About the Clackamas Watershed
The Clackamas River is the primary source of drinking water to more than 300,000 residents in Clackamas and Washington Counties, including the cities of Oregon City, West Linn, Lake Oswego, Tigard, Happy Valley, Estacada, and Gladstone, as well as a number of communities in the surrounding unincorporated areas. The headwaters of the river span into Marion County, 82.7 miles from the it’s confluence with the Willamette River near Gladstone. The basin covers more than 940 square miles and includes 16 smaller sub-watersheds. The upper half of the watershed lies principally within the Mt. Hood National Forest, while its lower sections are shared with a variety of private property owners, agricultural and commercial enterprises, and suburban residential communities.
The protection of the quality and value of basin resources is shared by a variety of private and public interest. The coalition of drinking water providers collaborate through a combined organization known as the Clackamas River Water Providers (CRWP). The CRWP’s mission is to work closely with the various stakeholders in the basin to protect drinking water resources. The many partners include Portland General Electric, U.S. Forest Service, Soil & Water Conservation, Clackamas County, Clackamas River Basin Council, and others.
For more information on the Clackamas River Water Providers and their work in the Clackamas River Watershed, click here.
