Skip to Main Content. Home Stay Connected. Subscribe to this list See all lists. As recently as the Willamette River flowed through this area before it shifted east to its current location. The project reconnected the river to create Heron Slough. The lower half of this quarter-mile long slough, constructed as part of the Delta Ponds project, is now connected to the Willamette River year-round, providing important backwater habitat for native fish, including juvenile Chinook salmon.
At moderate and high flows, water from the river flows through the slough from Heron Pond, creating an important side channel that reduces flooding downstream by giving the river a place to spill out into the floodplain.
This little stretch of the Willamette is always melodic with the sound of song birds, which are attracted to the remnant forest of mature cottonwoods and ash, as well as the hundreds of newly planted riparian trees and shrubs. Eugene Park Stewards is looking for individuals and groups to adopt sections of this quarter-mile slough and provide much needed stewardship.
One generation plants the trees; another gets the shade. Volunteers will plant Oregon bigleaf maple, tulip poplar and Ponderosa pine. For more information about this tree planting, contact Lorna Baldwin at or lorna. Ponderosa pine and giant sequoia will be planted at Willakenzie Park, located at Best Lane.
For more information about this tree planting event, contact Katie Blair-Terrazas at or katie. Contact a regional volunteer coordinator to set up a time and date for us to visit you at an upcoming social event, monthly meeting or organized group gathering. Let Us Know About Our Newsletter We always like hearing from you, and are interested in knowing what you think about our newsletter.
