Crystal Springs Creek, an important tributary to Johnson Creek, is located within the Portland, Oregon, city limits. It originates from cold springs near Reed College. Because of its cool temperatures, the creek provides important refugia for spawning steelhead and salmon and for their outmigrating smolts. Several groups have been working to restore the watershed since 1999. These efforts have included culvert replacement, a fish ladder, native plantings, and the placement of large woody debris. The City of Portland has been a major contributor to the Crystal Springs Watershed Restoration project.

Cascade GIS was subcontracted by Firwood Design Group to provide mapping and spatial analysis for an Economic Valuation quantifying how the City of Portland’s restoration projects along Crystal Springs Creek have affected the area’s environmental and economic value.

Cascade GIS developed a series of maps and analyses to depict aspects such as the hydrology, zoning, and geology of the subwatershed. Completed restoration projects were mapped and archival research was performed to inform a vegetation change analysis over time.