May Riverscape

Newsletter
Your river guide to news, tours, & volunteer events 

From The Riverkeeper

Superfund tours, restoration work at Willamette Mission, River Guardian cleanups, Paddle Oregon volunteer training, monitoring key sites for Clean Water Act violations, and improvements to the Willamette Water Trail have kept us all very busy so far this May!

Later this month (according to the US EPA's current planning) we are expecting to see the Draft Cleanup Plan for the Portland Harbor Superfund site. When this occurs, the official 60-day public comment period will open. This is the one opportunity for official input into the process after 15 years, and we will be sure to urge you to participate when the time comes! We will provide you with key points that you can include in your comments to the EPA. Whether you submit two sentences, or two pages, your thoughts will be considered, and will contribute to a stronger, final cleanup plan, which is expected in December of 2016. 

What you can do NOW:

1. Get schooled on Superfund- We will continue to host a number of educational outings and events to provide you with opportunities to see your river's Superfund site up close, learn the facts, and the pending cleanup decisions. Read below to see what's yet to come this month. 

2. Become a member- This is our 20th Anniversary year, and thanks to your support, we have succeeded in influencing a range of improvements for the river- and yet we have so much more work to accomplish! Please join us in our fight for clean water and healthy habitat on your home river. We invite you to participate as a monthly supporter as we work to continue our mission into the next 20 years. 

Simply click to Donate Now- any amount will make an impact! 

Thank you for your support,

Travis 

Travis Williams
Riverkeeper & Executive Director
Paddle Oregon Wins Award

Pictured from left to right: Todd Davidson (Travel Oregon CEO), Kate Kuthe (WR), Greg Leo, Travis Williams (WR), and Alana Hughson (Oregon Tourism Commission) 



We always knew that our annual Paddle Oregon event was a winner, but now it's been made official. Last month Paddle Oregon was awarded the "Gene Leo Memorial SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AWARD" by Travel Oregon at the Oregon Travel & Tourism Industry Achievement Awards. 

This esteemed award "recognizes outstanding contributions of tourism focused on Oregon's natural beauty and outdoor recreation, as well as outstanding leadership, stewardship, philanthropic, and socially responsible best practices, particularly regarding sustainability, as demonstrated by a strong commitment to decreasing the environmental impact of the travel & tourism industry.Thank you Greg Leo for your support and enthusiasm! 

We encourage all of you to come and join us this August to see what the fuss is about. Paddle Oregon is priced well below what commercial outfitters would charge for a supported, multiday river adventure, plus we offer much more including daily enviromental edcuation opportunities, and live entertainment each evening. In addition, our on-line registration offers the option of setting up a fundraising page to fullfill your trip fee, so price need not be a barrier. 

REGISTER TODAY at www.PaddleOregon.org

Volunteers Needed- Restoration Work Party: Saturday, 5/21

What: Ross Island restoration work party 
When: Saturday, 5/21 from 8:30am - 1:30pm

Details: Join us and Portland Parks & Recreation for a paddle out to Ross Island to help improve wildlife habitat by hand pulling invasive plants. All of our canoes have been reserved, so volunteers must be able to bring their own canoe, kayak, or SUP to participate.

The group will meet in the gravel lot above the river access ramp, next to the Portland Boathouse Parking Lot (1515 SE Water Ave, Portland).Volunteers should arrive at 8:30am to check in and gear up for a 9:00am launch. 

Please be prompt as we will not hold up the group to accommodate you if you are late! We will be off the water by 1:30pm. Dress appropriately for the weather, and bring additional layers in case you get wet. Tall rubber boots and closed towed shoes work well for walking around the island. Bring water and a LUNCH!
 
To Register: please email [email protected]

River Discovery Paddle: Saturday, 5/21

What: Coyote Creek / Fern Ridge Tour 
When: Saturday, 5/21, from 9:00am - 12:00pm



A favorite kayak and canoe destination in the Upper Willamette Valley area, Coyote Creek offers a serene yet active wildlife refuge and observation area for flat water paddlers. It is an excellent birding area, especially in late spring, featuring nesting species such as flycatchers and thrush, Osprey, Bald Eagles and Great Blue Herons. The creek is an easy paddle out to the reservoir, where we'll gather for a snack at Perkin's Peninsula before paddling back to the put in. Riverkeeper & Executive Director, Travis Williams, will also talk about the role of Fern Ridge in maintaining water quality and wildlife habitat and its connection to the main stem. This is a "bring your own boat" adventure! 

Bring: BYOBoat, paddles, and PFDs. Please dress for the weather; we recommend packing a rain coat/pants, hat, gloves, extra warm/dry layers. Also bring water, and a snack. We may step out of our boats on occasion. 

Directions: From Hwy 126, turn south on Central Road 0.8 miles. Turn left (east) on Cantrell Rd. and proceed 1.4 miles to where the road crosses a bridge. Park aong the road shoulder near the bridge to access trails on either side of the creek.  

To Register: Contact our South Valley Advocate, [email protected]

Superfund Walking Tour- Monday, 5/23

This is your river, and you have a say in how the Portland Harbor Superfund site should be cleaned up! Tour this this reach of the river with us and learn where the Superfund sites are, who is involved in the cleanup, what caused the contamination, what are the cleanup options, and how you can help! 
  
What: Superfund Walking Tour
When:  Monday, 5/23 from 6:00pm - 7:15pm 
Where: Meet at Cathedral Coffee in St Johns

Details: Beginning with a fresh cup of coffee, we'll walk in view of numerous sites within the heart of this polluted reach. This is a great way to view a good portion of the Superfund site. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes. We will walk about a mile on some uneven pavement, sand, and rock. Please park on the road rather than in the shop's lot.

To Register: email [email protected]

River Discovery Overnight Paddle Trip- Vineyard + Voyage: 6/11 - 6/12
 
 
Join us on the Willamette River Water Trail for this exceptional River Discovery camping adventure! Learn more about your river, and our work to protect and restore it, while paddling this scenic reach.

We'll cover 33.5 lazy miles of river over two days, launching from Wallace Marine Park in Salem on Saturday morning, June 10th, camping at the lovely Arcane Cellars at Wheatland Winery & Vineyard, and taking-out at Rodgers Landing in Newberg on Sunday afternoon, June 11th.

This trip includes a shuttle service, 3 delicious catered meals, wine tasting, guided educational topics along the river, and live "Parisian Americana" music by French Troubadour, Eric John Kaiser in the evening.

For details, including fee, boat rentals, and registration, visit 

Willamette Falls Whitewater Park




Heads up river lovers, there are some exciting plans being proposed for the Willamette in Oregon City! 

Intrigued? You can also find more information at WillametteFallsWhiteWaterPark.org.
Willamette Riverkeeper | 503-223-6418 | Email 

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