Bull Run Watershed Tour (8/10, Portland)

Bull Run Watershed Tour

Saturday, August 10, 2019, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Have you ever wondered where Portland's water comes from? NWAEP is excited to be sponsoring a tour of the Bull Run Watershed so you can see for yourself.

The 102 square-mile protected Bull Run Watershed is the primary drinking water supply for the City of Portland, serving more than 950,000 residents in the Portland metropolitan region. The protection boundary is closed to unauthorized public entry, making this a truly unique opportunity to learn about our region's water infrastructure and tour some beautiful protected lands in the process.

The Bull Run Watershed collects water from rain and snowmelt that then flows to the Bull Run River and its tributaries. The river drains into two reservoirs, where more than 17 billion gallons are stored. The Portland Water Bureau treats the water before it enters into the three conduits that transport it to Portland. The water moves through the system by gravity, requiring no fossil fuel consumption to move water from its intake to the main storage reservoir at Powell Butte. The majority of lands (96%) within the Bull Run Watershed Management Unit (BRWMU) are under federal ownership, and the rest are owned by the City of Portland. The BRWMU is carefully managed to sustain and supply clean drinking water to a quarter of Oregon’s population.

During the tour, a professional natural resources educator from the Portland Water Bureau leads participants through the Bull Run Watershed, discussing Portland's drinking water sources and system. All information is intended for a general audience.

    
Registration is FREE for NWAEP members and $22 for non-members. Please register here, or contact Jason Medema directly.  Jason will follow up with tour logistics and details once the registrant list is finalized.

For more information on the Bull Run Watershed, visit the City of Portland's webpage.