Oregon Experience: Bull Run

Bull Run Timeline

A chronology of Portland's water system.

1886

The Water Committee sends Colonel Isaac Smith to survey Bull Run as an option for supplying the growing city's water needs.

1892

President Benjamin Harrison proclaims the Bull Run watershed as one of several national forest reserves, precursors to the National Forest system.

1894

City completes storage reservoirs at Washington Park and Mount Tabor
and the conduit from Bull Run to the city.

1895

On January 2nd, Bull Run water flows to Portland through 25 miles of pipeline at a maximum capacity of 25 million gallons per day.

1904

President Theodore Roosevelt signs the "Trespass Act" restricting access to the Bull Run watershed.

1929

Dam 1 is completed to increase storage. It impounds 8.8 billion gallons of water. Chlorine is first added to the water supply.

1939

The City of Portland Health Laboratory begins testing the water supply for bacteria.

1957

Portland Water Bureau adds ammonia to water to ensure maintenance of adequate chlorine levels.

1962

Dam 2 is completed following Portland's post-war population boom. It impounds 6.8 billion gallons of water.

1974

Congress passes the Safe Water Act, providing the authority to establish federal drinking standards.

2001

The Bull Run Act is amended to expand the Bull Run Management Unit boundary and extend logging protections to the buffer area.

2001

The Portland Water Bureau begins voluntary releases of water for fish during the summer supply season

2003

The Groundwater protection program is updated in cooperation with Gresham, Fairview and the business community.

2005

The Portland Water Bureau retrofits Portland's historic Benson Bubblers to reduce water flow by 47 percent.