ALERT: Sunday's Down the River Cleanup has been canceled due to active wildfireS

September 10, 2022

CLACKAMAS RIVER

Note to Down the River Cleanup Volunteers and Supporters:

As many of you know, Milo McIver Park caught fire shortly after we sent the second Volunteer Update email last night (Friday, September 9). We have tracked the situation closely and decided to cancel the 2022 Down the River Cleanup.

The most obvious reasons are an abundance of caution and deference to the communities along the river, but some other factors include concern with air quality for participants (the air quality index is climbing now) and not stressing the emergency response system (with a possible evacuation from the river if things degrade further). We just couldn’t imagine any other option than canceling the Sunday event.

Now we can turn our thoughts and prayers to all of you living in or near the threatened areas, and hope this fire gets contained and no other outbreaks occur.

We will be in touch later this week about options for still getting the river cleaned up before the fall rains (and obviously not when the river valley is in emergency).

Thanks again for your active service to the river and the larger community.

We will still clean up the river this fall despite the event being canceled. Stay tuned!

INFORMATION BELOW WILL BE REMOVED LATER

Down the River Cleanup is on Sunday, September 11th, 2022.

This annual trash sweep at the end of summer covers a 22 mile stretch of the Clackamas River from Estacada to the confluence with the Willamette River in Oregon City.
The Clackamas Down the River Cleanup is the largest and longest-running on-water cleanup event of its kind in Oregon.
Each year an average of 200 volunteers rally together in rafts, kayaks, SCUBA gear, drift boats and any other safe vessel to scour the stream bed and banks for trash, collecting an average of 2 tons with over half recycled.
Since 2003, over 40 tons of garbage — well over the approximate weight of one gray whale — has been removed from the Clackamas River by more than 4,500 volunteers. We wrap up the day with a free BBQ for all volunteers, complete with music, a raffle, and a silent auction

Volunteer INFORMATION UPDATES

Over 209 people registered!

(at close of registration, midnight, September 9th)

Reminder – ALL VOLUNTEERS

Please fill out the event waiver (two waivers actually: SOLVE and We Love Clean Rivers) and either send it to info@welovecleanrivers.org or bring a printed copy. We will also have copies at registration (takes about 5 minutes or less).
Be prepared for the outdoors! Have sunscreen for exposed skin, a full water bottle, snacks, and a small pack for other items.

REMINDER – On Land Volunteers

We have enough on land volunteers (thank you!).
For those who have registered please look closely at the Updated Schedule below. We value your time commitment and have updated the schedule to clarify arrival times and scope of work.
We will be posting further guidelines/instruction but most instruction will be onsite.

REMINDER – On Water Volunteers (Boaters and Divers)

Top 3 things to remember before you show up to the cleanup

Have your shuttle completed/arranged before you launch on Sunday morning, so give yourself ample time beforehand.
Come prepared for a safe and enjoyable river trip, with proper river gear, water, snack, and footwear appropriate for walking on the rocky beaches and waters of the Clackamas.
Bring your charged cell phone (if you have one) in a zip lock bag or drycase. Odds are one of those devices is going to slip into the water.

When you arrive, you will:

Check in at registration table (near launch in each park)
Submit or fill out your waivers (or you will be checked off if you send them via email: info@welovecleanrivers.org)
Get cleanup supplies – grab gloves if you want them, trash pickers, and bags
Listen to a trip and safety briefing, starting 15 minutes before your launch.
Paddle safely with your group and clean the river.
Have fun!

VOLUNTEER RESOURCES

We require two signed waivers – one from SOLVE, and another from We Love Clean RIvers.
Please read carefully (each are one page) and sign.

We will have paper copies at registration, but if you would like to download, fill out and email to info@welovecleanrivers.org, that is great, too.
Or print and fill out ahead of time and bring to the event – but let us (info@) know as it helps know how many extra copies to print.
It all works! Thank you.

Parking Passes!

Parking Passes have been sent to each volunteer via email. If you did not receive, please check your spam or email matt@welovecleanrivers.org and we will figure it out.

Some quick guidelines:

We will have printed passes at each check-in station for McIver, Barton and Carver Parks (Riverside and Clackamette do not charge for parking).
All vehicles at those fee parks require a pass placed on the dashboard.
You need to preprint OR have the image on your phone to show the entry gate staff at Barton and McIver.
Carver does not have an entry gate, but requires a parking pass.

UPDATED VOLUNTEER SCHEDULE DETAILS

Registration Details

HOW CLEAN CAN A RIVER GET?

JOIN the 2022 DOWN THE RIVER CLEANUP and FIND OUT!

PADDLE, EAT BARBECUE, CALL IT WORK?

The DOWN THE RIVER CLEANUP is FREE - REGISTER NOW!

RESCUE THE RIVER FROM VINYL POOL TOYS!

A whimsical scavenger hunt for found art and garbage!

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LAST CALL! - Registration closes at midnight Friday, September 9, 2022

Or Choose a section below.

On-water Volunteering SECTIONS

On-Land Volunteering LOCATIONS

Event Details & Schedule

Please read the VOLUNTEER ROLES , event schedule, and safety precautions Carefully

Volunteer roles

On-water

On-Water Volunteers are boaters & floaters, swimmers and divers, who comb the shallows, shorelines, sloughs, drift racks, and other areas that potentially collect river litter.

Roles include:

Boater/Floater – the most common and needed volunteer role, bring your own vessel (appropriate for the low flows of late summer – SUPs and sit on tops are great!) and with many hands (and paddles and boats) cleanup the Clackamas.
Safety Kayaker – paddle with a group you know or with other volunteers, and provide back-up and additional eyes on the river. Kayaks can also be great for getting trash stuck in hard to get places on the river.
SCUBA diver – there are still treasures (piles of cans, other things) at the bottom of deep pools. Your skills are greatly needed. Please be certified and bring all of your own equipment!
Snorkel/freediving – all of the above, and free divers are more nimble in the shallows/shoals area. Be familiar with river swimming and use all safety precautions.
Garbage Scow – you know what this means: you have a boat (drift boat, raft, big canoe) that can hold large irregular items (like pieces of docks, appliances, old pieces of metal, etc.).

Participate as an individual or as a group.

on-land

On-Land Volunteers are essential to a cleanup, and are stationed near the boat launch areas in each of the parks.

Roles include:

1. Registration and outfitting – under a canopy tent and in the splendor of a park, check-in On-Water volunteers and outfit them with cleanup gear. Stations at McIver (lower), Barton, Carver, and Riverside
2. Rubbish and Recycling Sorter – be ready for what litter comes your way. Seperate, sort, and profile interesting river litter. Stations at McIver (lower), Barton, Carver, Riverside and Clackamette.
3. Cookout helper – to celebrate the cleanup, help prepare, cook and serve food at the Barton Pavilion. FULL

For all volunteers!

Parking is included with Registration; we will send a printable PDF week of the event to place in your vehicle window (we will have extras at registration, too).

other nonprofits and agencies who want to table!

We welcome other conservation and education nonprofits who want to table at the event. We have plenty of room at the Barton pavilion (and event Headquarters) and ask only that you confirm by email to matt@welovecleanrivers.org and we can discuss timing and details . We are very flexible and grateful for your contribution to the event!

Event Sites

Milo McIver State Park (lower boat ramp) – 24101 S Entrance Rd, Estacada, OR
Barton Park – 19009 S Barton Park Rd, Boring, OR
Carver Park – 14888 S Springwater Rd, Oregon City, OR
Riverside Park – 17298 SE Water Ave, Clackamas, OR
Clackamette Park- 1955 Clackamette Dr, Oregon City, OR

Shuttling & Parking

Please note that when you register, you have the option to choose one of the sections or parks for your volunteer role. The morning of the cleanup, you will go directly to the launch (put in) area or land based station for check-in.
For river volunteers, please make sure to arrange YOUR OWN SHUTTLE.
Parking is free at each of the parks for registered volunteers. Parking passes will be distributed via email the week prior to the event.

Basic Event Schedule (click here for schedule details)

8:00 – 9:00 AM Volunteers check in at designated stations. Shuttles for paddlers should be completed by 10am at the latest.

9:00 AM – 3:00 PM Down the River Cleanup! Take your time. Look for all the litter, and perhaps find a treasure.

3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Free COOKOUT at Barton Park for all registered volunteers.
Local food, beverages from Oregon City Brewing, rockin’ music and a Raffle.

*Depending on section you choose to float, total time may be more than 3 hours; be prepared to plan your shuttle and start accordingly.

Safety precautions

Safety is of our utmost concern. We work hard to provide you with helpful info during the day of the event – however, this information is advisory only. There is an inherent risk in boating on a river and cleaning up debris, and you assume all risks.

On-river volunteers must absolutely be a confident class II+ boater and be equipped with your own boat, paddle(s), life vest, whistle, helmet, and cellphone. Plan to work together, with other boats, and help as needed.