Seemingly, they could have built a damn or bridge for the time it took to build 16 catch basins (Watersheds and Stormwater Basins/Planters) on my neighborhood street. But, I gave the City of Portland the benefit of the doubt re the projects. This past early Spring the construction was finished with signage that promised plantings (Columbia River Habitat: Portland Green Streets Project). This morning, I noticed the plantings were staged for planting.

Catch Basin full after heavy rains with plantings standing on edge ready for plantings.
Upper, smaller basin full and ready to spill over into larger basin with plantings.
Here, a few miles away are catch basins that are still awaiting their plantings. These catch basins drain off a much steeper gradient. These basins seem to draw much more water at a faster rate and drain sooner into the nearby sloughs.