Waterways

Waterways are all of the creeks, rivers, and ponds that are found in Eugene’s Parks and Open Space system. Some of these waterways are part of a larger park or natural area. Examples of this are the ponds at Golden Gardens Park, Delta Ponds, Walnut Grove Park, Alton Baker Park, and Sorrel Pond Park. Other waterways, such as Amazon Creek, Spring Creek, Flat Creek, and the Willamette River, flow through our community, including through multiple parks and open spaces.

Waterways provide unique habitat for a wide variety of wildlife species, including neotropical migratory birds, Western pond turtles, beaver, river otter, and even threatened Chinook salmon. Waterways in Eugene are great places to watch wildlife, to go for a paddle, to have a picnic, or to walk, run, bike, or skate along the many miles of trails. These are also areas where you can volunteer to plant trees (see Stream Team), monitor wildlife, or check water levels.

The Natural Resources Section is responsible for managing all of the waterways in City ownership. Waterways are managed for multiple objectives, including conveyance, water quality, and natural resource values.