Aerial view of industrial site along the Willamette River at Willamette Falls.

Willamette Falls Riverwalk

Concept Design, Habitat Restoration
Location: Oregon City, Oregon
Collaborators: Snøhetta (Lead Landscape Architect) Mayer/Reed (Landscape Architect) DIALOG (Urban Design)
Role: Project Manager
Credits: Images courtesy of Mayer/Reed
Awards: ASLA Nat’l Honor Award, Analysis & Planning ASLA OR Honor Award, Analysis & Planning ASLA NY Honor Award, General Design

The Willamette Falls Riverwalk reclaims a post-industrial site and reconnects the public with the second-largest waterfall by volume in the U.S. Spanning 22 acres of layered cultural, ecological, and industrial history, the design carves through concrete and basalt to restore river access, uncover historic structures, and regenerate habitat along a dramatic river edge.

The landscape team developed site-wide habitat restoration strategies, translating technical data into compelling plans and graphics that illustrated the team’s ecological vision. These graphics helped communicate strategies for reintroducing native riparian and alcove habitats while balancing hydrology, endangered species protection, and adaptive reuse — bringing clarity and depth to one of the project’s core values: Healthy Habitat.

As a Senior Landscape Architect with Mayer/Reed, Tim Strand was project manager for this project.

Mayer/Reed Team: Carol Mayer/Reed, Jeramie Shane, Tim Strand, Josh Carlson, Brian Stuhr

Master plan diagram of the Willamette Falls Riverwalk site and riverfront.
Illustration of an off-channel alcove showing basalt outcrops, native plants, and habitat features for fish and wildlife.

Off-Channel Alcove

Highly diverse and dynamic in nature, off-channel alcove habitat on the Willamette River serves as an uncommon and important resource for native fish, wildlife and plant species. Alcove habitat historically existed in greater abundance along the site shoreline. Much of the former off- channel habitat has been filled in and covered by infrastructure. Restoration of alcove habitat serves as a key opportunity for enhancing off- channel areas for native fish (i.e. Chinook salmon, steelhead, and Pacific lamprey) as well as other aquatic species.

Illustration of riparian basalt habitat with wildflowers, moss, and rock outcrops.

Riparian Basalt

The basalt outcrops and rocky substrate along the shoreline contribute to the mosaic of rocky habitats located to the north and south of the project site in and along the Willamette River. The outcrops are a relic of the Bretz or Missoula Floods, and exposures along this part of the Willamette River provide important habitat for both mesic and xeric species more common in the Columbia River Gorge. Shallow depressions that hold water on the basalt also provide unique wetland habitat. The vegetation assemblages found on basalt outcropping of the site are similar to those found in neighboring oak habitat and is key habitat for pollinators and birds.

Illustration of riparian forest habitat with native trees, shrubs and rocky shoreline.

Riparian Forest

Riparian forest plant community areas are associated with alluvial soil and springs and seeps emerging from the site. Large areas of the site may have been historically dominated by this habitat but due to significant alterations and industrial development at the site this habitat has been reduced to small areas.

Illustration of oak woodland and savanna habitat with oaks, madrone, and grassland.

Oak Woodland & Savanna

Dry to mesic grasslands occurring on hilltops and slopes with patches of shrubs and Oregon white oak. This habitat type surrounds the Willamette Falls site and can be found along the McLoughlin promenade. Oak Savanna is an Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife conservation strategy habitat.