“Silver Creek, in Silver Falls State Park. A key tributary to the Pudding River system.” | |
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Hello Folks -
While it has been a cold couple of weeks for Northwest Oregon, the increasing daylight and emerging flowers point to a new season soon to come. Growing up in NW Oregon, as kids we used to convert the sang "April showers bring May flowers," to April showers bring May
showers.” Attempted humor aside, we’ve been busy at work to protect and restore the Willamette River and its tributaries.
WR has been working hard in the short legislative session to combat bad bills (such as the recent effort to turn back the law limiting wake surf boats), and we’ve continued to advance work in regard to the Portland Harbor Superfund cleanup. The past month has also been a time of planting, with WR’s team planting tens of thousands of new plants at multiple restoration sites to bolster healthy habitat along the Willamette floodplain. This an other work will continue over the
next month.
I want to highlight an Open House we are having at our WR Canoe Garage in Oregon City on April 13. We invite folks to drop by and say hello at our curious home-base which holds mostly gear, as well as our rudimentary office space. We will have some snacks and drinks for
folks to enjoy from 2-6 that day. Come on by and say hello, and hear a bit about our work in the year ahead!
Finally, we have a matching gift you can read about below. This works takes good people, and our good people need your support. I encourage you to help us meet this match. Two anonymous donors will match your donations up to $25,000 this month, so this is our Spring to Action drive to raise these funds! Our Spring to Action campaign is working to raise $75k this month.
WR holds the line for the river through our blend of Advocacy, Education, Legal Action, Land Acquisition, and Scientific Inquiry. We make a difference, and YOU enable us to do that.
Thank you for your interest and support!
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Travis Williams
Riverkeeper & Executive Director
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SAVE THE DATE!
PINOT PADDLE 2024 | |
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The Willamette Valley, Oregon's largest wine region, brings the perfect balance of temperature, humidity, soil and river recreation. We are excited to announce that Willamette Riverkeeper will hold its 5th Annual Pinot Paddle the weekend of July 13th - 14th, 2024! Experience a weekend of world-class wines and paddling two days on a celebrated National Water Trail: our very own Willamette River!
WHEN: Saturday & Sunday, July 13th-14th 2024
WHERE: Salem to St Paul, on the Willamette Water Trail and camping out on Grand Island in Oregon, covering 28 beautiful river miles in two days!
Click here to learn more!
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MATCHING GIFT OPPORTUNITY | "Rainbows on the Willamette" | |
Recently two anonymous donors to WR have pledged a $25k matching gift. For every dollar you give in support of our work, they will match it up to $25,000 during the month of March! We have a fundraising
goal of $75k this month, which is our Spring to Action Campaign!
Help us meet this match, and keep our advocacy, education, and restoration going by making a gift Today!
You can click the button below, or send a tax-deductible gift to our Oregon City address, 1210 Center Street, Oregon City, OR 97045. WR can also receive gifts of stock, or property to meet this goal.
Our work is absolutely necessary, so help us meet this match TODAY!
Thank you!
Contributed by: Travis Williams
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Join us on April 13th for an
OPEN HOUSE! at our Oregon City Canoe Garage.
Yes, you read that right, Canoe Garage. You see, during COVID we realized that instead of a large office that we didn’t use much, and a range of dispersed sites for our canoes and other gear, that it made more sense to find a location where we could house our canoes, power boat, van and other gear that is central to our work. Further, we do not need the amount of office space we formerly had, so we could downscale on that end.
Located in a former Mechanics Garage, the Canoe Garage is simple, functional, and interesting if you like river gear old and new. For those canoe aficionados, there may be a craft or two that you find
interesting!
Join us from 2-6pm at 1210 Center Street, Oregon City, OR!. We will have snacks and beverages. Given one of our bay doors will be open, dress for the weather that day. Travis will highlight some of our work for the coming year a couple of times during the event. Hope to see you April 13!
Parking Note - There is on street parking all around, and a paid parking lot on the other side of the block. Speaking of Block, the Block 14 Food carts are a minute and a half walk from the Canoe Garage and provide a great option for lunch or dinner, with a full bar in their building. So, get lunch then come of over, and grab dinner on your way out.
Contributed by: Travis Williams
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RIVER DISCOVERY BRIDGE & PORTLAND HARBOR PADDLE!
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"Aerial of the Willamette River, downtown Portland." | |
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Join Willamette Riverkeeper for the first River Discovery Paddle Trip of 2024! This paddle is scheduled for March 16th in Portland and it is one of our classic River Discovery trips. We will paddle ~10 miles through the city and under the bridges while welcoming spring. Along the way we will learn about the on-going challenges our Willamette River faces and the progress that has been made from our Executive Director, Travis Williams. For more information about the trip, required skills and equipment needs please go to our event registration page REGISTER HERE
Contributed by: Annette Pearson
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PADDLING FILM FESTIVAL
2024 WORLD TOUR
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Tickets on sale soon! Join Willamette Riverkeeper and Oregon Paddle Sports for our first-ever Paddling Film Festival at WildCraft Cider Works in Eugene on Thursday, May 10th, 6-9PM.
Paddling Film Festival is an international adventure film tour presenting the world’s best paddling films of the year – whitewater, sea kayaking, canoeing, SUP, action and lifestyle – in more than 120 cities and towns across Canada, United States and around the world. With 29 inspiring paddling films shortlisted for the World Tour, including the 11 festival category winners, audiences will see hairy whitewater action, sea kayakers exploring remote coastlines, northern river canoe expeditions, international river travel films, motivating environmental documentaries and grueling kayak fishing battles.
In addition to the movie action, participants can also choose to enjoy award winning ciders and non-alcholic beverages brewed locally at WildCraft Cider Works. Silent auction and door prizes too!
Tickets can be purchased online starting March 15th at www.willametteriverkeeper.org.
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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!
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
April9:Eugene Trashy Thursday -On-water Cleanup - REGISTER
April 20:Earth Day! -visit our Event Calendar for various locations and details.
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