Bull Run Watershed

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The watershed contains much old-growth forest, such as this Douglas Fir forest.

A view of Bull Run Lake.

The Bull Run watershed is the primary source of water for Portland, Oregon. It is located in the Mount Hood National Forest, within Multnomah and Clackamas counties.

The watershed is about 102 square miles (264 km²) in area, and is separated from Mount Hood by a ridge. It typically receives 80-170 inches (2 to 4 m) of rainfall per year.

The watershed is reserved solely for producing drinking water. It includes reservoirs, which store water for use during the city's dry summer months. The quality of its water is so high that the city does not filter the water.

Human access is restricted by federal law (16 USC Sec. 482b) and is generally limited to the Portland Water Bureau workers or tours arranged by the bureau. One notable exception is access via the Pacific Crest Trail which enters into the eastern portion of the watershed for several miles.