Steve Holland, Superintendent

Public education signage near #17 green

Newly created stream and riparian areas.

Eastmoreland Golf Course is an 18 hole golf course located in the Johnson Creek Watershed of Portland, Oregon. The golf course was built in 1916, and is surrounded by a combination of commercial, residential, and City of Portland owned property. Two separate forks of Cyrstal Springs Creek enter the golf course and then converge on the interior of the golf course. After exiting the golf course, Crystal Springs Creek flows through Westmoreland Park, and enters Johnson Creek, which ultimately connects with the Willamette River.

One of the forks of Crystal Springs Creek that enters golf course property flows into Crystal Springs Lake. Water in the lake is retained by a dam, and lake water spills over the dam before it connects with the other fork of Crystal Springs Creek on the golf course.

Before the dam was built that created Crystal Springs Lake, the upper reaches of the creek supported runs of cutthroat trout, steelhead, chinook and coho salmon. Subsequent to the introduction of the dam, two undesirable effects have been realized. The presence of the dam creates an impassable barrier that prevents fish from reaching the lake, and following periods of heavy rainfall, sporadic flooding of the lower portion of the golf course occurs.

Recognizing the importance of aquatic habitat sustainability and enhancement, especially considering the recent listing of a number of salmonids as endangered species, the City of Portland Parks and Recreation Department initiated a project to restore fish access to Crystal Springs Lake. As the development of a plan to meet this objective progressed, project team members determined that the creation of a stream that would allow fish access to the lake also had the potential to relieve flooding associated with heavy rain events. Accordingly, a new stream bed was designed to connect the lower portion of Crystal Springs Creek with the Lake. Design features included a gradual increase in slope upward to the lake, gravel beds and pools, placement of woody debris, the creation of wetlands, removal of non-native vegetation, and the planting of native vegetation on stream banks.

The cost of the project was approximately $60,000, and was funded by a combination of golf course revenue and grants obtained by the Johnson Creek Watershed Council. Costs were minimized by the participation of a large number of voluteers the City of Portland, David Douglas High School volunteers, Portland General Electric, Stop Oregon Litter and Vandalism (SOLV), Americorps, Northwest Steelheaders, and Johnson Creek Watershed volunteers. The construction of the new stream was supervised by Steve Hoiland, Eastmoreland Golf Course Superintendent and the Johnson Creek Watershed Council.

The new stream bed was connected to Crystal Springs Lake in the summer of 2001. The new stream provides an additional 600 feet of fish habitat, allows fish passage to the lake, and optimizes the compatibility of the golf course with sensitive environmental issues. In addition, signage describing the project offers educational opportunities to golfers as they make their way from the 17th green to the 18th tee.

For further information regarding this project, contact Steve Hoiland, Eastmoreland Golf Course Superintendent, at (503) 823-4650, or by e-mail at