Springwater path damaged by erosion

Erosion of the Willamette riverbank has caused damage
to the Springwater path just south of downtown.
(Photo: Chad Berkley)

A downed tree on the banks of the east side of the Willamette River about one mile south OMSI on the Springwater Corridor Trail has damaged the popular multi-use path.

Portland Parks & Recreation spokesman Mark Ross says the “trail failure” was caused by a cottonweed tree that fell earlier this month which led to the soil near the path becoming unstable.

“Trail users are asked to slow down in this area, yield to the slowest traffic, and be considerate of other trail users,” says Ross.

The trail and the safety precautions are set to stay in place until the riverbank is stabilized and the trail is repaired. Parks is working with the Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) to figure out how to redesign the bank to make it more stable. A geotech engineer with BES has determined that the existing path is stable and Parks staff are monitoring the path daily for any signs of further erosion.

Here’s another image of the damage sent to us by the Parks Bureau

With more rain in the forecast, I don’t expect this getting fixed any time soon. Use caution when riding on this portion of the path until further notice and please drop us a line if you notice any developments.

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, contact me via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a paying subscriber.

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9watts
9watts
12 years ago

I’m going to guess that those bollards will stay put longer than the ones put up recently on Lovejoy and by the Condor/Terwilliger intersection….

El Biciclero
El Biciclero
12 years ago
Reply to  9watts

…and they’re not even glued down!

El Biciclero
El Biciclero
12 years ago
Reply to  El Biciclero

Oh, wait–maybe they are…looked too quickly at the picture…

Delfairen
Delfairen
12 years ago

So I guess this is nothing to do with the trucks they recently had on the springwater fixing the lines going over the trail!

John Lascurettes
12 years ago
Reply to  Delfairen

You don’t have to guess. It was soil erosion due to a downed tree near the bank. This is what nature does.

Todd Hudson
Todd Hudson
12 years ago

I spend a lot of time paddling along the area between Ross Island and the shoreline along where the Springwater is. I have seen numerous erosion blowouts in this area.

Rivers move, and the river wants to take over the area where the Springwater currently sits. It may not happen relatively soon, but the Willamette’s course will eventually shift, and this section of the Springwater will have to move.

Anthony Choate
Anthony Choate
12 years ago
Reply to  Todd Hudson

No, engineers can protect the bank from movement. The Willamette is a managed system, and reinforcement will ensure the river stays where we want it. It just takes active management. The Willamette hasn’t been allowed to meander naturally for over 100 years – see for example the seawall in Portland.

rain bike
rain bike
12 years ago
Reply to  Anthony Choate

Silly engineers and their need to “manage” nature.

A.K.
A.K.
12 years ago
Reply to  rain bike

You wouldn’t have drinking water in Portland right now if these silly engineers weren’t out doing what they are doing.

rain bike
rain bike
12 years ago
Reply to  A.K.

I don’t deny that. I was just poking fun at a certain point of view – not saying it is any more or less valid than my own.

A.K.
A.K.
12 years ago
Reply to  rain bike

Ah sorry then! I think my internet humor detector is broken today…

Ian
Ian
12 years ago

I saw this when they put it up and was very amused. It’s almost like the bank is a caged animal they’re trying to protect cyclists from.

kittens
kittens
12 years ago

Exciting action on the trail!

Tourbiker
Tourbiker
12 years ago

there was plenty of warning, I watched it slough off for the last 2 years.
Thats not the only spot either. bit closer to Ross Isl Br near the picnic table. (MP1)
and Yeah…those repair trucks are brutal on the trail.

Carter
Carter
12 years ago

A “cottonweed” tree! That’s a good one. Cottonwoods grow fast, they colonize disturbed environments… yes, I guess you can call them weeds.

o/o
o/o
12 years ago

damage began last year and was not that bad. it was repaired as well. i knew it wont not last.

laura
laura
12 years ago

yeah… In the same vicinity, there are 3 or 4 areas that have been covered in sandbags and black plastic after sloughing off in last years high water. Hopefully the City will repair the previous slides as well.