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From the Riverkeeper
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 | | Evening on Blue Ruin Island during our Paddle Oregon pod leader training trip in May -by Travis Williams |
I've been working to protect and restore the Willamette with this organization for the last 12 years, having started with WR June of 2000. In many ways, time flies. When I think back over those years, I realize that WR has accomplished a lot. In thinking on this, it seems like a good opportunity to remind all of you, many of you members of WR, what we have accomplished, and what we do.
Some of the highlights include:
- Suing the US Army Corps to complete their Biological Opinion for the Willamette. This was resolved and now the Corps and the BPA are implementing the Biological Opinion to reduce the negative impact of their dams in the Willamette system on threatened species
- Sending dozens of 60-day notices under the Clean Water Act which has resulted in less pollution being released into the Willamette system
- Helping to lead the transfer of a good portion of Ross Island to the City of Portland in 2007
- Developing a corps of volunteer water quality monitors from Eugene to Portland
- Getting several thousand people in canoes and kayaks to experience the Willamette first-hand through our River Discovery Program, from school groups and universities to our open paddles and Paddle Oregon
- Being a very vocal advocate in the process to cleanup the pollution in Portland Harbor and provide technical evaluation of various elements of the process
- Leading the development of the Willamette River Water Trail with Oregon State Parks and writing the two guides to the Water Trail
- Working diligently in the Oregon legislature to turn back bad proposals, support Natural Resource Budgets, and passing legislation - such as the ban on the sale of products containing DecaBDE in 2010
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 | | Morning on Blue Ruin Island -by Kate Ross |
Implementing, and supporting habitat restoration throughout the Willamette Basin
In addition to the above, WR has made other strides a
s well. What you should see, and "take home" from the list above is that WR is the lead Advocate for the health of this River System, and works diligently to protect and restore it. Frankly, we are a unique organization in our Advocacy and Education approach, and our ability to connect with people across the river basin.
So, support us TODAY to help us make additional strides for the Willamette- and take a moment to set up a monthly donation. It is easy, and helps us continue to make progress for the Willamette. With your help and ongoing financial support we can make even greater gains for this river and its tributaries over the next 12 years.
See you on or along the river,
Travis
Travis Williams
Riverkeeper & Executive Director
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YouTube
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 | | Paddle Oregon Pod Leader Training Trip weekend, May 2012 |
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Taking Action for Clean Water: WR Files Suit
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WR Takes Action for Clean Water and Files Suit Against First Student
 | | oil runoff in parking a riverside parking lot -by Kate Ross |
In Willamette's Riverkeeper's work to protect and improve water quality, we use a range of tools. When we discover that permits issued under the Federal Clean Water Act are being violated, we take action.
In our partnership with the Oregon Clean Water Action Project ("OCWAP") who provides WR's legal representation, we sent a 60- Day Notice of Intent to Sue on behalf of Willamette Riverkeeper to First Student, Inc. for violations of the Clean Water Act at multiple sites in the Willamette Valley under their Industrial Stormwater Permits for each site. The nationwide school bus company has several locations within the Willamette Basin with an ongoing history of permit violations related to total suspended solids (TSS), oil and grease, copper, and zinc.
First Student has violated Oregon's 1200-Z, industrial stormwater permit, by failing to:
1) develop, implement and maintain appropriate site controls
2) submit action plans after exceeding benchmark levels
3) monitor stormwater and/or submit monitoring results
4) properly operate and maintain all systems and facilities of treatment and control and more
WR and OCWAP did not receive a response from First Student to our notice letter, however the company did begin to submit their monitoring reports and action plans for their exceedances at Philomath, Silverton and McMinnville. Monitoring reports show that First Student continues to exceed benchmarks and still has failed to develop, implement and maintain appropriate site controls.
Due to lack of response to WR's 60-day notice, WR filed suit this week. The goal is to ensure that companies that violate their permits take action to improve the situation. The legal requirements for most stormwater permits are rather straight forward. Taken together, multiple sites that violate their permits can have a measurable impact on water quality, potentially sending pollutants into local streams and the Willamette River. Stay tuned for more information on this action.
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Vote for Willamette Riverkeeper- Friday, 6/22 | |
 We are excited to announce that Willamette Riverkeeper has been selected as a finalist in Toyota's 100 Cars for Good program... Now we need your help!
Help us win a new car to make an even bigger difference! One of 500 Finalists, we need YOUR VOTE on Friday, June 22nd in the Toyota 100 Cars for Good Program.
Toyota's 100 Cars for Good program will be awarding 100 vehicles to 100 nonprofits over the course of 100 days based on votes from the public. A total of 500 nonprofits were selected from more than 4,000 applications nationwide. We are hoping to win a new Toyota Sienna to help transport staff and volunteers and tow our fleet of canoes as we work to encourage river exploration and stewardship, conduct habitat restoration, and promote sound policies that lead to a safer river for all.
Please tell your friends and VOTE for Willamette Riverkeeper at www.100carsforgood.com on FRIDAY, JUNE 22nd!
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Help us Enhance Habitat on Ross Island- Saturday, 6/9
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The jungle? No! It's Ross Island. Here volunteers prepare to make "Sound Maps -Kate Ross
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Ross Island is a gem of a natural area in the heart of the City of Portland providing 55 acres of critical habitat for wildlife. After a lifetime of resource extraction, Ross Island is an altered landscape in need of habitat enhancement.
The island supports a mature black cottonwood gallery forest that supports numerous species of terrestrial and aquatic insects, birds, and other wildlife. Native vegetation found on the island today is characteristic of flora found on the island in the mid 19th century. Some of these species include; black cottonwood, Oregon ash, Oregon white oak, madrone, willow, black hawthorne, snowberry, Indian plum, and more.
Unfortunately this island is also heavily impacted by invasive species such as garlic mustard, false brome, shiny leaf geranium, ivy and blackberry to name a few of the worst culprits. Willamette Riverkeeper is working on a project on partnership with the City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services and Portland Parks and Recreation to try to gain control of the garlic mustard infestation. We are taking a multi-tiered approach to treating the infestation. The main goal of the project is to reduce the volume of garlic mustard throughout the site, minimize further dispersal of new seed, and protect as many native seedlings as possible. Marking native plants with bamboo and hand pulling garlic mustard from the base of native plants seems to be effective.
For an opportunity to learn more about our work on Ross Island join us for a Paddle to Protect Ross Island trip. We will be hosting one trip a month from now through October.
 | | Garlic Mustard is bagged and headed off Ross Island. -Marci Krass |
What: Paddle to Preserve Ross Island
When: THIS Saturday, 6/9 from 8:30am -12:30pm
Details: Spend your morning helping us enhance habitat for wildlife on Ross Island in partnership with Portland Parks & Recreation-City Nature and the Friends of Ross Island. We will be focusing on hand pulling garlic mustard and marking native plant seedlings with bamboo. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the native plants and wildlife that currently call the island home.
We will gather prepared to paddle by Willamette Riverkeeper's canoes in the Portland Boathouse parking lot, near the gravel lot and East Side esplanade. This event is family friendly! Children are welcome when accompanied and supervised by an adult.
Use your own canoe or kayak, or reserve a spot in a canoe. To register email Marissa.Dorais@portlandOregon.gov
See our photo album Ross Island Revealed on Facebook
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Survery Says: Public Wants a Clean & Healthy River
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Portland Harbor Partnership Releases Results of Their Industry Sponsored Survey and...
the Public Clearly wants a Clean and Healthy River!
"As crude a weapon as the Caveman's club, the chemical barrage has been hurled at the fabric of life." Rachel Carson wrote this decades ago in her pioneering book Silent Spring, and its meaning is more relevant than ever today. It would seem that most people in the Portland area understand the sentiment of Rachel Carson's quote, according to results released in a presentation by the Portland Harbor Partnership in relation to the cleanup of Portland Harbor.
The "Partnership" is an organization of some of the Potentially Responsible Parties for the Willamette Superfund site, those responsible for some measure of cleaning up the pollution in this stretch of the Willamette. As you may recall, the Harbor area contains PCBs, heavy metals, DDE, and oil-based pollutants among others. Based on an effort by this industry-led group over the past year at a variety of community meetings and events, this group provided their survey results to PSU under a contract with the University. PSU sorted the responses and presented them in a recent community meeting.
 | | View of the lower Portland Harbor. -Kate Ross |
What stands out from their survey is the overall desire for a Clean and Healthy River. What is striking is that even the responses that keyed in on the importance of sustaining jobs also mentioned the need to have a clean and healthy river free of toxics, and that having a healthy economy can also exist with a robust cleanup, and a healthy river. The survey was even distributed to some of the employees of the PRP companies.
It was also clear that people would like to see more access to the river in the industrial stretch for fishing, canoeing and kayaking, and even swimming. WR will continue to work on those issues in addition to the cleanup. Stay tuned in the months ahead as additional input from the community is provided to Willamette Riverkeeper and others. WR plans to talk with many of those fishing and recreating along the river to document their input as well.
What is good to see is that the responses to an industry-led survey make it clear that people want toxics contaminants, like PCBs, out of the Willamette River. As Rachel Carson's quote makes clear -we have indeed been subject to a chemical barrage, and Portland Harbor is a current example of one area that needs to be relieved of this Willamette River toxic mess.
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Ross Island Regatta- THIS Sunday, 6/10
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 | | Great Blue Heron -Travis Williams |
In honor of the 26th Annual Great Blue Heron Week Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe, Audubon Society of Portland, Portland Parks andRecreation, Urban Greenspaces Institute, Wasabi Paddling Club, and Willamette Riverkeeper will host the annual Ross Island paddling Regatta.
The Regatta is an opportunity to enjoy a morning on the Willamette River in canoes, kayaks, SUP boards, etc and explore the future of Ross Island, the Holgate Channel, and Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge as one of Portland's most significant urban natural resources, and celebrate the newly established Slow-No Wake Zone in the Ross Island Lagoon and the upstream portion of the Holgate Channel.
The Friends of Ross Island will lead one flotilla from Willamette Park boat ramp in SW Portland at 10am sharp. The flotilla will paddle across the Willamette to the Oregon Yacht Club and head on downstream through the Holgate Channel and past 160-acre Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge listening for and looking at birds and other wildlife along the way.
Wasabi Paddling Club and Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe will launch from the boat dock at thePortland Boat House just upstream of the Hawthorne Bridge. If you don't own a kayak or canoe you can rent one at Alder Creek (503-285-1819) or Portland Kayak Company (503-459-4050).
All groups will rendezvous in the Ross Island lagoon at 11:15 am to learn more about the restoration and future of Ross Island, Holgate Channel and adjacent Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge.
What: Ross Island Regatta
When: THIS Sunday, 6/10 from 10am to 1pm
Where: launch from the Willamette Park boat ramp in SW Portland promptly at 10am (arrive no later than 9:40am). There is a parking fee at this location.
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Connecting Youth to the Willamette
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 The importance of connecting with natural areas at a young age to learn about our natural world is critical for developing skills in ecoliteracy and the ethic of stewardship. Throughout the spring Willamette Riverkeeper has been working in partnership with Portland Parks and Recreation (PPR) to engage over 200 youth in over 500 hours of hands on service-learning learning through restoration and environmental education at natural areas owned by PPR on the East Bank of the Willamette River. The natural areas included; Kelly Point Park, Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge and Oaks Crossing.
 Students learned about the impact of invasive species, how to identify native plants, ecology of the riparian bottomland forest, history of the Willamette River watershed, as well as water quality through macro invertebrate sampling. While getting their hands dirty pulling ivy, planting native plants, investigating water samples, and playing sensory awareness games, students gained a deeper connection to their local natural areas, as well as a heightened sense of awareness about their relationship to the Willamette River.
"Change is always happening. Shrinking, Different, Mud, Water, Habitats, Gone, Moving, Changing, Everyday, Never to stop...When you take a footstep outside, you are making a small difference. Don't try to prevent these small changes you or nature are making, but try to prevent the ones that ruin our parks." - KB (6th grader at Opal School)
photos: students in action along the Willamette River -by Marci Krass
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Save These Dates for Summer FUN!
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Join us for two SPECTACULAR Willamette Riverkeeper benefit events this summer!
Loads of VOLUNTEERS will be needed for BOTH events! Please contact kate@willametteriverkeeper.org.
What: The Big Float II
When: Sunday afternoon, July 29th
Where: On the Willamette River between the Marquam and Hawthorne Bridges
Details: A celebration of the river, connecting us all to our innertubes (and don't forget your PFD!). A Drum Core, parade, food carts, and a band-on-a-barge sound good to you, please join us! There is a $5 registration fee.
What: Clips of Faith- New Belgium Brewing's Beer & Film Tour
When: Friday evening, August 3rd
Where: Waterfront Park (on the grassy bowl next to River Place)
Details: Handcrafted beer and Handcrafted films! Bike in or paddle over, bring a blanket, enjoy outdoor films and a stellar view of the Willamette River, unique New Belgium beers (many not available in Oregon), and some great grub. Entry to this event is FREE, while beer, wine, & t-shirts are for sale.
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River Discovery Trip: Willamette Narrows- Thursday, 6/21
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 | | A dramatic sky over Willamette Narrows. -Marci Krass |
What: Willamette Narrows sort-of-Solstice paddling adventure!
When: Thursday, 6/21 6pm-9pm
Join Willamette WR staff as we explore one of the most unique and beautiful reaches of the Willamette river! Located above Willamette Falls, Willamette Narrows is known for its scenic rocky shores and islands. This area, formed by ancient basalt flows, offers habitat for Oregon White Oak, Pacific Madrone, and Douglas Fir. At this time of year, a variety of native wildflowers (some quite rare) should be evident.
We will put in at Bernert Landing in West Linn's Willamette Park, at the confluence of the Willamette and Tualatin Rivers, paddle up stream through the Narrows, and around Rock and Little Rock Islands. We will look for eagles, ospreys, herons, and wildflowers before we turn around and return to Bernert Landing. We will launch from the beach, not the boat ramp. Please arrive by 5:45pm. Plan for traffic!
*Be advised that due to the constriction of the river by the islands, there can be significant current, as well as strong eddylines and boils in the Narrows.
Visit this link for directions. Dress for the weather (bring extra dry clothes- just in case!). You may also want to bring a camera, binoculars, water, and a snack. Rubber boots or paddling shoes/booties are recommended.
To Register: contact Kate at 503-223-6418 or kate@willametteriverkeeper.org. Riverkeeper's tandem canoes are available upon request, though you must recruit your own paddling partner.
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Scappoose Bay Watershed Fair- Saturday, 6/16
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Rainbow over Scappoose Bay -SBWC
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Come enjoy a day in the bay at the Scappoose Bay Watershed Fair in the lowest reach of the Willamette system.
The Scappoose Bay Watershed Council, their sponsors, and local vendors will provide games, activities, food and fun for all ages. There will be canoe tours of the bay at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm, as well as music, pony rides, raffles, a treasure hunt and much more!
Bring the whole family and experience our natural treasures and all the bay has to offer.
VOLUNTEERS and PADDLERS are needed to assist on shore and on the water. Food will be provided for volunteers. Contact the Watershed Council for more information: www.scappoosebay-wc.org or 503-397-7904.
What: Scappoose Bay Watershed Fair
When: June 16th from 10am to 4pm
Where: at the Scappoose Bay Marina, located at 57420 Old Portland Road in Warren, Oregon
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"Trashpedition" Slideshow- Monday, 6/25
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 | | The OSOM Team on their Columbia River "trashpedition" |
In the spirit of keeping our rivers clean, here's something we think you'll find interesting...
Join Out of Sight, Out of Mind Teammates Shay Bickley, Jason Self, and Chris Bensch for a slide show presentation of their "Portland to the Ocean Trashpedition" and discussion about the OSOM mission and "Never Ending Cleanup Contest". In early May, Team OSOM paddled their kayaks on the Columbia River from Portland to the Pacific with canoes in tow to serve as "garbage barges" to collect the trash found along this 100+ mile journey. By documenting their effort, the trio hopes to stop plastic litter from making its way to sea and hope to inspire others to do the same.
What: "Trashpedition" slideshow presentation
When: Monday, 6/25 from 7pm - 8pm
Where: REI in Portland
The event is FREE but space is limited, so registration is required through this link: http://www.rei.com/event/39235/session/49558
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Water Quality Program
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Thanks for the great response to our Water Quality Trainings!
Here Heather and her daughter show us that clean water is a family affair!
photo: by Suzie Cloutier
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Paddle Oregon 2012
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We have had a tremendous response to our Paddle Oregon adventure this year! Sign up today or you just might get left out! Visit www.PaddleOregon.org to see what all the fuss is about.
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