Hello Folks -
Over the years a range of issues have been addressed by our organization, and all of them aimed at protecting and/or improving water quality and habitat. We use a variety of approaches, from education and advocacy, to legal enforcement.
I was somewhat bemused recently when WR was accused of being heavy handed in a legal sense. In my nearly 20 years at Willamette Riverkeeper, we’ve filed a few 60-day notices a year under the Clean Water Act or Endangered Species Act, with most of them settling before they went to court. When we have sued an entity, we’ve made progress for the river. All of our legal work deals with violations of State or Federal Law, and related rules and regulations to protect clean water, habitat, and wildlife.
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Most of you who know our organization have a sense of how we work, and how expansive our efforts are, especially for a modest sized non-profit organization. That being said, WR will continue to employ legal challenges where needed, whether with pollution from Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO), cities who dump sewage into the river or have failing municipal waste systems, at sites where people illegally remove riverside vegetation and floodplain habitat, and most certainly where artificial waves impact essential habitat for threatened species.
Rest assured, we will continue to make progress for the river on all fronts, in a thoughtful, but meaningful fashion.
Thanks for all of your new and ongoing support!
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For the River,
Travis Williams
Riverkeeper & Executive Director
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VOLUNTEER for an upcoming Trashy Tuesday or Thursday near you!
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EUGENE
When:
Tuesday, 3/10 from 8:00am to 1:00pm
Where:
Alton Baker Park
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PORTLAND
When:
Tuesday, 3/24 from 10:30am to 1:30pm
Where:
Meet at our SE Portland office at 403 SE Caruthers St
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CORVALLIS
When:
Thursday, 3/12 from 8:30am to 12:30pm
Where:
Crystal Lake Boat Ramp
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SALEM
When:
Thursday 4/16 from 10:30am to 1:30pm
Where
: Wallace Marine Park
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*All dates are subject to cancel if water levels/conditions are deemed unsafe
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Earth Day: Clean Water For Great Brews, 4/25
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What:
Earth Day 2020: Clean Water for Great Brews River Clean Up
When:
Saturday, 4/25 from 10am-1pm by LAND and 8am-12pm by WATER
Yum:
Volunteer Thank You Party @ Wheel Apizza Pub 1-3pm
Details:
WALK, BIKE, or FLOAT your way to CLEAN WATER! Join Willamette Riverkeeper River Guardians, BRING Recycling, cities of Eugene and Springfield and many more local brewers and businesses to help clean up our urban waterfront areas at 13 participating sites. Let's get the spring cleaning done!
Come "get dirty for
good
" and earn yourself a brew (or two) by participating in your favorite neighborhood location!
Each volunteer 21+ will earn a punch card good for 12 FREE brews at coffee houses and breweries in Eugene and Springfield in 2020!
Our Volunteer Thank You After Party will be at Wheel Apizza Pub at Lincoln St, Eugene, OR 97401 - enjoy free pizza, brew and raffle courtesy of BRING Recycling and Willamette Riverkeeper!
Please plan to dress for the weather and wear sturdy boots or hard soled shoes. All BYOB (Bring your own Boat) volunteers must be able to paddle class II water and are responsible for bringing their own PPE. PFDs are required at all times during the event. Gloves, garbage bags and other clean up supplies will be provided. Bring a coffee cup for morning check-in!
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We are pleased to welcome Justin Carr to our Restoration Program team as our new Stewardship Coordinator! Justin will support our restoration program by helping us with field work, data collection and management, planning and leading our volunteer stewardship events this season and so much more.
Justin recently completed a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science at Portland State University and is an active member of the Air Force Reserves. He was placed with us through
Mount Adams Institute’s VetsWork: Environment program
. This is an eleven month AmeriCorps career development internship program for military veterans in the natural resources management, public lands, and environment sector.
Willamette Riverkeeper is hosting this posting in partnership with NOAA.
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River Discovery: Elk Rock Island Paddle + Plant Walk, 4/23
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Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day with
Willamette Riverkeeper
! Join us for an evening paddle and hike to Elk Rock Island in Milwaukie.
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When:
Thursday evening, April 23rd from 5:00pm - 8:30pm
Details:
If you love to explore the flora and fauna of oak and prairie habitats, Elk Rock Island is a wonderland!
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The Island is part of an ancient volcano that erupted 40 million years ago. It's located on the Willamette River just offshore from the City of Milwaukie. The island hosts more than 20 plant species that are uncommon and rare to Portland. Vernal pools on the island are particularly interesting. City staff have been monitoring unique plants, water quality, and critters in the vernal pools. Each time we visit the island we find several new species! Join us on this trip and help discover more!
We will be providing use of canoes, PFD's, and paddles free of charge. No paddling experience is necessary. If you have your own boat and plan to bring it along please let us know when you register. Bring warm layers, rain gear, close toed shoes, water, and a snack. If you plan to bring a camera or phone it would be best to have it stored in a water tight dry bag.
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Paddle Oregon 2020: Registration Open!
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Come on and CELEBRATE our
20th Anniversary Paddle Oregon
adventure with us this August! Registration is now OPEN and our EARLY BIRD discount is availble through April 30th. Our new online registration also has a monthly payment plan option available.
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We have brought together
5 amazing business partners
who will donate proceeds from
sales in April
directly to Willamette Riverkeeper!
- Paddle People will be donating 2% of gross sales for the month of April.
- Yamhill Valley Vineyards will be donating $1 from every tasting that takes place in their tasting room that overlooks the 100 acre vineyard.
- Next Adventure will be donating 20% of all paddle sports rental transactions for the month of April at both their Paddle Sports Center in Portland, and the Scappoose Bay Paddling Center in Warren.
- AFURI will be donating 1% of sales from ALL 3 Portland locations from April 20-26.
- Willamette Valley Alchemy will donate 100% of the proceeds from their “Watershed series” merchandise, as well as $1 from every gram of cannabis extract that carries the “Watershed Badge.”
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Registration for our 2nd
Annual Pinot Paddle
will be available SOON! With six wineries on board this year, we expect this event to sell out quickly. Stand by for our announcement...!
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Invitation: Willamette River Recreation Studio
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Travel Oregon
, in partnership with the Willamette Valley Visitors Association and a local steering committee (which Willamette Riverkeeper is involved in), is hosting a workshop series this spring for communities along the Willamette River between Springfield and Milwaukie. This program is designed to identify opportunities and develop strategies to enhance the river recreation experience.
This studio includes six workshops this April that will focus on river recreation tourism development in the Willamette River area, including the communities of Springfield, Eugene, Harrisburg, Corvallis, Albany, Buena Vista, Independence, Salem, Keizer, Dayton, Dundee, Newberg, Butteville, Wilsonville, Canby, Oregon City and Milwaukie.
Anyone interested in contributing to the advancement of river recreation is invited to participate
, including local leaders, public officials, tourism agencies, land managers, regulatory agencies, economic development organizations, conservation groups, tour operators, guides, outfitters, restaurants, lodging property owners and outdoor recreation enthusiasts. Community members connected to the Willamette River who are interested in improving the local economy and river experience are also invited to participate.
The cost to attend a Community Workshop is
$5;
there is no cost to attend the May 19 Summit. Supplies, training materials, lunch and after-hours networking refreshments will be provided at all workshops.
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