All of this produces habitat for fish and wildlife. Excessive erosion has caused many streams to deeply cut down their channels. When this happens, high flows stay in the channel rather than spilling onto their floodplain. This adds to the force of water in the channel and increases erosion. As erosion continues, stream banks get steeper and riparian vegetation goes away.
Stream restoration is the process of returning a stream to good health.
The City of Lake Oswego has completed approximately 5,500 feet of stream restoration projects since 1980. In the summer of 2000 there will be five projects aimed at restoring good health to 1,390 feet of stream channel. These projects will introduce materials like large logs and boulders in the channel to slow down runoff and help build stable channels. Some stream banks will be flattened to allow the planting of riparian vegetation. Another goal will be to reconnect streams with their floodplains.