These six trips represent a wide range of river conditions and difficulty levels. Paddles times are estimated based on average river flows and may vary by type of craft and boater skill level. It’s important to select a trip that fits your skills. Current river levels and flow conditions can be found online at the Northwest River Forecast Center: http://www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/rfc/
Beginner - I
Lewis and Clark State Recreation Site (RM 2) to the Sandy River Delta at the Columbia River (RM 0)
In recognition of the river’s remarkable values, a 12.5 mile segment of the Sandy River from Dodge Park, downstream to Dabney State Recreation Site is designated as a federal Wild and Scenic River by the U.S. Congress and is also designated as a State Scenic Waterway by the people of Oregon.
Adequate preparation is critical to safe paddling. Be sure everyone on board has the training, skill and experience, including self-rescue and assisted rescue experience. Learn as much as you can about the route and any hazards by scouting ahead of where you’ll be boating. Keep a sharp lookout for other paddlers and navigation hazards, such as logs, strainers, and submersed rocks. Pick clean lines and learn to “read the river.”
We will send out a “Notice of Termination of Service” only after an account is 30 days or more past due, and the last date to pay will still be 10 days after the notice is sent. We will continue to accept multiple methods of payment prior to 4:00 PM on the last date to pay, including in-person payment via cash, check, credit/debit card, or money order, by mail via check or money order, and by phone or online via debit or credit card. We will remain flexible in making arrangements for payment prior to the shut-off date.
The City of Sandy has three water sources. During the spring, fall and winter approximately 50% of the City’s supply is purchased from the Portland Water Bureau. The remainder of our supply comes from Brownell Springs (a city-owned natural spring on Lenhart Butte) and Alder Creek (a small tributary of the Sandy River). During the summer when demand increases, each source provides approximately one-third of the total supply.
The City obtains some of its municipal water supply from Alder Creek, a tributary of the Sandy River. The Alder Creek watershed comprises approximately 4200 acres, 3900 acres of which drain to the City’s diversion structure.
Land ownership within the watershed upstream of the intake
Brownell Springs was the City's sole water supply for more than 50 years, (1926 through 1977). Located on 22 acres of City-owned land on the north face of Lenhart Butte (approximately 6 miles east of Sandy) these springs consistently produce 250 to 350 gallons per minute (360,000 to 500,000 gallons per day). Peak flows tend to occur in August and September - the opposite of what one might expect. We assume that there is a lag between the time that winter precipitation enters the geologic formations under Lenhart Butte and the point at which the water emerges from the Springs.
In October, 2008 the City entered into a wholesale water supply agreement with the City of Portland. The agreement allows Sandy to obtain a minimum of 500,000 gallons per day up to a maximum of 3 million gallons per day from this source. This source supplements the Brownell Springs and Alder Creek sources which we still use.
