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Hello and happy Fall! I hope that you are doing as well as can be.
After what felt like a whirlwind of a summer, with lots of work getting done for the river, we are suddenly in October, the Great Willamette Cleanup month. This month will see many cleanup events up and down the Willamette, so whether you are in the south part of the river basin, or the north, you can take part and help out!
On the subject of riverside debris and trash, the Oregon DEQ recently denied our petition to regulate trash under the Clean Water Act, citing the fact that we did not write the rule for them. However, they have agreed to meet with us to discuss the overall issue. Willamette Riverkeeper also has some additional ideas about how to proceed. Given the lack of progress in many cities and other areas along the river, what is being done now is simply not working. Stay tuned for more on this issue.
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In other news, after 20 years of fun on the water for Paddle Oregon, Willamette Riverkeeper is working to adjust how we host our large paddle events in 2023, including Paddle Oregon. We feel it is important to find ways to get more people out and along the river to see it and experience it. Decreasing the obvious barriers of cost and time off may help. More news on that, as well as our 2023 event dates, coming soon.
On that note, we just completed a very successful Harvest Paddle, which enabled our large group to see and experience the river. Thanks to all who took part!
For all of you who support our work financially, your generosity is much-appreciated! If you have not yet contributed, consider becoming a member today!
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Travis Williams
Riverkeeper & Executive Director
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JOIN US THIS OCTOBER FOR THE 14TH ANNUAL GREAT WILLAMETTE CLEANUP | |
Throughout the pandemic, the Willamette River and many other places in our great outdoors have experienced record usage in terms of visitors, recreation and housing those living outside. Unfortunately, this has lead to a lot of trash and debris left behind. Join our efforts as we work from Portland to Oakridge to clean the river before the rain and higher water levels set in! | |
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Salem:
Corvallis:
Eugene / Springfield:
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The Great Willamette Cleanup 2022 is sponsored by Backyard Bird Shop, Cafeto Coffee Company, Fortis Construction Company, Mountain Rose Herbs, Next Adventure, Oregon State Parks, Organically Grown, REI, Swire Coca-Cola, Wyld CBD, and numerous private individuals. | |
INTRODUCING THE PEARLSHELL RESERVE | |
Right where the S. Santiam meets Crabtree Creek, there’s a 25-acre property, full of life- most notably, an abundance of thriving Western Pearlshell mussels. It’s the perfect place for conservation and restoration work to make the most impact. We wanted to buy this property, but we were short $85,000. So we turned to our community for help. | |
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Thanks to the incredible generosity of our supporters, we are so excited to say that we have reached our goal and plan to close on the property in the coming week. The Pearlshell Reserve is a breathtaking stretch of river, and thanks to you, we can now protect and steward this place with the attention and love that it deserves.
We couldn’t have done this without the immediate response from our river friends. This community is something truly incredible.
You can always support Willamette Riverkeeper’s work on the Pearlshell Reserve and throughout the Willamette Basin. To everyone who has contributed to making this possible, thank you.
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GARDEN LOOSESTRIFE FOUND ON THE WILLAMETTE RIVER
This summer Willamette Riverkeeper’s restoration team joined forces with Yamhill Soil and Water Conservation District to manage their Oregon State Weed Board grant which focused on an early detection rapid response (EDRR) aquatic invasive species that many people aren’t quite familiar with: Lysimachia vulgaris, common name garden loosestrife. This species is an Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) ‘A’ listed EDRR weed from Eurasia that was brought over as an ornamental plant. ODA was alerted to its presence by an anonymous river recreationist who reported it to the invasive hotline in 2016. Citizen science really works! They investigated the location of this sighting and once it was confirmed as garden loosestrife, ODA treated the patch which was found at the tip of Wheatland Bar in Yamhill County. As of last year, there were only 8 known populations of this species.
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Our team completed three survey days on July 27th, 28th, and August 29th, covering from Keizer Rapids Park to San Salvador Beach. These surveys consisted of multiple canoes, with boats on both sides of the river, and trained eyes scanning the banks for sightings of this species. Due to the prolonged high-water levels this spring, we all saw a delay in plant development which made this expedition a little more challenging. Our first two days, this species did not yet have it’s beautiful and bright yellow orangish flowers, so our team was identifying solely by the vegetation. Garden loosestrife has leaf shapes ranging from ovate (egg shaped) to lanceolate (longer than wide, pointed tip), and can range from 3-5 inches in length. The arrangement is opposite to whorled with 3-5 leaves and are attached directly to the stem (sessile). When this species is not in flower, the stems are the best way to set them apart from purple loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria which is another listed invasive, but is ‘B’ listed species meaning it is sadly regionally abundant. Garden loosestrife has rounder stems which are often hairy or fuzzy versus purple loosestrife’s mostly square stems.
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After three days and 22.75 miles of searching every gravel bar on the mainstem, side channels, alcoves and sloughs, we discovered a total of 14 locations with 25 patches of garden loosestrife. Within our surveys we worked with our contractors, Integrated Resource Management, who were simultaneously on the water to complete an aquatic rated herbicide treatment as we found each population. Thanks to our interns, dependable contractors and our restoration team, we were able to discover these new patches, properly treat them in a timely manner, and record them into our GIS database to continue tracking over the next couple years. A huge thank you to the Oregon Department of Agriculture because we could not have done this without their funding and project support! Please keep an eye out for this species and report to ODA’s invasive hotline at 1-866-INVADER or online at www.oregoninvasivehotline.org if you spot this plant or any other listed invasive weed.
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WILD & SCENIC FILM FESTIVAL,
TICKETS NOW ON SALE!
We are back in person for this years Wild & Scenic Film Festival! Join us on November 17 at the Hollywood Theatre in NE Portland. Our unique film program aims to inspire environmental activism and a love of nature. Tickets are $16, which include event admission, as well as 1 entry to our Willamette River Lover gift basket. Enter to win one of our many other great prizes at the event, including a Willamette Valley Get Away, Portland Foodie Package, Willamette Valley Wine Tasting, Northwest Camping Kit and more!
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All proceeds from our Wild & Scenic Film Festival event, including raffle sales, will help support Willamette Riverkeeper as we fight for clean water and healthy habitat on your river. | |
LET US HELP YOU, HELP OUR RIVER | |
Sponsor a river cleanup opportunity for your employees! Willamette Riverkeeper receives requests regularly to host employees groups throughout our watershed. Willamette Riverkeeper's Business Sponsorship Program makes this possible. Your generous donation will help us cover the cost to coordinate a tailored experience for your employees, to help make a difference for our Willamette River. Find out how here, or email our Development Associate, Kati, at Kati@willametteriverkeeper.org. | | | | |
