The Estuary Partnership is collaborating with the Mittleman Jewish Community Center and the Portland Jewish Academy on a green stormwater infrastructure project to improve the water quality of Fanno Creek, reduce the heat island effect, and improve habitat for pollinators and birds.
Fanno Creek is a 15-mile-long tributary of the Tualatin River that flows through the highly urbanized communities of southwest Portland, Beaverton Tigard, and Durham. Fanno Creek is part of the drainage basin of the Columbia River.
The MJCC green stormwater infrastructure project will improve the water quality in Fanno Creek by capturing pollutants generated from 14,000 square feet of impervious parking surface at the shared Mittleman Jewish Community center and Portland Jewish Academy campus. Runoff from parking lots contains heavy metals, oil, brake dust, and other pollutants that are harmful to salmon, other aquatic life and water quality. The green stormwater project will also slow down the flow of water into Fanno Creek during heavy rain events. Slowing the flow of water into Fanno Creek during heavy rain events helps prevent erosion.
The green stormwater infrastructure project will also create habitat for pollinators and birds, while also serving as an important urban greenspace that helps to reduce the urban heat island effect.
The green stormwater infrastructure project will provide a hands-on learning experience for students the Portland Jewish Academy. Environmental educators with the Estuary Partnership will use the green stormwater infrastructure project as a launching point for comprehensive stormwater education that includes classroom and on-site field trips focused on water quality and watershed education.