| 
|
| From The Riverkeeper |
|
|
|
Riverkeeper leading a walking tour of the Portland Harbor Superfund site last month
|
Hey Willamette lovers -
In December of 2000 a stretch of the Willamette River known as Portland Harbor was designated as a federal Superfund site. Since that time, Willamette Riverkeeper has been involved in the cleanup, working at a variety of levels from advocacy to education. This stretch of river contains PCBs, heavy metals, oil-based pollutants, and more.
These pollutants can increase cancer risk in people from the consumption of certain species of fish, and can have negative health impacts on a range of wildlife, from river otters to osprey.
We are now in a very critical time in the cleanup process. A national board is evaluating some of the options for cleanup and the EPA's direction this month. Under Superfund law, the EPA oversees the work of liable parties on a cleanup plan, and this has been a big challenge for that agency. Finally we have some options for the cleanup, and based on the feedback from this month's meeting, the EPA will issue a Draft Cleanup Plan in the Spring of 2016.
We need YOUR help! In order to keep our advocacy going on this issue, we need the financial resources to get the job done. Please consider becoming a member, or making an additional donation to support this work. You can also help us meet the awesome Challenge Grant opportunity described below.
|
|
|
lunch "to-go" on the mid-Willamette
|
- push the responsible parties do do the right thing, and not fight their cleanup obligations.
- help us educate the public about this issue and to ensure a robust level of public comment once the Draft Plan is issues.
This is crunch-time folks. The next 6 months are critical to how this cleanup turns out for the Willamette. This is our big opportunity to get things right.
Travis
Travis Williams
Riverkeeper & Executive Director
|
| Learn More About Superfund- Tuesday, 11/10 |
Restoring Portland's Rivers- A Chance to Turn the Tide
|
|
|
A bright reminder to "Love Your Willamette, Dammit"
When: 7:00pm, Tuesday 11/10
|
Join our own Travis Williams, along with Bob Sallinger, Conservation Director of the Audubon Society of Portland, for a "Nature Night" discussion about the needs of Portland's urban Willamette and Columbia Rivers.
These rivers serve as some of the most important habitat for wildlife, including salmon and Great Blue Heron, all within site of the downtown area. Both waterways need our help to recover from years of contamination and habitat degradation. In the next six months, Portlanders will have unprecedented opportunities to set our urban rivers on a course to heath. Learn about Superfund, the Comprehensive Plan, and what you can do to get involved in protecting and restoring these rivers.
|
| November Challenge Grant: Double Your Impact |
|
|
|
Dusk on the Willamette from Mary S. Young Park
|
The William Brod Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation has agreed to give Willamette Riverkeeper $18,000 in support of our work if we can raise an additional $18,000 from our community by November 30th at 5pm.
So far we are encouraged by your donations which total nearly $2000, a wonderful start
, but we still have a long way to go! This is a terrific way to
double your impact
to support the protection and restoration of YOUR Willamette River! Just imagine, your $15 pledge will become $30, a $50 gift becomes $100, and so on- every bit will help us reach our goal.
Donate today, and your contributions will allow us to: 
- Enforce the Clean Water Act throughout the river system
- Advocate for a robust clean up of the Portland Harbor Superfund site
- Restore habitat to benefit increasingly threatened wildlife and healthy river function
- Combat invasive species, like rapidly spreading aquatic weeds such as Ludwigia
- Organize clean up efforts to remove unhealthy and unsightly trash from our river banks
- Connect the community with the Willamette River through on-the-water education and recreation experiences that promote stewardship
These matching opportunities are rare, please help us earn this challenge- together, we can DO THIS!
|
| River Discovery Paddle Trip- Saturday, 11/14 |
|
|
|
Scenic views downstream from Keizer
|
Come join us for our last River Discovery trip of the year! We'll tour a scenic reach of the river downstream of Keizer, and along the way we'll enjoy a riverside walking tour of our on-going floodplain forest restoration project at Willamette Mission State Park.
When: Saturday, 11/14 from 9:00am or 9:30am to 2:00pm
Details: Let's be honest, it's going to be wet folks, but this is Oregon after all! Embrace it, grab some rain gear, and join us! Riverkeeper canoes are available upon request (you must register with a paddling partner). We will provide a limited shuttle service, otherwise you will need to arrange your own shuttle. If you reserve a seat in our shuttle, meet us at the Wheatland Ferry next to Willamette Mission State Park off of Matheny Rd N at 9:00am. Here you will park, and then hop into our van. If you have a boat that needs to be transported, it will need to be 12 feet or longer to fit on our trailer.
Our group will launch from Keizer Rapids Park at 10:00am (so if you are not using our shuttle service and are getting dropped off, aim to be at the park at 9:30am). Pack water and a lunch for the river. Bring a rain coat, pants, and hat, plus extra layers for warmth, and gloves. Depending on the weather, you may want to keep your feet warm and dry in tall rubber boots, especially when we explore the Willamette Mission restoration project.
|
| Restoration Work Party Volunteers Needed: Saturday, 11/21 |
|
|
|
Restoration Coordinator, Marci Krass, gettin' down and dirty... as usual!
|
Help us improve habitat along your river this fall!
What: Willamette Riverkeeper, North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District, and the North Clackamas Urban Watershed Council invite you to join us for a fall planting event at the
Spring Park Natural Area.
The park
is currently undergoing a major restoration to both the trail system and the Willamette River side channel adjacent to the park. This planting event will be your first opportunity to see all the major improvements and learn more about this details of this exciting restoration project. Ultimately, the project will be of great benefit to fish, wildlife, and our community- and this is your chance to
get involved
by helping us to plant the old trail system!
When: Saturday, 11/21 from 9:00am - 12:00pm
Where: Volunteers will meet at 1880 S.E. Sparrow St. in Milwaukie.
Details: Please wear sturdy and shoes and dress for the weather. Gloves and other planting tool supplies will be provided. All ages and abilities are welcome to attend, and better yet,
lunch will be provided by Cha-Cha-Cha!
|
| Wild & Scenic Film Festival: Thursday, December 10th |
Join us Thursday, December 10th when once again we host the
2015 Wild & Scenic Film Festival at the
Hollywood Theater in Portland!
Considered one of the nation's premiere environmental and adventure film festivals, this year's films combine stellar filmmaking, beautiful cinematography and first-rate storytelling to inform, inspire and ignite solutions and possibilities to restore the earth and human communities while creating a positive future for the next generation.
...Plus, it's a benefit for Willamette Riverkeeper! Details on films, raffle prizes, and tickets to follow.
|
| 2015 Give!Guide Incentives |
|
Many thanks to our business partner
Alder Creek Kayak Canoe
for offering some amazing incentives to our donors!
If you give $100 or more to us through the Give!Guide,
you may select your own gift
valued up to $138! You may choose from one of the three gift certificate options listed below (for more details about these options, read here):
- a Basic Skills Kayak, Canoe or Stand-Up-Paddle class for two
- a Ridgefield Learn to Kayak Tour for two
- or a rental for two
For even more incentive, check out the BIG GIVE days where a donation of just $10 or more will make you eligible to WIN some incredible prizes like...
- Tuesday, 11/12: you could WIN a $500 shopping spree at Powell's Books
- Thursday, 11/19: you could WIN Thorns & Timbers tickets
- Tuesday, 12/1: you could WIN a Trek Allant 7.2 bike from the Bike Gallery
Plus MANY more sweet prizes! We'll be sure to keep you posted. GIVE HERE TODAY!
|
| 
Travis Williams- Riverkeeper & Executive Director
Kate (Ross) Kuthe- Outreach & Education Coordinator
Marci Krass- Restoration Coordinator
Michelle Emmons- Eugene/Springfield Community Advocate
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
| |
|
