RIVER OF THE MONTH
30 YEARS
Sandy River
The Sandy River is a premier salmon and steelhead stream that flows from the glaciers of Mount Hood to the Columbia River Gorge, just east of Portland, Oregon. Perhaps the wildest urban river in the nation, the Sandy winds for 56 beautiful miles through towering forests and mossdraped gorges—all without a single dam. Just under 25 miles of the main-stem are designated wild and scenic, while all 34 miles of its finest tributary, the Salmon River, are wild and scenic.
Why It Matters
Fish
Boulder Creek, a tributary to the Sandy River. STEVE TERRILL
With its cold, glacial flows, prime habitat and zero migration barriers from source to sea, the Sandy basin is one of Oregon’s most important producers of summer and winter steelhead. The river is home to spring Chinook, coho salmon (pictured), rainbow trout and cutthroat trout. Restoration efforts by the BLM have bolstered fish returns in recent years.
TOM AND PAT LEESON
TOM AND PAT LEESON
The Sandy River basin is a critical stronghold for wild salmon and steelhead—made all the more important with the removal of Marmot Dam in 2007. The Bull Run River, one of several near-pristine tributaries, is the source of Portland’s drinking water. And with its verdant scenery, outstanding fishing and a string of public parks and nature areas, the Sandy has been a cherished Northwest playground for people for more than a century.
Wildlife
Forest Service lands, BLM areas, county and municipal parks and other protected lands along the Sandy are home to healthy forests and streams that provide excellent habitat for wildlife. Elk, mountain lion, river otter, mink, osprey, Northern spotted owl, fisher, beaver (pictured) and Western pond turtle can all be found along and around the Sandy River.