High water waders- TW

Hey Folks,

High flows...with the big, brown, swirling water, well the high water finally showed up a couple weeks back. It was interesting to see how the river changed in such a small amount of
time. 

Willamette at Clackamette Park- TW

With camera in hand, I explored a few places along the river where the flow was easy to see. In one instance, I stood at the water's edge in a flat area and in only a minute the water moved inland over a foot! Such occurrences are another way to remember the power of water. 

Speaking of power, 35 intrepid folks powered along the Willamette with us last weekend for our Portland Harbor tour. The Explorer Jet boat was a great way to learn about the Superfund site on a very cold and rainy day. Stay tuned for our next outing on the Explorer in April. 

Thanks for your support, and read below for some fun outings this month and next. 

Travis

Travis Williams

Riverkeeper & Executive Director

Volunteers Needed!

Come celebrate signs of spring and get your hands dirty by helping us to restore Spring Park Natural Area, adjacent to Elk Rock Island in Milwaukie. Enjoy a morning of planting native trees and shrubs and removing litter from the banks of the Willamette River. Project partners for this event include: Willamette Riverkeeper, North Clackamas Parks and Recreation Department, and the North Clackamas Urban Watersheds Council.

Meeting location: Meet at the entrance to Spring Park located at SE Sparrow St at SE 19th Ave. in Milwaukie.

Restoring Kelley Point Park

We would like to extend a huge thank you to all of the amazing volunteers who joined us for a fun filled morning of planting and invasive weed removal at Kelley Point on February 22nd. Students from Rachel Carson Environmental Middle School, Green Team members from Groundwork Portland, and community volunteers worked alongside one another to help plant over 450 native plants, remove himalayan blackberry, and pick up litter from the final take out for the Willamette River Water Trail.

Check out our short video documenting the "before" and "after" transformation.

Due to high flows, we've had to adjust our March River Discovery trip itinerary...

Join us for an adventure in the lowest reach of our mighty Willamette-- Scappoose Bay! 

Where: Scappoose Bay   

When: Saturday, March 22nd, 10am (launch) - 1:30pm

Breaking from the mainstem Willamette a few miles before the confluence with the Columbia, Multnomah Channel eventually spills into the low, tidal estuary of Scappoose Bay. Adjacent to Sauvie Island National Wildlife Area, the bay teems with wildlife. Here juvenile salmonids seek refuge from strong river currents before migrating to the ocean, and bald eagles, herons, and tundra swans grace the skies. Scappoose also claims a compelling Northwest history that includes thriving Chinook villages, Lewis and Clark, and the Hudson Bay Company. 

We'll explore the Bay's many back channels as the water levels allow, and visit the remains of an old wooden ship.  

Bring: Your camera, binoculars, water, lunch, and a hot drink! Dress WARM; tall rubber boots are suggested to keep your feet warm and dry. It can be very muddy here when stepping out of your boat. We also recommed packing a hat, gloves, extra warm/dry layers. Splash wear such as a rain coat and pants with fleece underlayers is a good choice for those using our canoes.

Need a Boat? Riverkeeper canoes are available upon request for $20 (per canoe) for non-members or $10 for current members. You must recruit your own paddling partner.  

BYOBoat? Non-members are welcome to participate with a $10 donation, or choose to become an active Riverkeeper member for a one time fee of just $35.  

Your support makes our work and outreach possible! Become a member TODAY! 

Register: With kate@willametteriverkeeper.org or call 503-223-6418. Be prepared to pay $5 for parking.

How well do YOU know your river's Superfund site?

Back by popular demand, join us for another Superfund "Happy Hour" Tour aboard the Portland Spirit's Explorer vessel this April. The boat is covered, and has a restroom.

This 2 hour cruise will introduce you to your river's greatest challenge- rectifying 150 years of industrial activity and the legacy pollutants contaminating your river today. Explore and learn about this 12-mile Superfund site while enjoying free frothy beverages provided by our hydrophilic friends at Sierra Nevada Brewing.

Buy your ticket today- only 28 spaces available!

When: Thursday, April 17th from 5:15pm - 7:30pm.

Where: Board at the Portland Spirit's SE Portland dock near OMSI, 101 SE Caruthers St.

Cost: $35

 

Check out our latest video for 

 5 Awesome Reasons Paddle Oregon 2014 should be at the top of your summer bucket list!

Registraion and trip details will launch later this month, so stay tuned!  

WR and all of you, have an opportunity to purchase Norwood Island, a 90 acre parcel located along the upper Willamette River at the confluence of a small tributary called the Long Tom. Privately owned for decades, this purchase would ensure that Norwood is forever protected as the newest addition to your nationally recognized Willamette River Water Trail.

Norwood Island represents a remarkable ecological and recreational asset, and presents a tremendous opportunity for the general public to both experience and enhance nature along Oregon's great Willamette River!   

ACT NOW to help secure Norwood Island for the long term- for you, your family, friends and river community.

It's back!  Join us for our second annual Spring For Your River benefit on Thursday, May 8th at Union/Pine in SE Portland from 6:00pm to 8:30pm. Enjoy a unique evening of great food and music, environmentally-minded speakers, and outstanding silent auction items. 

Featuring a stunning Columbia Star Stand Up Paddle Board made by Cedar Boat Works, value of $2300.  Or, if you want to build your own, you can bid on a cedar SUP kit, value $250.

Tickets are $35- REGISTER TODAY!

Volunteer/learning opportunity: Cedar Boat Works owner, Don Hollerich, teaches a cedar SUP kit building class at Portland Community College. You can help Riverkeeper by volunteering on Saturday, 3/15 at Don's workshop in North Portland from 9am to noon. Here you will help finish our auction board, and also learn more about how to build your own. If you are interested, contact kate@willametteriverkeeper.org.

Help us make our Spring For Your River silent auction event a success by donating an item or service! Donations are tax deductible. Contact jocelyn@willametteriverkeeper.org. 

Restoration contractors installed over 19,000 native trees and shrubs on Ross Island this winter! Thanks to the Oregon State Weed Board for awarding Willamette Riverkeeper a grant to help make this happen. Stay tuned for community work parties in partnership with Portland Parks & Recreation on Ross Island for 2014.

Canoeists Bart Rierson and Lauren Wylie blaze a trail on the Willamette near Ash Island in Newberg, photo by Ryan Howard (thanks for sharing!)

Connecting employees with nature:  

EarthShare Oregon engages people at the workplace to support environmental causes in your community, across Oregon, and around the world. We all need more people and businesses supporting the environmental movement!

EarthShare offers workplace fundraising to support up to 80 of the best environmental organizations like Willamette Riverkeeper! They also offer volunteer opportunities, great team support, and educational presentations.  

Find out how you can partner with them in 2014.