Hello Awesome River Folks -
I hope you are all doing as well as can be.
Recently I was helping to conduct a river cleanup event in Portland along Holgate Channel with some of our staff and awesome volunteers. This is an area that has been highly affected by trash from a variety of sources but especially abandoned houseless camps.
I took a break to survey the scene and my eyes came to rest on our awesome patrol/workboat, the Amy Schoener. The tough little craft was loaded to the gills with trash and debris. We had been using it in our cleanup events, especially large ones, to ferry debris from the cleanup site to our dumpsters.
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In this case, the image of this awesome craft struck a chord. It is named after one of our fantastic past members of our Board of Directors. Unknown to us, when she passed a few years ago, she had taken out a life insurance policy, with WR as the beneficiary. When this occurred I was blown away. This enabled WR to acquire this craft, and it helped sustain our work, at that time, in a very significant fashion. Such an unexpected act of generosity that resulted from her passing is not something we see very often. It also reflected her persistence to improve water quality and habitat for the long term and her trust in Willamette Riverkeeper.
Amy was smart, tough, and persistent, and we like to think this craft is in keeping with that. We also believe that the idea of persistence is a notion that does, and should, pervade our work.
All of us, staff, volunteers, and supporters of all types reflect the idea of persistence in working to uphold our mission - “To make the Willamette River Watershed healthy for fish and wildlife, safe for fishing and swimming, and to inform, involve, and connect all people with their River.”
It takes all of us collectively to maintain our level of persistence. As we round into 2022, we will keep our eye on the goal, moving toward cleaner water, and healthy habitat for the Willamette each and every day. We thank all of you for your time, energy, and financial generosity that helps keep our organization moving forward. For that persistence, we are grateful.
Sincerely,
Travis Williams
Riverkeeper & Executive Director
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Webinar TOMORROW:
A Talk With The Riverkeeper is the final webinar in our three-part series takes place at 7 pm TOMORROW, December 2nd, featuring Travis Williams, Riverkeeper and Executive Director. Join this webinar for updates about the organization, as well as the vision for 2022.
More details and registration are available here.
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Do you love clean water and healthy rivers? Become a River Guardian and register for a cleanup today!
Eugene-Springfield Trashy Tuesday: In partnership with the City of Eugene Parks & Recreation, we are working on the water from Eastgate Woodlands to Alton Baker on December 14th. Find more details and register here!
Corvallis Trashy Thursday: On December 9 we are working in partnership with Corvallis Parks to help improve the riparian areas in the Mary's and Willamette River confluence area for wildlife and safe recreation access. Join us for this land-based cleanup - more details and registration are available here!
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Mark your calendar for our 2022 summer overnight paddle trips! We will have two weekend events, as well as our 20th Annual Paddle Oregon, a week long event! Additional event details and registration will be announced early in 2022.
Pinot Paddle: June 18 - 19, 2021
Paddle Oregon: August 15 - 19, 2021
Harvest Paddle: September 17 - 18, 2021
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Join us virtually on Thursday, December 9th for our annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival! We hope that our unique 12 film program will leave you inspired to take action and feel ready for adventures. Doors at 7 pm, the show begins at 7:30 pm.
General Admission: $25
Group Admission: $40
Dinner and a Movie for 2 (21+): $80
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EVENT RAFFLE TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE!
Raffle tickets are available for purchase through December 9th at 11:59 pm. This year we are excited to have 12 different packages. Purchase tickets TODAY for a chance to win a River Trip Coffee Package, Kayaking Starter Kit (including the kayak!), Local Wines & Spirits Package, a Willamette Valley Getaway, a Self-Care Package, AND MORE!
*You do not need to attend the event to purchase raffle tickets.
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We are officially halfway through Willamette Week's Give!Guide 2021 campaign. With your help we have raised over $18,700 - THANK YOU!
Make a donation through December 31st to receive some amazing incentives from our business partners:
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$25+ Donation: A free essential oil roll-on and 20% off coupon for use at the Mountain Rose Herbs Bridgeport Village Aroma Bar
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$150 - $499: A mixed 4 pack of Wyld CBD Seltzer Water or 1 bottle of Wyld CBD Gummies
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$350+: A set of North Drinkware Glasses and a bottle of 2018 Alchemist Pinot Noir from Union Wine Company. This incentive is available to the next 10 donors who give at this level. The glass is 6 oz. handmade stemless wineglass, in the bottom of the glass, is a 3D scene of the Willamette Valley and Mt. Hood featuring Amity Vineyards
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$500 - $999: A mixed 12 pack of Wyld CBD Seltzer Water or Variety pack of Wyld CBD Gummies
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$1,000+: You will be entered into a raffle to win a River Camping Package with items from Next Adventure, Willamette Riverkeeper, and Paddle People (including a kayak, paddle, PFD, tent, sleeping bag, backpack, dry bag, and other assorted goodies)
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Photo credit for group paddling: Johnny Childers |
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Willamette Aquatic Invasives Network Launches Wapato Revival |
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Willamette Riverkeeper has just launched a new website in collaboration with Willamette Aquatic Invasives Network (WAIN), a multi-stakeholder collaborative of organizations dedicated to revitalizing the Willamette River’s aquatic ecosystems. Wapato Revival represents a strategic approach supported by WAIN members to protect and restore aquatic and riparian ecosystems and water quality in the Willamette Basin.
A number of stressors are impacting key native fish and wildlife species in the Willamette Basin. These stressors include habitat loss and fragmentation, disruption of floodplain function, water quality, and invasive species. Wapato Revival provides guidance to address the growing threat of aquatic invasive species (AIS) and restoring healthy habitats while improving the quality of life for communities throughout the Willamette Basin.
Wapato Revival emphasizes AIS prevention, early detection, and rapid response (EDRR), while promoting coordinated efforts across the Willamette Basin using a prioritized approach for management actions; including data collection, restoration, education, and outreach efforts.
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Advocacy Update: Glenwood
Riverfront Development in Springfield
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The City of Springfield and the Springfield Economic Development Agency (SEDA) recently launched an RFQ to determine an appropriate developer for the Glenwood Riverfront project, a nine-acre publicly-owned property along Franklin Boulevard between Eugene and Springfield communities on the Willamette River. The only responding development team, Edlen & Co. and deChase Miksis, provided an overview of their experience and qualifications to SEDA on November 22, with the hope of overseeing a plan envisioning the site as “a vibrant riverfront neighborhood” of mixed use space, with access to the river and natural areas. While SEDA has yet to provide a final approval for a developer, Willamette Riverkeeper and our volunteer advocates will continue to follow the process and provide feedback toward ensuring proper stormwater treatment, riparian habitat improvement and protection, and visual and safe physical access to the river.
Your river needs you! If you are interested in getting engaged in this conversation, please contact our Upper Watershed Program Manager, Michelle Emmons at michelle@willametteriverkeeper.org. The next meeting of SEDA to discuss the decision to move forward with this developer will be in December. Please check the City of Springfield’s SEDA website here for more information.
Photo credit: SEDA planning documents.
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North Salem High School Visits
Willamette Mission State Park
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Just a couple of weeks ago, we welcomed North Salem High School back for two service-learning project days after a long hiatus due to the pandemic. Our Restoration Associate, Vanessa Heilmann, in partnership with OPRD, hosted the students at Willamette Mission State Park, one of our active restoration sites. In 2018 North Salem High School students came to the Beaver Island, Unit A, where we had previously installed black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa) trees and an understory of native shrubs. That year the cottonwoods were impacted by the local deer with their rutting habits of scraping the velvet off of their antlers. These students took part in a service-learning day and helped install mesh tube protectors around the trees to avoid any further damage.
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This year we brought a new group of juniors and seniors to the same site to help remove these tube protectors, as the trees are now established, and the tubes were inhibiting their growth. All of the mesh tubing was successfully removed to allow the trees to continue their mission of restoring the floodplain forest. Additionally, the students helped mulch 3 rows of native shrubs to help retain soil moisture, balance soil temperatures, increases nutrients in the soil, reduce weed competition and overall benefit to native plantings! Both days were in combination with learning about why floodplain forests are important and how the vegetation impacts these landscapes on a larger scale. Mother nature was on our side both days, as she kept the rain at bay and provided two days of sunshine! It was an enriching day on all sides.
Thank you, North Salem High School, for all of your contributions!
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Paddle. Camp. Repeat. Tees! Our newest t-shirt design is now available for just $25! These tri-blend tees come in a women's or men's fit, with the option of blue or gray. Purchase yours today!
Maps! We have a limited supply of Willamette River maps. You can purchase digital copies on the Willamette Water Trail website, as well as paper copies (waterproof of course) of the Upper and Lower Willamette River.
Willamette Water Trail Patches, we're selling them for just $5!
Coffee! Named for the 187 miles of the Willamette River, Pastor John's Blessed Beans, Roast #187 is available for purchase - 2lbs. for just $35.
Shopping Willamette Riverkeeper for the holidays? Purchase by December 17th to have your items shipped on December 20th. This will be our last shipping day prior to December 25th, however, we cannot guarantee their arrival by December 25th.
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