Water Environment Services

Clackamas Water Environment Services is beginning a project to improve the environmental functions of 3-Creeks Protected Area.

Three creeks — Mt. Scott, Phillips and Dean Creeks — converge on the site to form Mt. Scott Creek, making it an important location for surface and stormwater management and natural habitat. Mt. Scott Creek flows into Kellogg Creek and then to the Willamette River.

Urbanization is taking a toll on the site, with streams eroding, habitat changing and flooding of developed properties becoming more common. This project will enhance the floodplain, improve water quality, improve fish and wildlife habitat and provide opportunities for pedestrian access and environmental education on the site, where feasible.

3-CreeksProtected Area benefits our entire region.

What’s new (Updated October 2025)

• Walking tours and all other public use of the site has ended. No public access is allowed during construction, for safety.
• Signs have been posted and flyers distributed to warn people that the site is closed during construction.
• Contractor constructed an access route, including tree removals, in order to allow access to the work areas.
• Contractor began in-water work, completing the first set of post reinforcement structures.

What we’ve completed so far

• Received final permits
• Project is open for bids, due April 29
• North Clackamas Watersheds Council and Unite Oregon continue to schedule walking tours, including a birdwatching tour for the community
• Currently developing materials to make people aware of our schedule and warn about the danger of accessing the site during construction.
• Developed 100% plans, specifications and cost estimate
• Received approval from Oregon Dept. of State Lands (DSL), Oregon State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife-Fish (ODFW) Passage Coordinator
• Partner North Clackamas Watersheds Council has completed online meetings and site tours with Unite Oregon and community members
• On-site surveys, site assessment
• Alternatives development and analysis, including Hydraulic & Hydrologic modeling
• Public outreach, stakeholder meetings, and input
• Collaborating with Oregon Dept. of State Lands (DSL), US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), National Marine Fisheries Service and Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife-Fish (ODFW) Passage Coordinator.
• We were selected for a Metro Nature in Neighborhoods Capital Grant and have a grant agreement in place.
• Developed 90% plans and cost estimate
• Completed a Cultural Resources Assessment and shovel probe survey, and historic evaluation of the existing bridge. The shovel probe surveys turned up 16 pieces of lithic debris, considered pre-contact fragments leftover from tool-making. The bridge was determined not eligible for listing in the National Register.
• Partnering with the North Clackamas Watersheds Council (NCWC) to provide outreach, as part of our Metro Nature in Neighborhoods grant. NCWC is teaming with Unite Oregon to include outreach to underserved communities.
• The Wetlands Conservancy has conducted the first of two volunteer amphibian egg mass surveys. The survey found over 200 Pacific chorus frog egg masses, 24 long-toed salamander egg masses, and one red-legged frog egg mass. This is a sign of very good habitat quality in the existing wetlands!
• Bidding was completed and WES hired a contractor to construct the restoration project.

What’s next?

• Planting fall-winter 2025-26
• Instream work summer 2026
• Planting fall-winter 2026-27
  
   

News about the 3-Creeks Protected Area Floodplain Enhancement Project

• WES receives $620,000 grant from Metro for the 3-Creeks Protected Area Floodplain Enhancement Project

Clackamas Water Environment Services (WES) celebrated the groundbreaking of the 3-Creeks Protected Area Floodplain Enhancement Project with county officials and our amazing partners.

Most wipes (check the label!), paper towels, and other "unflushables" can create a sewer backup in your home. Flush only toilet paper, pee and poo and protect your home, the sewer system, and the environment.

Use a trash can instead of the toilet to dispose of  items that don’t break down.

Flooding and Sewer Backups

Trash and liquefied fat, oil, or grease that is poured down the sink add or flushed down the toilet can cling to the insides of pipes and sewers. Over time it can build up and block pipes completely. When wastewater can’t move freely through the sewer system due to these blockages, it can cause flooding in local neighborhoods and sewer backups in your home!

Sewer backups happen when raw sewage can’t flow through the sewer system and is forced back into your home. Wipes—yes, even “flushable” ones, and other material that doesn’t break down in water may clear your toilet, but they can get caught in your internal plumbing. 

Damage to Wastewater Treatment Plants

When trash isn't busy causing clogs in our sewers systems, it's wreaking havoc on our wastewater treatment plants! These materials don’t break down in the sewer system like toilet paper, so they arrive at our plants jamming mechanisms, clogging pumps, and breaking critical machinery, costing us all a lot of money in repairs. So check the label before you flush it, or better yet, use the trash can!

What goes in the toilet? Remember the three Ps: poo, pee, and toilet paper. 

Maintaining an attractive lawn that is functional and beneficial to the urban environment is easier than you might think. Here are some tips on how to reduce the environmental impact of your lawn-care practices. 

Safest

Annually aerate, de-thatch and over-seed bare spots in spring. This will keep the lawn dense and healthy, which keeps out weeds. Use a long-handled weed removal tool for easy weed removal. Fertilize only in fall with a slow release fertilizer, if at all.

Next Best

If you choose a weed or insect control product, look for the OMRI label which helps identify less hazardous chemicals. Always read and follow the label, as even natural/organic products can be harmful. Only apply products when multiple dry days are forecast. Spot spray only the individual weeds you really can’t live with!

Important Measures You Can Take

Do not apply pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers under windy conditions, or when rain, snow or hail is predicted within the next 48 hours.

Consider hiring an ECOBIZ certified landscaper!

How pesticides can be harmful

Pesticides can cause problems for our health and the environment even when applied according to label directions.

• Pesticides can make their way into waterways through run-off and leaching.
• Very small amounts of pesticides can be lethal to beneficial insects and birds.
• Pesticides in waterways pollute drinking water and can harm fish and other marine life.

Be pesticide wise

Always read and follow directions on the label. Labels have important information on how, when and where to use products. The label also has safe handling and first aid instructions.

The largest part of the label, Directions for Use, includes specific information about how much pesticide should be mixed and applied, where the pesticide may be used and how often applications may be made. More is not better.

• Avoid broad spectrum pesticides that can kill or harm many beneficial species
• Look for plant-based insecticides that use oils and extracts from plants to deter insects
• Use fragrant plants to repel insects

Ensure that people and pets are not exposed.

Prevention is the key to a green yard and a clean river

Starting out with a healthy lawn or landscape is the best way to prevent weeds from coming in. Healthy soil and dense groundcover, whether grass or other plants, will inhibit weeds in the first place. Bare soil is an invitation to weeds. Keep weeds from getting established:

• Plant native trees and shrubs that thrive in Oregon’s wet winters and hot, dry summers
• Mulch trees and shrubs to lock in moisture and prevent weeds from sprouting
• Use weed block fabric in areas not heavily planted

Ask yourself if you can live with a few weeds? When you do find weeds that you just can’t live with, you have choices:

1. Remove the weeds by hand*, or with tools such as a dandelion fork. For those that spread by seed, cut and remove before they go to seed.
2. If you decide to spray, spot spray the few weeds you really can’t live with, only when necessary.
3. Reseed the spot treated areas with grass seed, lawn patch or a replacement plant.
4. Fertilize and weed your plants separately. Weed n’ feed products combine fertilizer and herbicide. When you use these products you may over apply herbicide. Use only the products you need!

*Note: some weeds are difficult to control and may require special techniques to successfully eradicate it. Examples include knotweed, lesser celandine, invasive blackberry, bittersweet nightshade, giant hogweed and many others. Contact the Clackamas Soil & Water Conservation District or OSU Extension for details.

Equipment and weather

Well-maintained and calibrated application equipment are key to being able to apply pesticides efficiently at correct rates.

• Do not use pesticides when rain is expected, to avoid run-off or leaching into groundwater
• Do not spray pesticides when windy to avoid drift from the target area

Lawn

A lawn requires more water and maintenance than most other plants. Evaluate your need for grassy areas — are they practical and functional for your needs? Or can you convert some lawn to a low water-use landscape? Consider lawn alternatives such as ecolawns, groundcovers and low water-use plants for areas where there are steep slopes or irregular shaped spaces that can be difficult to water and maintain.

Lawn care practices that help you keep a lush, healthy lawn without pesticides:

1. Mow regularly — once a week or more, as needed. For most lawns, a mowing height of 2–3 inches is recommended. Mulch mowing returns nitrogen back to your lawn.
2. Keep your lawn thick and robust by applying grass seed regularly. Apply grass seed or lawn patch to thin areas in the spring and early fall. Cover up bare soil with seed.
3. Fertilize with slow-release fertilizer once a year in the fall to promote robust growth the following spring.
4. Lawns grow best with soil pH between 6.0 and 6.5. Check your lawn’s soil pH and amend if needed.
5. Aerate your lawn if the soil is compacted or water does not penetrate well. Well-aerated soil helps to grow healthy lawn grasses. Apply grass seed after aerating.
6. Thatch is built-up organic material at the base of grass plants. When it builds up, grasses die back and weeds and insect and disease pests might occur. Remove thatch if it exceeds 1/2 inch deep. Apply grass seed to your lawn after dethatching.
7. Keep your lawn mower blade sharp. Dull blades don’t make a clean cut when you mow. This ragged cut on the grass can lead to lawn pests and diseases.

More information on practical lawn care

• Practical Lawn Care for Western Oregon
• Keep Your Lawn Without Pesticides
• Fertilizing Lawns
• Where to get your soil tested
• What's Your Lawn Style? (videos)
• Effective, low risk solutions for Pacific Northwest pests & weeds

Our Partners

Clackamas Water Environment Services is proud to partner with Clackamas River Water Providers and Clackamas River Basin Council to provide water health education to protect our rivers and streams.

The Kellogg Creek Water Resource Recovery Facility, brought online in 1974, serves WES customers in Happy Valley, Johnson City, Milwaukie, and nearby unincorporated communities. Every day, the facility cleans nearly 7 million gallons of wastewater before it is safely released into the Willamette River. 

How Treatment Works

The facility uses primary and secondary treatment processes to clean wastewater:

Initial Screening & Grit Removal 

Wastewater first passes through screens that remove large debris such as rags and sticks. It then enters a grit chamber where heavier materials—including rocks, sand and silt—settle out.

Primary & Secondary Treatment 

Primary clarifiers remove a large portion of solids from homes and businesses. Remaining solids move into the secondary treatment system, where aeration basins and naturally occurring microorganisms break down pollutants. Secondary clarifiers then allow solids to settle before the cleaned water moves on to disinfection.

Disinfection & Resource Recovery 

The final step is ultraviolet (UV) disinfection, which neutralizes harmful microorganisms before the treated water is returned to the river. The facility also uses anaerobic digestion, a biological process that breaks down solids and supports energy and resource recovery. 

Upgrading the Facility

A Focus on Recovery, Not Waste

The name “Water Resource Recovery Facility” reflects the industry shift toward transforming wastewater into valuable resources—including clean water, biosolids and energy. This name also reflects WES’ mission to protect local watersheds and support a healthy environment where people can live, work and play.

Award-Winning Performance

In 2023, the Kellogg Creek facility received the Peak Performance Gold Standard Award from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA). This honor recognizes facilities that operate for a full year with zero permit violations, demonstrating excellence in reliability, safety and environmental protection.

Facility Upgrades: Investing in the Future

The Kellogg Creek Improvements Project received a 2021 Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo) for leadership in resiliency, infrastructure and sustainability. Recent upgrades ensure the facility can continue delivering reliable, cost-effective service for decades.

Key Improvements

• Odor Control Enhancements: WES prioritized being a good neighbor by installing covers on aeration basins, significantly reducing odors.
• Modernized Infrastructure: Crews replaced aging pipes, pumps and electrical systems to improve performance and reduce long-term maintenance costs.
• Ongoing Refurbishments: Continued upgrades help extend the life of facility components and support efficient operations.

More improvements are planned to keep the facility running at top performance and protect community resources.

Spills and leaks from contaminants, can be dangerous if left unattended. In addition, spilled chemicals can also pollute our streams and underground drinking water supplies, as well as harm pets, plants and wildlife.

Prevention is Key!

• Keep unused containers closed tightly.
• Store materials inside or under cover.
• Never use storm drains or gutters, ditches, or swales for waste disposal.
• Keep waste container lids closed. 

Possible contaminants include:

• Oil
• Gas
• Antifreeze
• Paint
• Pesticides
• Cleaners and disinfectants
• Sewage
• Fertilizers

If someone is actively dumping or spilling a hazardous material — call 911.

Spills Happen!

Your safety is of utmost importance in addressing spills and leaks. Stop work and move upwind immediately if you feel any symptoms (nausea, coughing, stinging eyes, nose or throat, dizziness). Call for help.

Call 911 if the spill is hazardous or an emergency.

If you are aware of the origin of the spill and it is not an emergency:

• Report a spill or leak
• Try to stop the leak if you can safely. Keep people and vehicles away to prevent contact with the spilled substance. Use a drip pan if you spot a leak or drip; repair the leak promptly.
• Turn off any nearby equipment that could ignite a flame or explosion.
• Never hose down a spill — this can send hazardous pollutants to our waters.
• Protect waterways: Place absorbents such as kitty litter and barriers between the spill and any nearby storm drain, ditch or swale. Clean up the spill immediately.

How to Clean up a Small Spill

Our Partner

Clackamas Water Environment Services is proud to partner with The Oregon Association of Clean Water Agencies (ACWA) to protect and enhance Oregon’s water quality. ACWA developed the information (provided above) in collaboration with groundwater, stormwater and education experts dedicated to practical and proactive water resources protection.

What's the problem?

Although convenient for cleaning surfaces and equipment, pressure washing can send dirty runoff containing oil, soap, chemicals, metals, and sediment into the storm drain system. Most storm drains have zero to minimal treatment and drain directly toward the surface water and groundwater we all need to protect.

Here’s how our waters are being negatively impacted:

• Sediment clouds the water, hinders aquatic plant growth, and clogs fish gills.
• Even biodegradable soaps rob water of life-giving oxygen.
• Household hazardous wastes, like pesticides, paints, solvents, and auto fluids that collect on driveways and other outside surfaces can poison aquatic life. Animals and people can become sick or die after consuming polluted water or fish.
• Ingestion of pre-1978 paint flakes containing lead can be a concern as it can result in intellectual disabilities in children.
• Avoid using hot water and chemicals as that type of wastewater has a greater negative environmental effect.

Specialized Equipment Can Help

Berms, storm drain covers or mats, sump or vacuum pumps, wet vacuums, filtering or absorbent equipment such as socks, booms, bags of absorbent bark chips, etc., or inflatable pipe plugs can help prevent dirty water from entering the storm drain or allow for collection before it does.

Only Rain Down The Drain!

Pollutants of Concern:

• Oil
• Sediment
• Metals
• Phosphates (Soap)

Avoid Violations!

Polluted discharges from any property that enter a storm drain system are considered an illicit discharge violation and are subject to enforcement. If you are using hot water or chemicals, this water is not allowed to enter storm drains without an Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) permit.
 

What can you do?

Our Partner

Clackamas Water Environment Services is proud to partner with The Oregon Association of Clean Water Agencies (ACWA) to protect and enhance Oregon’s water quality. ACWA developed the information (provided above) in collaboration with groundwater, stormwater and education experts dedicated to practical and proactive water resources protection.