The Willamette Greenway represents the interface between the Willamette River and terrestrial habitats along its length. Heavily urbanized within the City of Portland, acquisition opportunities focus on remaining habitat patches and restoration opportunities. The oak escarpment that runs the length of Portland’s east side is included in this target area.
Lenny Anderson, co-founder of the npGreenway, describes the North Portland Greenway Trail to visitors
NpGreenway, the advocacy group that promotes the completion of the northern segment of the Willamette Greenway:
Cyclist enjoys completed segment of the North Portland Greenway Trail Swan Island
“…envisions a trail system providing access to and along the Willamette River enveloping the north riverfront from the Steel Bridge in downtown Portland to Kelley Point Park on the Columbia River. Our goal is to link North Portland neighborhoods with the Willamette River for recreation and access to jobs. This
expansion of the Willamette Greenway will include a network of trails used for activities such as walking, running, cycling, in-line skating, skateboarding, skiing, boating and wildlife viewing. The North Portland Greenway Trail will connect with the existing Willamette River trail system serving residents and visitors throughout the region. npGREENWAY will work collaboratively with community stakeholders to realize this goal.”
-Content courtesy of npGreenway
Aerial Photograph of Swan Island Segment of Willamette Greenway
Natural Area Acquisition Target Areas
The Willamette Greenway is a regional bond measure target area. The regional goal from Metro is:Protect fish and wildlife habitat, water quality, and scenic resources and improve public access to the river along the greenway from Wilsonville to the Multnomah Channel.
Special Status Habitats*
- Bottomland hardwood forest
- Floodplain wetlands
- Oak woodlands
Important habitat features:
- Shallow water sites
- Confluence sites
- Rock outcrops
*Special Status Habitats include habitat types that have been recognized by state and federal agencies or organizations as being ecologically important. Portland’s Special Status Habitats include “Strategy Habitats” identified in the Oregon Conservation Strategy that are found in Portland: herbaceous wetlands, upland prairie and native grasslands, oak woodlands, interior forests (especially late successional conifer forests), bottomland hardwood forest, and riparian habitat.
