Metro’s Barton natural area is a 95 acre natural area that includes riparian and upland forests, native turtle and native fish habitats on the lower Clackamas River. Currently, riparian forest covers approximately 50 acres of the site and upland forest covers over 40 acres. Aquatic habitat includes 3500 linear feet (.5 mile) of stream channel on the Clackamas River. A 3 acre floodplain pond from a former gravel mining operation now provides habitat for pond turtle, pond breeding amphibians and fish.

Restoration work is proposed to restore riparian forests, floodplain connectivity, alcove habitat, side channel habitat and complexity on the main channel on the Clackamas River.