Kellogg Dam Fish Passage Barrier Removal: Channel & Floodplain Design

From 2019-22, support from the PGE Salmon Habitat Support Fund, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, City of Milwaukie, Patagonia, US Fish & Wildlife Service made possible the convening of stakeholders, assessment of existing conditions and the development of design alternatives for the restored channel. This process is being led by the North Clackamas Watersheds Council, American Rivers, the City of Milwaukie, and the Oregon Department of Transportation. As the project grew in funding and scope and now has a clear path to full design and the beginning of construction activities, the project morphed to take on a much larger scope.

Restoration of fish passage and improvement of the habitat in the 16-acre impoundment currently in lower Kellogg Creek will benefit salmon, steelhead, and lamprey and their habitat in several critical ways: providing passage past what is now a nearly-total barrier (passable 4-5% of the time) to the entire Kellogg-Mt. Scott watersheds including valuable rearing habitat and spawning habitat in upper Mt. Scott Creek; removing a 16 acre-warm water impoundment and restoring it to a functioning stream with lower temperatures, natural meanders, large wood, in-channel complexity for rearing and resting habitat; restored floodplain function In addition, the dam site is highly visible in the center of Milwaukie, with connections to three City of Milwaukie parks, one existing and one proposed trail, a public transit stop, and a publicly-accessible natural area. As such, it provides an excellent opportunity to raise the profile and broad support for fish passage, dam removal, and habitat restoration.