The Springfield Mill Race Section 206 Project is being conducted under Section 206 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986, by the Portland District Corps of Engineers (Corps) in cooperation with the City of Springfield (City) and the Willamalane Parks and Recreation District (Willamalane). The proposed project will restore and enhance off-channel habitat along approximately 3 miles of the Springfield Mill Race and approximately 40 acres of riparian area. Project features include the construction of a more stable inlet to the Mill Race, removal of the Mill Dam, restoration of the Mill Race channel, creation of wetlands and backwater sloughs through the Mill Pond area, riparian restoration, and associated recreational features.
The overall purpose of the project is to create a stable Mill Race inlet from the Middle Fork Willamette River to continue to supply existing legal water users; improve habitat conditions for anadromous salmon, red-legged frogs, western pond turtles, and neotropical migratory birds; and integrate restoration plans with the overall recreational and environmental education plans of the City of Springfield.
The Corps prepared a Draft Feasibility Report in 2003 (USACE 2003) and the City and the Corps signed a Project Cooperation Agreement (PCA) in 2004. The PCA is the cost-sharing agreement for the project to complete designs and construction. Due to limited funding available from the Corps, the design was not started until 2007. The project has been split into two phases: Phase 1 will involve the creation of the new Mill Race inlet and riparian restoration in Clearwater Park and the upper Mill Race; Phase 2 will include the removal of the Mill Dam and work at the Mill Pond area.
