Sandy Basin

• The Sandy River basin is located on the western slope of the Cascade mountain range, east of the Portland metro area.
• The Sandy River, the largest river in the basin, originates on the peak of Mt. Hood and drains into the Columbia River near Troutdale.
• In place for almost 100 years, the Marmot and Little Sandy dams were removed in 2007 and 2008 respectively, allowing the Sandy to free flow for the first time since 1912.
• Agriculture, logging, trapping and fishing were the basis for the early economy in the basin.
• The Bull Run River in the basin provides water supplies to 800,000 people in Portland.