FEBRUARY RIVERSCAPE

Hello Everyone - 

I hope your February is going well. 

As we move further into this new year, I’ve been reflecting on how Willamette Riverkeeper’s work is foundational across the Willamette Valley, and even beyond. I sometimes ask myself, “what if Willamette Riverkeeper disappeared tomorrow?”

The honest answer is this —there would be a gaping hole in the community's capacity for protecting water quality and ensuring healthy habitat throughout the Willamette Basin. 

In 2024, the reality is that WRK’s work and role advocating for these fundamental protections remains pivotal, and in many cases, creates a foundation from which others can work and collaborate. 

What we do for the Willamette River is unique and could not be replaced by some other organization. 

 - WR advocates in a wide array of jurisdictions for better outcomes for the river.

 - We unapologetically hold polluters accountable, suing when necessary, and always with a focus on the Willamette and its tributaries. Many other organizations are afraid to engage in litigation, WRK uses all available tools, as appropriate, to achieve our mission.

 - We ensure State and Federal agencies uphold the Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, and many other laws and regulations, which are increasingly challenged despite serving as the foundational bedrock of our environmental laws.

 - For over two decades, WR’s expertise on the Superfund cleanup for Portland Harbor continues to be relevant and would not be replaced. We remain essential leaders keeping the project on track, ensuring accountability and that sufficient resources are invested in restoring this part of the river.

 - Our work on freshwater mussels is unique, and has never been done in the Willamette Valley by any institution. 

 - Our leadership as managers of the nationally-recognized Willamette River Water Trail, encouraging a connection between all people and the Willamette is also something very unique to Willamette Riverkeeper. 

 - For 20 years WR has enabled literally thousands of people to travel the river by canoe and kayak, representing a diverse array of backgrounds. We regularly provide opportunities in both urban and rural areas for people to see and experience the river. 

 - Our work in the Oregon Legislature is essential as well, and we are fully engaged in the short session that just started. We are fighting the good fight against bad proposals yet again and pushing for necessary progressive changes. 

The focus has always been to rid the Willamette of pollution and to protect and restore habitat. This work directly benefits a wide range of people over 187 miles from Eugene to the confluence with the Columbia River. Whether in small rural communities along the Willamette or its tributaries far up the Willamette Valley, or in the heart of the most industrialized section of the River in Portland Harbor, our experience and expertise is relied upon and provides results. 

Thankfully a great many of you support our work, and are committed to it. We very much appreciate all that you do. We are grateful for all of your support! You are making a difference for the rivers of the Willamette Basin. 

Thank you!

PADDLE OREGON

A CHANGE IN COURSE

Since September of 2001, Willamette Riverkeeper has organized a big group paddling event called Paddle Oregon. We’ve typically traveled for 5 days and camped 4 nights along the river, covering between 85 and 95 miles. We’ve enjoyed great camaraderie, food, drink, music, and more importantly - education about the river. Even with the break during covid, we’ve conducted this trip 21 times every August, except for the first year which was in September.

Over time the event has been a modest fundraiser. More importantly it has been a creator of connections that have benefitted WR over the years in many ways. All of that said, WR has decided to skip 2024 in regard to the traditional Paddle Oregon trip. 

Personally, I’ve done this trip each and every time, and generally enjoy it. That said, what some do not see is what it takes to get 120 people camping and fully supported along the Willamette River for 5 days and 4 nights. It has always been a big job, and it has become even more difficult after covid. Many of the fees we

pay for food and logistical support have risen drastically. It takes a lot to get our volunteer safety crew up and running as well. At times other work has suffered a bit due to the amount of time and energy the event takes each year. 

So, for 2024 we are going in a different direction.

Paddle Oregon will be the umbrella for multiple events. 

The Paddle Oregon Pinot Paddle - If you want to do an overnight along the river with a group of people focused on the lovely wines of the Yamhill and Willamette Valleys, then the 5th annual Pinot Paddle is for you! July 13/14 are the dates, and registration will open in the coming days. This Paddle Oregon event is unique, and a lot of fun. It also takes only a weekend, yet covers a wonderful stretch of river between Salem and St. Paul. 

We are very committed to getting folks new and old to our organization out on the water. This summer we are featuring several Paddle Oregon Learn to Paddle Trips, where WR will provide canoe instruction. In tandem with these, WR is offering sessions on how to camp and use the Water Trail. We will cover trip planning, equipment, logistics, and how we approach spending multiple days along the river. These sessions will be fun, will help people learn and develop skills, and will help them gain the knowledge to do their own trips. 

Along those lines, our new Paddle Oregon - Gear Library will help enable additional folks to gain access to the river. WR will be providing canoes, paddles, safety equipment, and camping equipment so that those new to traveling the river will have very solid, low cost options to get out on the water and start a new hobby that engages with being outside, traveling along the river, and reaping the benefits of being imbued by the landscape. We hope to expand the ability of people to take part in an activity that benefits both body and mind. An additional goal is to provide a very low bar to entry for this type of outdoor experience, thereby increasing equity in regard to opportunities to travel the Willamette. 

Using the umbrella of Paddle Oregon, we aim to take a turn this year, and try some new things. We very much appreciate everyone who has taken part over the years, and we hope you stay engaged with WR. At the end of the day, we need your interest and support of our advocacy on behalf of clean water and healthy habitat. Everything else we do is in support of that goal. 

Thanks so much again for supporting Willamette Riverkeeper.



Big League Case Update

In November, Willamette Riverkeeper, along with Cascadia Wildlands and Oregon Wild, filed suit against the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) challenging its authorization of the Big League Project in the Calapooia and Mohawk River watersheds. By authorizing the project, BLM had approved aggressive logging in some of the last older forest stands in these watersheds, degrading vital salmon habitat.

In December, before BLM filed its response to our complaint, the project was withdrawn. This project will not go forward unless and until BLM completes a new environmental analysis, holds a renewed public comment period, and conducts a formal consultation under the Endangered Species Act regarding threatened Upper Willamette River spring Chinook salmon. In response to these commitments by BLM, we dismissed our suit.

This is a win for fish, forests, and all wildlife that depend on forest ecosystems. We will be keeping a close eye on this project and will update you if anything new happens. 

Lindsey Hutchinson: lindsey@willametteriverkeeper.org

WILLAMETTE RIVERKEEPER

GEAR LIBRARY

A GREAT WAY TO GIVE!

We are soliciting gear from a range of sources,

including you! Consider donating this year!

GEAR WE WILL CONSIDER: canoes, paddles, PFDs, tents, sleeping pads, sleeping bags, lighting, kitchen set ups, dry bags, camp chairs, rain layers, water containers and more.

Gear should be in good or great condition.

We would like to create a low barrier for entry for folks who have a bit of experience, but have not ever spent the night along the Willamette on their own, and may not perhaps, be able to afford the luxury of proper gear. As of now, we are planning to launch this new project next year for a discreet period of months, while working to keep the costs low. If you have something you would like to donate, please contact Travis Williams.

Thanks in advance for your donations!

VOLUNTEER EVENTS CALENDAR

Join Willamette Riverkeeper for one of our many FREE river trips!

We have river cleanups scheduled throughout the watershed on water and land. WR provides supplies, boats, paddles, and PFDs for those without. We look forward to seeing you on the river!

February 13: Eugene Trashy Thursday -On-water Cleanup - REGISTER

February 17:Corvallis Riverguardians -Land based Cleanup-REGISTER

March 2: Corvallis Riverguardians - Land based Cleanup - REGISTER

March 12:Eugene Trashy Thursday -On-water Cleanup - REGISTER

March 23:Corvallis Riverguardians -Land based Cleanup -REGISTER

April 6:Corvallis Riverguardians -Land based Cleanup - REGISTER

April 20:Earth Day! -visit our Event Calendar for various locations and details.

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