Blue Heron Creek Riparian/Wetland Restoration Project

12/31/2025

Click this link to view the Project As-Built Report prepared by Lead Biologist and Project Manager, Scott English:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/16vMlRh24izpl53hGfTLRxoSNz5qtJEPc/view?usp=drive_link

12/28/2025

This is a video of the Celebration event that was held on October 25, 2025. We are celebrating the successful completion of the construction phase of the Blue Heron Creek Riparian/Wetland Restoration Project. It is the culmination of 3-1/2 years of persistent effort by Scott English, Robert Coffan and Save the Phoenix Wetlands, to reconnect Blue Heron Creek to the floodplain of Bear Creek. The next phase is the restoration of native vegetation, shrubs and the riparian canopy, this work will continue over the next three years. The Rogue River Watershed Council's, John Speece, in collaboration with project manager, Scott English, will be in charge of this phase of the project.

Save the Phoenix Wetlands
Scott English, Lead Biologist and Project Manager
Robert Coffan, Project Hydrogeologist and PR Manager
October 2025

We are celebrating the successful completion of the construction phase of the Blue Heron Creek Riparian/Wetland Restoration Project. It is the culmination of...

12/26/2025

Scott English's letter of acknowledgement to the agencies, organizations, and individuals who supported this project:

10/28/2025

We thank KOBI Ch 5's, Emily Storm, for a great job capturing our Blue Heron Creek reconnection story.

10/25/2025

This is the grant that funded our project. Thank you Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

10/24/2025

Thank you Grace Ritz of Newswatch 12 for your story on the reconnection of Blue Heron Creek to Bear Creek. She talked with Project Manager, Scott English and Blackberry Academy Outdoor Preschool founder and program director, Yessie Joy Verbena.

10/23/2025

The weather this Saturday (10/25) is predicting rain. Dress accordingly and you may want to bring an umbrella. We will have several canopies setup. There won't be any chairs but you are welcome to bring your own. See you Saturday!

10/23/2025

We have a great line up of speakers for our Celebration event this Saturday, October 25 at 1pm. Read more about our speakers below. Visit our event page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/24679064018379309

10/20/2025

You are looking at the miracle of clean, cold water bubbling forth out of the ground. This is one of the 3 springs that are the sources of Blue Heron Creek. The completion of the construction phase of the Blue Heron Creek Riparian/Wetland Restoration Project means that the waters from these springs, after 75 years of being landlocked, once again flow freely into Bear Creek.

Listen...what you hear is the sound of traffic from a busy highway that is approximately 15 feet up a steep bank from the spring. Bear Creek flows through the most urbanized area in Southern Oregon. It is the reason why the 16 fresh water springs of the Miracle Mile need our protection and care as our community grows.

10/17/2025

This drone footage shows you where the tree will be planted at our Celebration event:

The tree planting at our event will take place where you see the red circle. There are so many people to thank for helping us to prepare for this symbolic planting of a tree. Josh Nelson, Jackson County Bear Creek Greenway Coordinator, for preparing the hole where the Big Leaf Maple tree will be planted. Dan Bish, owner of Plant Oregon, for the donation of the beautiful Big Leaf Maple tree. John Speece, Rogue River Watershed Council, for coordinating the delivery of the tree. Geoff Gerdes, Rogue District Stream Restoration Biologist, Oregon Dept of Fish & Wildlife, for taking this great drone footage!

Save The Phoenix Wetlands

10/17/2025

UPDATE: Celebrate the Reconnection of Blue Heron Creek on Saturday, October 25, 1pm - everyone is invited!

We will begin with approximately 30 minutes of speakers. Our lineup of speakers, in no particular order, are:

Robert Coffan (MC)
- Project Hydrogeologist, Save The Phoenix Wetlands

Scott English
- Project Manager, Save The Phoenix Wetlands

Al Muelhoefer
- Mayor of Phoenix, City of Phoenix, Oregon

John Speece
- Project Manager, Rogue River Watershed Council

Amie Siedlike
- Natural Resources Coordinator, Bear Creek Restoration Initiative

Chris Stephenson
- Superintendent of Public Works, City of Phoenix, Oregon

Yessie Joy Verbena
- Founder and Program Director, Blackberry Academy Outdoor Preschool

Oregon artist and musician, Melissa Fairy, will perform her original song, "The Miracle Mile", and she will provide music throughout the event.

Send a message to learn more

10/14/2025