Each year, the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council organizes volunteers to clean out the river and riverbanks at six different sites. Last year, about 300 volunteers removed approximately 2,500 pounds of garbage and invasive weeds.
The Watershed Council’s Education and Development Director Kolleen Yake says the popularity of the river is taking a toll.
“There’s been a devastating amount of stream bank degradation caused by people and dogs getting in and out of the river, destroying vegetation and then, when there’s no vegetation, the soils are volcanic and highly erosive, so they just slide right into the water creating turbidity, which leads to sedimentation.” Yake says the public should use hardened platforms designed for people to access the river.
The Watershed Council is also concerned with the amount of sunscreen washing into the river. The Bend Park and Recreation District says more than 250,000 people float the river in tubes, paddleboards, kayaks and other floatation devices between Memorial and Labor Days.
“That’s a lot of sunscreen,” Yake says. “Most people are likely not using reef-safe sunscreen, so there is significant impact from the chemicals in sunscreen to fish and fish eggs and aquatic insects. That’s something we’re looking into…and (we) want people to start to choose reef safe sunscreen or put it on an hour before rather than two minutes before getting in the river.”
This is the 30th year for the Deschutes River Cleanup at Farewell Bend Park, Riverbend Park, First Street Trail, LaPine State Park, Sunriver and Tumalo State Park which will be July 11. Volunteers are needed to walk along the banks picking up trash and pulling invasive weeds as well as divers and paddlers to enter the river collecting garbage. Yake says more paddlers are needed as well as volunteers at Tumalo and LaPine State Parks.
This year, crews will clean Mirror Pond as well, for the first time in 15 years. “The focus will be along the boardwalk area where we’ve heard the bulk of the garbage ends up,” Yake explains.
The most common trash include flipflops, water bottles, cans and cell phones.
“Last year, I think there were nine cell phones,” Yake says. “The year before, we did find two guns in a gun case. In past years we found bikes and chairs. One year we found a wood stove, which was strange.”
Yake says the weeds being removed include tufted vetch, spotted knapweed and bull thistle. “Also, we did find some orange hawkweed which is a bummer because that’s one of the really bad ones that Deschutes County has identified as one of their top offenders. We did see a couple infestations along the stream in the Old Mill District,” she says.
The event is also educational with environmental experts on hand to talk about the health of the river. Families with children are welcome to volunteer and encouraged to dress in long pants and boots. Gloves are available onsite along with snacks and coffee provided by Strictly Organic. Paddlers must have a water use permit required by the Oregon State Marine Board. A volunteer appreciation gathering will be held afterward at the Watershed Council office above Tumalo Creek Kayak.
While the annual cleanup is an important step in maintaining a healthy river, Yates says everyday choices have the biggest impact. “Whether you’re on a paddle board or on a trail or on a bike, your mode of recreation might be that you are making choices with good stewardship in mind…making sure you secure your belongings and not bringing a big pack of beer that might end up in the river. Having something to secure your sunglasses so they don’t end up in the river. Probably not bringing your cell phone. So just thinking about your recreation choices with regards to not littering and with regards to impact to the river or the stream bank or the trail.”
Deschutes River Cleanup
Sat, July 11 9am-1pm
Six locations
Register: upperdeschuteswatershedcouncil.org/deschutes-river-cleanup/
MAKE LOCAL JOURNALISM HAPPEN
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
