Happy June friends!
Wow, it seems like we’ve all been through a bit of a collective whirlwind, but thankfully the long daylight hours, warmer temperatures, and vibrant green along the river have all arrived. In addition to the sweet migratory songbirds along the floodplain, the vibrant wildflowers are bursting forth.
It is with renewed energy and hope that all of us at WR continue to work for the river. From our work in Clean Water Act enforcement and floodplain restoration work, to work to protect and expand floodplain lands and access along the river - we are making great progress!
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As you may know, this month 21 years ago, I started this job. In keeping with longevity, just four years prior WR was established. Starting this month until the end of the year, WR will be celebrating our 25th Anniversary! Heck, a quarter century of work on behalf of the Willamette River’s health has shown some very good results. Stay tuned for ways to celebrate with us - our upcoming Pinot Paddle is full, but stay tuned for details of our Harvest Paddle set for September. While this year will not feature Paddle Oregon due to the impossibility of nailing down the myriad logistics in the many cities and counties the event occurs in, rest assured that we will be set for 2022! |
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Also, we plan to do another long paddle trip to raise awareness of the Willamette this summer. Stay tuned for more details.
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Finally, in working for several months with a local landowner, WR has an opportunity to purchase and permanently protect a nice parcel of floodplain land - and for this we need your support!
Thanks again for all of your support of our work - and thanks to the many of you who took part in our numerous cleanup events the past month. YOU have made a real difference for the Willamette River.
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See you soon!
Travis Williams
Riverkeeper & Executive Director
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Spring For Your River Cleanup Series |
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Thank you to all of our partners and volunteers who participated in one of our 18 cleanup events during the month of May! |
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177 of you joined us for a collective total of 560 hours spent cleaning up our communities. We successfully hauled away 55 yards of trash and 66 needles - great work Oregon!
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Sunset Pride Paddle! On June 10, Willamette Riverkeeper is celebrating Pride in Portland with a sunset paddle around Ross Island. Space is limited - you can find more details and register here.
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Portland Trashy Tuesday is back! We'll be paddling to Ross Island to clean on June 29. Space is limited and advance registration is necessary.
Salem, we're headed your way for once a month cleanups throughout the summer and fall. We're kicking it off at San Salvador Beach on June 22. Sign up here to join!
Trashy Tuesday continues to go strong in Eugene/Springfield. We'll be partnering with the City of Eugene Recreation Team from June to August. You can find more details on our June 8 event here.
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Tune in on June 16 from 6 - 7pm for our Planned Giving Webinar, hosted by Deputy Director, Heather King. More details and registration are available here.
Pinot Paddle 2021 sold out in less than three days, thank you to all who registered! Our waitlist for this event is now closed, however, due to high demand, we've decided to host a similar event, Harvest Paddle, September 11 - 12. Details and registration coming soon!
Mark your calendar for the annual Willamette Riverfest! This free festival is happening August 21 - 28. Click the image below for more details.
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Protecting the Floodplain - Another WR Habitat Acquisition Opportunity! |
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Over the past year, WR has been working with a landowner downstream of Salem on a potential purchase of floodplain habitat. The parcel is about 15.5 acres, and contains numerous wild floodplain trees and shrubs, as well as a regularly inundated backwater with a nice hydrologic connection to the mainstem Willamette. |
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As many of you know, WR owns and stewards property along the Willamette. Over time we’ve purchased these from folks who support our mission, and others we have been donated from those who believe in our cause. Now we have an opportunity to conserve another important property for the long term.
This property will also provide some access from the river to bird watch, enjoy the peace of the forest, or to walk the trail. It is important to us that all of our purchases provide some form of public access from the river.
Our overall goal for the purchase of the Red Osier Reserve, as we are calling it, is $50k. A generous donor has committed funds to match any donations from YOU up to $25k, putting our fundraising goal at $25k. Like our effort last year with Ash Island, which we successfully purchased, this purchase will rely on donations in large part from all of you at every giving level. Our model to date has been successful as we’ve garnered support for such purchases from many of you, whether you can make a special gift of $40, $400, or $4,500 - all of this contributes to our ability to acquire and steward these lands.
So, donate today and mark your gift for Willamette Riverkeeper’s Red Osier Reserve Property. We will keep you appraised of our process and when we reach our goal. Thanks so much for your support!
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From Our Restoration Team:
A Word About Mortality
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Most of us would rather not talk about mortality. Along with the rest of life, the field of habitat restoration is not immune, so there is need to approach the topic deliberately. |
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Our restoration sites are prepared by removing non-native species for 2 – 3 years before planting in a bid to suppress weed pressure and increase the chance of survival. We carefully choose the right spot for each species to help ensure the plants are happy. Planting occurs in the winter and spring when plenty of water usually abounds. We strive for planting densities of 1800 – 2000 stems per acre with the knowledge that some mortality will occur. And 3 – 5 years of “plant establishment” is conducted in areas that we have planted, nomenclature for selective weed abatement until our young natives are large enough to outcompete non-native species. Despite this diligence, some mortality is bound to occur.
It is so much more cheerful talk about the 79,000 native trees and shrubs that Willamette Riverkeeper planted at the Gail Achterman Wildlife Area and Willamette Mission State Park this winter. Yet our grant application metrics consider survival rates above 80% as “successful”. Mortality studies and interplanting are tools we have to work with figuring out how to solve issues with soil conditions, deer browse, drought, species choice, and competition, along with a host of other factors.
This year the largest factor is drought. When we planted our natives, the ground was wonderfully wet. Each passing sunny day may warm your soul, but for our native plants the prognosis looks bleak. In a world where climate change looms large, is this the new normal? You can water your garden, but 79,000 well-dispersed natives? The little precipitation we have recently received is barely making it through the tree canopy. So please, join us in a rain dance, pray to the river gods, or do whatever it is that you might to invoke real rain… measured in inches. Otherwise we may need to revisit the plant order numbers for 2023, and hope that year holds a better and wetter spring.
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We are seeking to add 4 people to our team! Job descriptions and information on how to apply are available in the links below.
Restoration Associate - this individual will be involved in all aspects of our Habitat Restoration program and support Willamette Riverkeeper events as needed. Position is open until filled.
- Water Trail Stewardship: Portland Based
- Habitat Restoration: Portland Based
- Upper Watershed Community Engagement: Eugene Based
Each internship will last 6-8 weeks with an average of 3 days/week. Intern applications will be accepted through June 18, 2021.
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Volunteers Still Needed!
Keep Oregon Rivers Clean
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Since launching our Keep Oregon Rivers Clean (KORC) campaign with ODFW this spring, we have installed 10 new tackle recycling stations across the Willamette basin. As a result, many areas have seen less problems with discarded fishing line and hooks, but we still need your help!
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Our campaign has spread up the Willamette watershed, and we are still seeking volunteers for the following sites to clean out a station once a month, then document and send your findings to ODFW. It's super easy, and you'll be helping to promote responsible recreation while getting more plastic and other garbage out of the watershed system.
We need KORC Recycling Station volunteers at:
- Springfield / Clearwater Park
- Springfield / Island Park
- Springfield / Eastgate Woodlands
- Santiam River / Waterloo Campground (x2)
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- Sweethome / Pleasant Valley boat ramp
- Foster Dam / Wiley Creek Park
- Foster Reservoir / Sunnyside Park
- N. Santiam River / Stayton Boat Ramp
- Lyons / John Neal Park
- N. Santiam River / Mehama Boat Ramp
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Shop Willamette Riverkeeper |
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Maps! Did you know that we sell Willamette River maps for all of your on the water adventuring? You can purchase digital copies on the Willamette Water Trail website, as well as paper copies (waterproof of course) of the Lower Willamette River.
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Coffee! We are so excited to be working with Pastor John's Blessed Beans, a locally owned, small batch roaster - Roast #187 is now available for purchase on the Willamette Water Trail website. Named for the 187 miles of the Willamette River, this blend has notes of chocolate, roasted almond, nougat and a touch of stone fruit and is best enjoyed riverside. You can purchase these 2lb. bags for $35!
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Willamette Water Trail Patches, we're selling them for just $5 here!
Coming soon... more Willamette Water Trail gear and dog treats!
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How to Support Willamette Riverkeeper |
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Make a one-time donation or become a monthly donor!
- Are you a business owner? Support Willamette Riverkeeper by becoming a sponsor today!
- Make a donation of stock or Bitcoin.
- Make Willamette Riverkeeper a beneficiary in your will or life insurance policy.
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Contact Heather King for more information about how to offer long term support for Willamette Riverkeeper!
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