Crystal Springs Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Crystal Springs Creek |
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Headwaters near Reed College
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 Location of the mouth of Crystal Springs Creek in Oregon
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Multnomah |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | natural springs near Reed College Portland, Oregon 203 ft (62 m) 45°28′50″N 122°37′24″W / 45.48056°N 122.62333°W |
| River mouth | Johnson Creek Portland, Oregon 43 ft (13 m) 45°27′36″N 122°38′32″W / 45.46000°N 122.64222°W |
| Length | 2.7 mi (4.3 km) |
Crystal Springs Creek is a small stream in Portland, Oregon. It is about 2.7-mile (4.3 km) long. This creek is a tributary of Johnson Creek. A tributary is a smaller stream or river that flows into a larger one.
Crystal Springs Creek starts from natural springs near the Reed College campus. It flows through the southeastern part of Portland. The creek then runs southwest and joins Johnson Creek in the Sellwood neighborhood.
The water in Crystal Springs Creek stays cool and flows steadily all year. This makes it a great home for different kinds of fish. You can find coho and chinook salmon here. There are also steelhead, which are a type of rainbow trout that lives in the ocean and returns to freshwater to lay eggs.
These fish populations are considered "threatened." This means their numbers are low, and they need protection to survive. The creek is also a "critical habitat" for these fish. This means it's a very important place for them to live and grow.
To help the fish, the city of Portland is replacing old pipes called culverts. These culverts used to block the fish from swimming freely. Reed College is also working to improve the creek near where it starts. They want to make it easier for fish to move around and find good places to live.
Where Does Crystal Springs Creek Flow?
Crystal Springs Creek begins at Reed Lake on the Reed College campus. It flows west under Southeast 28th Avenue. Then, it turns south around Crystal Springs Lake and the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden. These beautiful gardens are on the left side of the creek.
The creek continues flowing south through the Eastmoreland Golf Course. It gets more water from Crystal Springs Lake there. Farther downstream, Crystal Springs Creek flows southwest. It goes under the Union Pacific Railroad tracks and Oregon Route 99E (Southeast McLoughlin Boulevard).
The stream then makes a sharp turn south. It flows through neighborhoods and two parks: Westmoreland Park and Johnson Creek Park. In Johnson Creek Park, Crystal Springs Creek meets Johnson Creek. About 1 mile (1.6 km) downstream from there, Johnson Creek flows into the Willamette River. The Willamette River then joins the Columbia River about 18.5 miles (29.8 km) later.
