Photos: Waldo lake as captured by the Riverkeeper
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Hello Good River Folks -
I hope you are as well as can be in this odd, and very tough time for a lot of people. Hopefully you are coping well in your life, whether with your family, your work, and your health. Perhaps you've been able to visit the river or some other natural area to provide you with a bit of peace?
Our work has continued to progress. We are providing new ways to access the river via the Water Trail (and new online resources for all to use). Our legal/policy team is addressing a range of issues from Eugene to Portland including Clean Water Act enforcement, and Endangered Species Act issues, while our Restoration Team is tracking the presence and expansion of invasive aquatic plants. We’ve also been providing key input to the cleanup of Willamette Cove in Portland Harbor.
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Fortunately, I was recently able to visit a key Willamette River headwater - Waldo Lake. The lake sits southwest of Eugene, about a 1 hour drive on Hwy 58. It is a gem! The lake surface is at 5400 feet, with exceedingly clear water and amazing visibility into the lake’s depths. It is a good-sized, about 6 miles in length, and a bit over 2.5 miles in width. Just to the east of the lake are the three sisters, broken top and other cascade volcanic sites. To the west is diamond peak, and throughout the area is an incredible forest dominated with Mountain Hemlock. |
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I’ve taken my family there for the past 15 years, often to one of the three developed campsites on one side of the lake, and at times to the wilderness campsites on the opposite side of the lake. Waldo provides a fitting reminder of how water quality changes from the headwaters areas, to far down the mainstream river into our cities. The difference is quite striking, and is something we should all take into consideration when water quality issues arise, and standards are violated.
WR will keep pressing on during this time, making strides for the Willamette River’s health - because the job for clean water and healthy habitat is not yet finished. Thank you to all of your who provided support to WR over the past month - it is much appreciated!
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Stay well!
Travis Williams
Riverkeeper & Executive Director
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Experiencing 187 Miles of Wonder |
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In mid-August, Travis, along with key volunteers and long-time supporters, Al Grapel and Jack Hart, paddled the whole river from Eugene to the Columbia. Over 8 days on the river, they camped at Greenway natural areas which are Water Trail campsites, met people along the way, celebrated what the Willamette River offers and also highlighted what still needs to be accomplished. |
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We made the trip a fundraiser, and thanks to YOU, our 187 Miles of Wonder campaign has already generated over $100k, many of those donations from NEW members, to support our work for clean water and healthy habitat.
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Our group was also able to talk to folks along the way, hearing about their experiences along the river. On one hot Saturday, we witnessed hundreds of people floating the river between Peoria and Corvallis, a fitting testament to what the river can provide for people. Of course, in this strange time, people have flocked to the river in some areas, finding the river as a “new” resource with other areas being closed to recreation. In some places the push of people has been problematic, with trash and an overall lack of an ethical foundation to keep things clean and to be light on the river. Hopefully those who are new to river recreation will soon embrace Leave No Trace principles. |
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After 5 days our team reached the new Ash Island Water Trail camp site owned by WR. It made a great last night of camping. Over the two final days the paddlers covered 50 miles on flatwater in the heat. Frankly, the last day from Oregon City to the confluence was the toughest, with temperatures near 100 degrees and all manner of river craziness occurring as a result. |
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Once our group reached the confluence late in the day, we celebrated. The trip truly was “187 miles of Wonder” as the paddlers saw that the Willamette is an amazing recreational resource, mostly low impact, for people all along the way. Further, the river supports a wonderful array of riverside natural areas and wildlife - all which are deserving of protection, and also made the case for additional natural areas to be acquired and restored for long-term river health. |
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To Jack and Al - thank you for your inspiration and support! Thanks also to the many folks who supported our campaign, and who continue to do so! |
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Photo: These small and even juvenile mussels on Thomas Creek - a tributary to the S. Santiam were spotted this week. |
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Over the past 5 years, WR has invested in researching and protecting freshwater mussels of the Willamette. One of the most often identified freshwater mussels is the Western Pearlshell (Margaritifera falcata).
We completed three intensive studies of mussel assemblages over the past three summers, as well as conducted surveys of the mainstem Willamette to determine where mussels exist. This work had never been done before. Given the lack of data on mussel presence or absence - which comprises most of the Willamette River’s tributaries – we have invested time this summer to examine key tributaries.
Portions of rivers such as the S. Santiam, Thomas Creek, Crabtree Creek, the Molalla River, and the Coast Fork Willamette have been examined this summer. Travis and our friend Celeste Searles-Mazacanno have led this effort. To date, all of those rivers have yielded mussels in the sections that have been searched, from only a few Western Pearlshell on one multi-mile stretch, to a great many in other reaches.
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Mussels matter and they say a lot about river health! They filter feed, need a host fish to reproduce, and can live for decades. They can even improve water quality with their filtering. In the case of the Western Pearlshell, they can live to be over 100 years old in the right conditions. They can be harmed by pollution, high temperatures, changes to habitat, and predation. |
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WR’s work to protect and better understand freshwater mussels in the Willamette will continue in the years ahead. Thankfully, even in this strange year we’ve been able to gather an abundance of data on mussel distribution, and their relationship to specific habitat types. In 2021 you all will have options to participate again in this important work. |
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Aquatic Invasive Species Wins |
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Our first round of treatments to control the Aquatic invasive weed, Ludwigia at Minto Brown Park in Salem went smoothly. We will be returning with the help of our contractors to retreat Willamette Slough the week of September 8th - 11th. If you are interested in learning more, come see the progress and visit Willamette Riverkeeper staff while we are tabling at the pedestrian bridge that connects Riverfront City Park with Minto Brown Park on Tuesday 9/8 from 10 am - 2 pm! |
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Mission Lake BEFORE treatment, packed with Ludwigia |
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Mission Lake AFTER treatment, looking clear of Ludwigia |
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Our restoration team is pleased to share that we are seeing successful outcomes this summer with our efforts to control Ludwigia in Mission Lake at Willamette Mission State Park and at Gail Achterman Wildlife Area over the past 3 years. Our contact crew was able to switch from spot spaying to hand pulling the Ludwigia dispersed across Mission Lake this summer. |
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Above: At Gail Achterman Natural area we are finding a very robust stand of Wapato filling in where there was previously dense Ludwigia! |
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Our legal/policy team submitted comments to DEQ on their proposed plan to clean up Willamette Cove. DEQ wants to only move contaminated soil around and put a “cap” on it; while we want them to excavate the contamination, which in the long run is a cheaper and better solution for public health. Read our complete comments here.
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Volunteer- Be a River Guardian |
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As we begin to open more volunteer opportunities using Covid-safe guidelines, we hope you’ll join our River Guardians program efforts, in collaboration with other community partners, to help clean up OUR river, and bring our communities together to help solve this problem. |
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Join us for a Trashy Tuesday or Trashy Thursday near you. Space is limited, and masks are required. See details below. |
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PORTLAND
Where: Sellwood Park (land)
When: Tuesday, 9/8
Where: Kelley Point Park (land)
When: Tuesday, 9/22
EUGENE
Where: Alton Baker to Valley River (river)
When: Tuesday, 9/15
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Willamette River Fest - Thank You! |
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The fourth annual Willamette River Festival concluded last month with hundreds of people taking part in a weeklong celebration, reimagined to accommodate a safe, accessible, and enjoyable community-wide connection to the Willamette River. Activities throughout the week featured self-guided tours, plein air paint out, geocaching, a virtual film screening of Western Peoples of Oregon (soon to air on OPB), a citizen’s science “Bio Blitz” project using the free iNaturalist phone app where 200 participants documented over 600 species, and a “PaddleCross Challenge” – a paddle race lap starting and ending at the same place, accommodating many skills levels and types of watercraft while eliminating the need for a shuttle.
Other elements of the Festival that focused on local Indigenous Peoples were successful in providing a forum for Native American perspective in the context of Willamette Valley history, culture, ecology and spiritual connection to our shared river systems.
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This Fest was directed by WR staff member, Michelle Emmons in partnership with City of Eugene and produced in collaboration with the U of O Outdoor Program, Willamalane Parks and Rec District, Willamette Resource Education Network, Oregon Wild, and the Upper Willamette Stewardship Network. Prize sponsors included Oregon Paddle Sports, Maravia/Cascade Designs, NRS, Eugene Parks, and Immersion Research. |
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Willamette Riverkeeper thanks all of our partners, individual organizing committee members, video instructors and producers, social media and online website gurus. Moreover, we want to recognize all of the Indigenous People who offered their time, courage, creativity, and a willingness to share their cultural perspective and traditions as an integral part of this Festival – with a special thanks to Ester Stutzman, Aiyanna Brown, Megan Tuttle, Marta Clifford, Katie Stanton, Joseph Scott, Tim Keenan-Burgess, Kunu Bearchum, and all of those participating on the Willamette River Festival Native Advisory Council.
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Last Call For Your Chance to WIN... |
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Make a donation between NOW and September 7th and you will be entered to win one of TWO amazing Grand Prizes (a combined value of $3,500) or one of THREE runner up prize packages! Your donations will also contribute toward our 187 Miles of Wonder Campaign!
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Justin and Lilly have been helping survey miles of the Willamette to document the presence of aquatic invasive weeds. |
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Here they are at Gail Achterman Natural Area creating habitat for native red legged frogs, federally listed as a species of concern. |
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Graham is rescuing Water Trail signage- somehow these signs have a tendency to mysteriously disappear on occasion. |
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Here he is posting new signage. Can you name this public property? |
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Great Willamette Clean Up: 10/3 - 10/11 |
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Like just about everything else in 2020, our 12th Annual Great Willamette Clean Up is going to look a little different than we expected... but it is happening!
We're stretching out the event and we'll be calling upon you and your (wait for it...) QUARANTEAM to rally around this important effort. More details to follow soon, so stand by!
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Wild & Scenic Film Fest Save The Date: 12/3 |
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The Wild & Scenic Film Festival inspires environmental activism and a love for nature–through film. Wild & Scenic shares an urgent call to action, encouraging festival-goers to learn more about what they can do to save our threatened planet.
This year our event will be available to ticket holders via a slick, custom virtual platform that you will be able to screen from the comfort of your home- wherever that may be! We'll be presenting Willamette Riverkeeper's curated program as one giant watch party beginning at 7pm on Thursday, December 3rd. More details will be available soon!
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