We’re all downstream: The Rivers, Streams and Lakes of the Intertwine
We are uniquely situated at the confluence of mighty rivers and precious streams that have shaped the land around us and which shapes the way we live, work and play.
In a region known for its rain, clean rivers and streams are vitally important to the health of both the natural and the built environment. Caring for our watersheds is paramount to building sustainable and vibrant communities.
The streams and rivers in our region are cherished for recreation.
Protecting and preserving our watersheds for native species and for recreation allows us to leave a legacy for future generations.
The Intertwine owes a lot to the mighty rivers and streams that flow through our community and connect us all with each other and with the natural environment around us. The earliest settlements in our region, both Native American and European, were located along the Columbia and Willamette Rivers because of their importance to transportation, commerce and sustenance. Portland State University Professor Carl Abbott notes that the rivers were so important in our region’s history that he quips that Portland is “The city that gravity built.” These rivers, which pull glacial runoff from mountains as far away as Montana before flowing through our region and moving the water to the Pacific Ocean, are fed by numerous local tributaries such as the Clackamas, Lewis and Tualatin and smaller streams, such as the Johnson, and connected to other bodies of water such as Lakes Oswego and Vancouver.
By flowing through our communities and across multiple boundaries, these rivers provide an apt metaphor for how the Intertwine brings together disparate parts of the region by connecting us through natural systems. Johnson Creek flows twenty six miles from its headwaters near the Sandy River to its confluence with the Willamette River, passing through five cities and two counties. Keeping these rivers clean, protected and healthy requires cities and counties (and even states!) to coordinate and enact policies and legislation for conservation and stewardship, and the Intertwine Alliance is helping to ensure our rivers can be habitat for salmon and wildlife, places for people to swim and paddle, and can help the region prepare for unusual weather from climate change. The City of Portland's Office of Healthy and Working Rivers is coordinating with partners such as the Willamette Riverkeeper to plan ways to allow the community to fish, swim and paddle the Willamette while still preserving the river for commerce and trade.
Other Intertwine partners are helping contribute to clean water by building new stormwater systems that help keep downstream rivers clean and downstream communities healthy.One such partner, the Tualatin Riverkeepers, have become steadfast supporters of the Tualatin River system in Washington and Clackamas counties. The Tualatin River, which is used for regional drinking water supply, irrigation and recreation for thousands every year, is the only river in Washington County, and this energetic nonprofit has lead the effort to keep the Tualatin River clean and fully integrated into the surrounding communities. Their work also led to a grant from Intertwine Partner Metro to improve opportunities for paddling on the river by building new access points for paddling and swimming, and they have also partnered with Intertwine partner Clean Water Services in their efforts to develop progressive, cost-efficient ecosystem services. This and many other projects highlight the effective, collaborative approach advocates and government agencies are taking to to ensure the conservation and stewardship and recreation opportunities of our rivers and streams.