The Johnson Creek Watershed Council is deeply saddened to share the loss of long-time advocate and founding member, Walt Mintkeski, who passed away on Tuesday, January 27, 2026. Walt’s passing leaves a profound void in the hearts of our Board, staff, volunteers, and the many friends of the watershed. A champion of Johnson Creek for more than 30 years, Walt will be dearly missed.
In the 1980s, Walt helped lead a grassroots group known as the Friends of Johnson Creek, working to bring attention to a waterway that was largely viewed as an eyesore. At the time, the creek was often used as a dumping ground for refuse and regularly flooded, closing roads and inundating nearby yards, homes, and businesses. As the City of Portland began convening government agencies and community stakeholders through the Johnson Creek Corridor Committee, Walt strongly advocated for collaboration between public agencies and citizen groups to shape a shared vision for the creek’s future.
Walt quickly began hosting education programs and leading habitat enhancement projects, efforts that laid the foundation for what would become the creek’s stewardship programs. These programs proved to be powerful tools for identifying and engaging the many diverse interests connected to the watershed. One key outcome of the planning process was the recognition that a permanent organization was needed to provide continued leadership and foster long-term stewardship. With support from the state legislature, the Johnson Creek Watershed Council was formed in 1995, with a mission grounded equally in sound science and deep community engagement.
Today, the programs Walt helped create remain one of the core pillars of the Johnson Creek Watershed Council. Thousands of volunteers have since answered the call to care for Johnson Creek, turning out year after year for creek cleanups, restoration projects, and community workdays. Together, they have removed over 75 tons of trash from the creek, planted tens of thousands of native trees and plants, and restored hundreds of acres of habitat across the length of Johnson Creek – all sparked by Walt’s early initiative and belief in the power of people to care for the place they call home.
While Walt will be greatly missed, his decades of dedication not only set the stage for the creation of the Johnson Creek Watershed Council, but also shaped its continued success. People like Walt come along once in a lifetime. His dedication, perseverance, and quiet resolve were truly unique, and they changed the course of this watershed forever.
Thanks to Walt’s steady leadership, the health of Johnson Creek has improved dramatically. Today, we can proudly say that Coho Salmon, Pacific Lamprey, Cutthroat, Steelhead, and Rainbow Trout, Beavers, River Otters, and Painted Turtles once again swim in a stream flowing through the heart of a densely populated urban area. Beyond its ecological recovery, the creek has also become a place of respite and inspiration for residents and visitors alike.
When you walk or ride along the Springwater Corridor Trail and hear the gentle rushing of Johnson Creek, we hope you will think of Walt Mintkeski. This living legacy exists because of him.
With gratitude for Walt’s lasting impact.
Jennifer Hamilton, Executive Director
Shirley Craddick, Board Chair
Marianne Colgrove, Director Emeritus
Board of Directors: Jacob Neal (Former Chair), Tamra Dickinson (Board Secretary), Mallette Faherty (Board Treasurer), Catherine Goode, Denise Lopez, Ryan Sheenan, Erin West
Jurisdictional Representatives: Kathy Dang, Roy Iwai, Andrew Swanson, Jesse Seals
JCWC Staff: Noah Jankins, Marlee Eckman, Sara Volk, Sima Seumalo