW) – 1651 meters – Reach 10 flowed through city-owned parks and beaver-

influenced stream channel. There were 1,651 meters of primary channel habitat and 59 meters of side channel habitat. The stream channel was constrained by terraces in a broad valley. The valley width index was 20.0. The average gradient was 0.1 percent. The land uses were greenway and urban. The streamside vegetation included deciduous trees 15-30cm dbh. The stream channel was dominated by scour pools (64%) and beaver-dam pools (33%). The stream habitat substrate was a mix of organic material (37%), sand (11%), gravel (16%), cobble (14%), and boulder (15%). The average residual pool depth was 0.82 meters. Instream wood volume was 4.8m3/100m. Reed canary grass and Japanese knotweed were noted during the riparian transects. The trees encountered most frequently during riparian surveys were hardwoods 3-15cm dbh. Total number of trees per 100m2: 0.0 conifers and 19.8 hardwoods (based on 2 riparian transects).

REACH 11: (T01S-R02E-S15SW) – 4551 meters – The eleventh reach ended at Kelley Creek. There were

4,551 meters of primary channel length and 116 meters of side channel habitat. The stream channels were constrained by high terraces in a broad valley. The average valley width index was 14.5 (range: 7.0-20.0). The land uses were rural residential and urban. The streamside vegetation included conifer trees 90+ cm dbh and deciduous trees 30-50cm dbh. The average gradient was 0.3 percent. Scour pools (79%) with cobble (35%) and gravel (31%) composed the stream habitat. The average residual pool depth was 0.49 meters. Instream wood volume was 2.7m3/100m. Reed canary grass, English holly, Himalayan blackberry, Japanese knotweed, and English ivy were noted during the riparian transects. Hardwoods 3-15cm dbh were encountered most frequently during the riparian transects. The total number of trees per 100m2: 1.0 conifers and 3.3 hardwoods (based on 8 riparian transects).

REACH 12: (T01S-R02E-S13SE) – 2169 meters – Reach 12 began at the Kelley Creek confluence and

ended at a property boundary. There were 2,169 meters of primary channel. The stream channel was mostly constrained by high terraces within a broad valley, and the valley width index was 20.0. The land uses were greenway and rural residential. The average gradient was 0.3 percent. The surveyed stream habitat was comprised mostly of scour pools (54%) and beaver dammed pools (34%). The stream substrate was a mix of sand (20%), gravel (27%), and cobble (23%). The average residual pool depth was 0.52 meters. Instream wood volume was 5.3m3/100m. Reed canary grass, Himalayan blackberry, and English ivy were noted in the riparian transects.

Hardwoods 3-15cm dbh were encountered most frequently during the riparian transects. The total number of trees per 100m2: 0.8 conifers and 2.8 hardwoods (based on 4 riparian transects).

COMMENTS: Sculpin, sucker, and unidentified fish were observed throughout the survey. The last fish was noted

at unit 447 (19,917m). A fish presence / absence survey was not conducted. Wildlife observations included Asian clam shells, blue heron, signal crayfish, largescale sucker,

bullfrog tadpole, a rat, sculpin, green heron, tree frog, unidentified fish, Western pearl mussel shell, deer, and beaver activity.

Beaver activity was throughout the survey and most prominent in Reaches 6 through 10 and Reach

12. Observations included beaver-chewed sticks, dens, dams, and a dead beaver kit. The majority of the Reach 7 stream habitat was channelized by riprap, ‘caged’ stones, concrete and

steel bridge buttresses, rock walls, and concrete footings. Unhoused persons and their camps were scattered in Reach 7, Reach 8, and beginning of Reach 9. Non-native plants noted during the habitat survey included bamboo, morning glory, Japanese

knotweed, Traveler’s joy, English ivy, Himalayan blackberry, Norway maple, garlic mustard, English holly, and reed canary grass.

Three percent of the survey extent was not surveyed due to landowner denials or lack of response.

Refer to the photographs and Comment Summary for examples of channelized stream channel,

bridge crossings, and culvert entries.

The upstream UTM coordinates for each stream habitat unit were recorded and listed in the Comment Summary. Due to capture error, unique coordinates were not collected for all units.

Select non-native plants in the Comment Summary were listed in order of presence within each

habitat unit, and in some cases, the side of the stream where encountered. Ex. Veg=/EI, HBB/ indicates that English ivy was on the right bank and Himalayan blackberry was

on the left bank. The “/” indicates the side of the stream, where ‘xx/’ = left bank and ‘/xx’ = right bank.

Ex. Veg=EI/EI, HBB/, English ivy was on both sides of the stream and in greater presence than the blackberry which was on the left bank.

Ex. Veg=EI, HBB indicates that there was more English Ivy than Himalayan blackberry and both were present on both sides of the stream. The lack of ‘/’ signifies that the vegetation was not bank-side-specific.

Reach 1 - Unit 2 - Looking upstream.

Reach 1 - Unit 1 - The right riparian zone and exposed bank. Reach 1 - Unit 11 - A downstream view of the habitat and adjacent vegetation.

Reach 1 - Unit 13 - A downstream view of riffle habitat. Reach 1 - Unit 18 - An upstream view of pool habitat, vegetation, and snags.

Johnson Creek (Willamette River Basin) 2019 Summer Habitat Survey Photographs

Reach 1 - Unit 1 - A view downstream to the confluence of Johnson Creek and the Willamette River.

Reach 2 - Unit 34 - Lateral scour pool habitat.

Reach 3 - Unit 36 - The left riparian zone.

Reach 2 - Unit 33 - Fast water habitat, exposed substrate, and streamside vegetation.

Reach 3 - Unit 36 - An upstream view with of a scour pool with substrate visible at the tail end of the pool.

Reach 4 - Unit 47 - An upstream view of the fast water habitat. McLoughlin Boulevard bridge at top of photograph.

Johnson Creek (Willamette River Basin) 2019 Summer Habitat Survey Photographs

Reach 1 - Unit 27 - Looking downstream at a long unit of riffle habitat.

Reach 5 - Unit 59 - Glassy scour pool surface amongst the English ivy.

Reach 5 - Unit 82. The right riparian vegetation. Reach 5 - Unit 84 - A stream restoration project composed of logs to create steps and pools.

Johnson Creek (Willamette River Basin) 2019 Summer Habitat Survey Photographs

Reach 5 - Unit 65 - Concrete bridge butresses for SW Tacoma Street bridge over pooling habitat.

Reach 5 - Unit 59 - The left riparian zone had a high terrace with invasive species including blackberry, ivy, travelor's joy, and reed canary grass.

Reach 5 - Unit 68 - An upstream view of the stream habitat, channelized stream bank (rip rap), and streamside vegetation.

Reach 6 - Unit 91 - Upstream view of streamside vegetation and channel. Reach 6 - Unit 95 - Upstream view of streamside vegetation, channel, and boulders.

Reach 6 - Unit 106 - An upstream view of the habitat sequencing.

Reach 6 - Unit 105. A downstream view of the unit.

Johnson Creek (Willamette River Basin) 2019 Summer Habitat Survey Photographs

Reach 6 - Unit 104 - Step-over-structure with placed logs and beaver-contributed material. Step is 0.8m high.

Reach 6 - Unit 108 - Potential artificial barrier constructed of and framed by stonework. Step was 2.4m high.

Reach 7 - Unit 139 - The right riparian zone. Reach 7 - Unit 158 - A downstream view of the stream channel and vegetation.

Reach 7 - Unit 158. An upstream view. Reach 7 - Unit 174 - Boulders composed the 0.4m high step-over-structure.

Johnson Creek (Willamette River Basin) 2019 Summer Habitat Survey Photographs

Reach 6 - Unit 129 - A manmade, concrete fish ladder. Cut large wood appears to have floated downstream.

Reach 7 - Unit 139 - A downstream view of the pool habitat in the new reach. The streambank is channelized.

Reach 8 - Unit 211 - An upstream view of streamside vegetation and substrate. Reach 8 - Unit 227 - A downstream view of the habitat and exposed streamside vegetation.

Reach 8 - Unit 227 - An upstream view of stream channel. Reach 8 - Unit 237 - A concrete spillway 0.5m high.

Reach 8 - Unit 246 - Riffle habitat with exposed substrate. Reach 8 - Unit 247 - An upstream view of an exposed stream bank flanking the scour pools.

Johnson Creek (Willamette River Basin) 2019 Summer Habitat Survey Photographs

Reach 8 - Unit 263 - An upstream view of the stream channel. Reach 8 - Unit 268 - An upstream view of the stream channel and adjacent land use.

Reach 9 - Unit 271 - The I-205 bridge passes over step and pool habitat.

Reach 9 - Unit 279 - Mussel shell found within pool unit. Reach 10 - Unit 301 - Looking upstream at the upcoming habitat and streamside vegetation.

Johnson Creek (Willamette River Basin) 2019 Summer Habitat Survey Photographs

Reach 8 - Unit 270 - A side channel enters here at high flows when able to pass the stone bank. Homeless camp prevented exploration.

Reach 10 - Unit 312 - Views of the left (left) and right (right) riparian vegetation and stream edge substrate.

Reach 11 - Unit 316 - An upstream view of the reach. Reach 11 - Unit 316 - The right riparian zone.

Johnson Creek (Willamette River Basin) 2019 Summer Habitat Survey Photographs

Reach 10 - Unit 312 - Upstream (left) and downstream (right) views of the habitat and woody debris. The accumulation of woody debris collected sediment and formed a step at the downstream end of the pool.

Reach 11 - Unit 358 - Downstream view of the reach.

Reach 11 - Unit 364 - Looking downstream. Reach 11 - Unit 381 - Looking downstream. The SE 142nd Ave bridge is in the background.

Reach 11 - Unit 393 - An upstream view of the lateral scour pool and substrate.

Johnson Creek (Willamette River Basin) 2019 Summer Habitat Survey Photographs

Reach 11 - Unit 319 - A downstream view of the substrate and habitat. The crew noted Asian clams, freshwater mussels, fish, and crayfish in this unit.

Reach 11 - Unit 392 - Riffle habitat with high terraces flanking both sides of the stream.

Reach 11 - Unit 400 - Looking upstream at a long shallow riffle. An old broken bridge is at top of photo.

Reach 12 - Unit 406 - A view of the new reach! Reach 12 - Unit 414 - A beaver dam 0.6m high created the pool above it.

Reach 12 - Unit 442 - Looking upstream at the reach.

Johnson Creek (Willamette River Basin) 2019 Summer Habitat Survey Photographs

Reach 11 - Unit 399 - A concrete structure, as in the photo above, was present on both sides of the stream channel with a 2m gap between the two pieces.

Reach 12 - Unit 422 - A beaver pond which contained downed wood, Asian clamshells, and small fish.

Reach 12 - Unit 442 - The left (left) and right (right) riparian vegetation included blackberry, ivy, reed canary grass, and hardwood and conifer trees.

Reach 12 - Unit 445 - A downstream view from the survey end.

Johnson Creek (Willamette River Basin) 2019 Summer Habitat Survey Photographs

Overview of Johnson Creek. 

 

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