In 2011, Tualatin Riverkeepers successfully lobbied the Metro Council to approve a budget amendment that provided funding to begin the first phase of an effort to plan and design the Tualatin River Water Trail.

Metro property at River Road & Farmington Road has been chosen as the next river access site.

 

With those funds, Metro analyzed the feasibility of five potential public access sites; convened an advisory team; conducted public outreach; selected the River Road Natural Area site; and completed engineering, topographic, wetlands, and other analyses needed to pursue Washington County approval for a land use application.  

 

A proposed budget amendment for an additional $60,000 would allow Metro to complete planning and design work needed to submit the land use application as well as prepare grant applications for construction funding.  We need you to contact your Metro Councilor and urge their support for this Tualatin River Water Trail budget amendment. 

 

As identified in the 1992 Metropolitan Greenspaces Master Plan, Metro has supported the concept of a "water trail" on the Tualatin River. Through the 1995 Natural Areas bond measure, Metro purchased over 398 acres for habitat restoration and access along the Tualatin.  None of this land has been developed for access thus far. Providing an access point to this water trail would offer new recreation opportunities and increase public awareness of water quality issues and wildlife habitat protection. 

While Metro has acquired 5 sites along the river, no new access has been developed.

 

Currently, there is some access to the river, but it falls short of the Greenspaces Master Plan vision and of the potential of the river. There are boat launch facilities in Tualatin and Tigard but there is a large gap of twenty-seven miles between Tualatin and the boat launch at Rood Bridge Park in Hillsboro. The stretch of river in between these existing access sites offers a world-class paddling experience, including proximity to the Tualatin River National Refuge as well as several Metro natural area properties.

 

This budget amendment will complete the final steps needed to provide land use approval for a public access point to the Tualatin River Water Trail from Metro's River Road Natural Area site. The budget amendment is on the Metro Council Agenda for October 18 at 2:00pm.  We need you to show your support for the amendment by showing up at the meeting or by contacting your Metro Councilor.  

 

TAKE ACTION!

Please contact your Metro Councilor.  Thank Metro for their work so far in acquiring land and planning for the Tualatin River Water Trail.  Tell them why this water trail is important to you.  Be positive!     

Contact your Metro Councilor and urge their support for the Tualatin River Water Trail Budget Amendment (L to R: Harrington, Burkholder, Craddick, Hughes, Roberts  Collette, Hosticka)

Click above then enter your address to see if you live inside the Metro boundary, and if so, which councilor represents you.

 

• Kathryn Harrington (N Washington Co) kathryn.harrington@oregonmetro.gov 

• Rex Burkholder (NW, NE & N Portland) 
  rex.burkholder@oregonmetro.gov 

• Shirley Craddick (East Multnomah Co)
  shirley.craddick@oregonmetro.gov 

• Carlotta Collette (Oregon City, Lake Oswego, Milwaukie) carlotta.collette@oregonmetro.gov 

At our Friends Forums we get together to learn about and discuss science and public policy issues that help us protect our river and streams.  This fall we are focusing on the biggest source of pollution for our urban streams, stormwater runoff.  We have invited guests Oregon Department of Transportation and Clean Water Services to discuss their stormwater programs and to give them some feedback on public policy.  The forums are held at Max's Fanno Creek Brew Pub on Main street in Tigard.   Everyone is welcome.