Stephens Creek (Oregon)
Encyclopedia
Stephens Creek, a 2 miles (3 km) tributary of the Willamette River
, flows entirely within the city of Portland
in the U.S. state of Oregon
. Beginning in the neighborhood of Hillsdale
, it runs generally east through residential and commercial neighborhoods as well as patches of forest and parkland to join the Willamette slightly north of the Sellwood Bridge
. Its course passes under Interstate 5
and down the canyon followed by Southwest Taylors Ferry Road. Stephens Creek enters the river at Willamette Moorage Park, which is part of a 35 acres (14.2 ha) group of natural areas called the South Portland Riverbank. The natural areas include Butterfly Park
and Willamette Park
as well as the moorage park and other public land parcels.
Stephens Creek Nature Park, a 3.38 acres (1.4 ha) protected area at Southwest Bertha Boulevard and Chestnut Street, is near the creek's headwaters. It provides open space and a plant and animal refuge in an urban setting. Downstream, the Portland Bureau of Environmental Services and its partners completed work in 2008 to improve habitat for endangered fish species such as Chinook salmon
that frequent the creek near its mouth.
Willamette River
The Willamette River is a major tributary of the Columbia River, accounting for 12 to 15 percent of the Columbia's flow. The Willamette's main stem is long, lying entirely in northwestern Oregon in the United States...
, flows entirely within the city of Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
in the U.S. state of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. Beginning in the neighborhood of Hillsdale
Hillsdale, Portland, Oregon
The Hillsdale district is a neighborhood in the southwest section of Portland, Oregon, United States. It is centered around the Hillsdale retail and business area, a series of strip malls on SW Capitol Highway between SW Sunset Boulevard and SW Bertha Boulevard...
, it runs generally east through residential and commercial neighborhoods as well as patches of forest and parkland to join the Willamette slightly north of the Sellwood Bridge
Sellwood Bridge
The Sellwood Bridge is a truss bridge that spans the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon, in the United States. It was Portland's first fixed-span bridge and, being the only river crossing for miles in each direction, is the busiest two-lane bridge in Oregon...
. Its course passes under Interstate 5
Interstate 5
Interstate 5 is the main Interstate Highway on the West Coast of the United States, running largely parallel to the Pacific Ocean coastline from Canada to Mexico . It serves some of the largest cities on the U.S...
and down the canyon followed by Southwest Taylors Ferry Road. Stephens Creek enters the river at Willamette Moorage Park, which is part of a 35 acres (14.2 ha) group of natural areas called the South Portland Riverbank. The natural areas include Butterfly Park
Butterfly Park
Butterfly Park is a city park of about in southwest Portland, in the U.S. state of Oregon. Located at 7720 Southwest Macadam Avenue, the park includes a natural area and walking paths near the Willamette River...
and Willamette Park
Willamette Park
Willamette Park is a city park of about in southwest Portland, in the U.S. state of Oregon. Located at Southwest Macadam Avenue and Nebraska Street, the park includes a boat dock and ramp, paved and unpaved paths, picnic areas, restrooms, a dog off-leash area, playground, soccer field, and tennis...
as well as the moorage park and other public land parcels.
Stephens Creek Nature Park, a 3.38 acres (1.4 ha) protected area at Southwest Bertha Boulevard and Chestnut Street, is near the creek's headwaters. It provides open space and a plant and animal refuge in an urban setting. Downstream, the Portland Bureau of Environmental Services and its partners completed work in 2008 to improve habitat for endangered fish species such as Chinook salmon
Chinook salmon
The Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, is the largest species in the pacific salmon family. Other commonly used names for the species include King salmon, Quinnat salmon, Spring salmon and Tyee salmon...
that frequent the creek near its mouth.