JANUARY RIVERSCAPE

Hello Willamette Friends!

I hope your 2024 is off to a good start. 

Thanks to the great many of you who support our work, and who made a financial contribution at year end. We really appreciate it, and as I’ve written before - You all make a huge difference in our ability to hold the line for healthy habitat, clean water, and river access!

In the coming weeks we will be providing more information about our plans for the year ahead, from the opening our Gear Library, to a range of field trips and talks about river issues, research, and advocacy throughout the Willamette basin. 

We will also be featuring some new low cost/free paddling opportunities to better enable people to see and experience the Willamette River with us, and on their own. 

Thanks so much again for your support, and here’s to a great 2024!

Willamette Slough at Minto Brown Island Park

As the seasons change, so does the landscape.

With 2023 coming to an end, we also wrapped up our restoration work on Willamette Slough at Minto Brown Island Park.

You may remember this project consisted of four consecutive years of treatment for the ODA listed aquatic invasive species Ludwigia, that once covered the slough. It also included terrestrial treatments of invasives like reed canary grass and blackberry. Last winter we planted 12,850 native trees and shrubs along the riparian corridor adjacent to the slough, and in December we interplanted 2,600 native wetland rush and grass plugs. Some species included common rush, dagger leaf rush, small-fruited bulrush and others, thanks to Seven Oaks Nursery and our contractors Integrated Resource Management.

Willamette Riverkeeper and the City of Salem had a wonderful time partnering together on this project and shared some incredible successes at this site. One of the biggest highlights is how much support we received from the community on our efforts and the numerous opportunities we had for education and outreach with the public on why this work is so important and impactful to our watershed. We look forward to future partnerships with the City of Salem!

We want to say a huge thank you to Meyer Memorial Trust and Bonneville Power Administration for funding this project and to all our partners involved along the way. As the planting season begins, our restoration work continues at both Willamette Mission State Park and Gail Achterman Wildlife Area. Thanks to the Bonneville Environmental Foundation, we have 56,200 native trees and shrubs ready to be installed between both project sites this winter. While it has been wonderful to catch up on some office work with reporting and future planning, we look forward to getting our feet wet and our boots back on the ground as the season ramps up.

Contributed by: Vanessa Youngblood

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 3: Corvallis Riverguardians - Land based Cleanup - REGISTER

February 10: Corvallis Riverguardians - Land based Cleanup - Coming Soon!

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

February 24: Corvallis Riverguardians - Land based Cleanup -Coming Soon!

March 9: Corvallis Riverguardians - Land based Cleanup - Coming Soon!

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

March 23: Corvallis Riverguardians - Land based Cleanup - Coming Soon!

April 6: Corvallis Riverguardians - Land based Cleanup - Coming Soon!

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