Sunday, September 8th, 2019

Down the River Clean Up on Oregon’s Clackamas River

In partnership with the Clackamas River Basin Council

Do you happen to love this river as much as we do?

If you have ever fallen in love with this or any river, we invite you to join us for this spectacular day of organized chaos where 300+ river-lovers jump in their rafts, kayaks, drift boats – or maybe even dawn a snorkel mask – uniting to scour the banks and bottom of 20+ miles of riverway from Milo McIver Park to Clackamette Park where the Clackamas empties into the Willamette.

Get wet, do the Truffle Shuffle, race your neighbor to extract the biggest hulking piece of rusted dilapidated trash you’ve ever seen and help restore the Clackamas back to its pristine state! We will thank you. The salmon will thank you.

The annual Down the River Clean Up is an on-the-river, 20+ mile clean up made possible by a rich network of river recreationalists, outdoor companies, environmental organizations, government entities, local community leaders, and hopefully you!

A total of 4,411 community members and volunteers have joined together each year for the past 16 years to remove over 39 tons of trash from the Clackamas River (47% of which was recycled!). Our dream is to create a community where everyone loves their rivers as much as we do and that some day, we can throw a party on the river without having to clean it up.

The Clackamas River is home to old-growth forests, bird species, steelhead, and is one of the last remaining wild salmon runs in the lower Columbia basin. While the river provides healthy habitat for wildlife, it also supplies the Portland metropolitan area with fresh drinking water. Due to the bounty, beauty, and close proximity to urban areas, the Clackamas River has become known for attracting recreationalists of all kinds, including kayakers, rafters, tubers, anglers, and more. The high-use of the river and its nearness to cities, unfortunately, brings in pollutants and unwarranted litter.

Join us in turning restoration into recreation! Visit the links to the right for detailed event information and volunteer roles.

For more ideas on things you can do to help protect the watershed year-round, please visit the Clackamas River Basin Council’s Fact Sheets.

If you are interested in sponsoring or donating auction items for the 2019 Down the River Cleanup, please contact Alix Danielsen at alix@welovecleanrivers.org.

Join us in turning restoration into recreation!

For more information about volunteer roles and event details, see information below.

Event Details & Schedule

Event Sites

Transportation & Parking

Please note that when you register, you have the option to choose one of four parks for your volunteer role (listed below). The morning of the cleanup, you will go directly to the park you registered at for check-in.

Please make sure to arrange YOUR OWN TAKE-OUT SHUTTLE VEHICLE. We recommend carpooling as parking is limited. Parking is free at each of the parks for volunteers. Parking passes will be distributed via email the week prior to the event.

The Day's Schedule

Safety

Safety is of our utmost concern. We work hard to provide you with helpful info, safety volunteers, and professional medical response services 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 (seats available on boats if needed – email alix@welovecleanriver.org), paddle(s), life vest, whistle, helmet, and cellphone. Garbage scows/driftboats will be on each section of the river to help haul your collected trash out (bags will be provided for collection). 

Food/Drink

Please eat a hearty breakfast, bring lots of snacks, and a water bottle! An amazing BBQ will be provided for FREE for volunteers after the cleanup. See schedule above.

Lavatories

Restrooms are available at all 5 parks. We recommend that you use one before you head down the river!

Become a Sponsor

Please consider supporting this fun, educational, and community-driven effort to restore and clean our Clackamas River by becoming a sponsor of this year’s Down the River Cleanup! We have sponsor levels listed below, and are seeking item donations for our silent auction to be held at the volunteer BBQ. Thank you for your consideration!

For all inquiries, please contact Alix Danielsen by email: alix@welovecleanrivers.org. Thank you!

2019 Sponsor Levels

Clackamas Champion – $1,000
– Space for 12×12 booth at event (optional/booth must be supplied)

– Recognition at post-clean up BBQ as title sponsor; opportunity for additional day of signage

– Logo on day of event signage (4 different parks), WLCR website, event poster, and postcards

– Buzz through WLCR social media channels

Clackamas Partner – $500

– Space for 12×12 booth at event (optional/booth must be supplied)

– Logo on day of event signage (4 different parks), WLCR website, event poster, and postcards
Buzz through WLCR social media channels

Please note: sponsorship levels are are determined by the total sum of cash and/or in-kind contributions.

BOOTH SPACE AVAILABLE to non-profits and partner agencies. Please contact Alix Danielsen at alix@welovecleanrivers.org for more information.

We Love Clean Rivers, Inc. is an Oregon non-profit and has been approved for tax-exempt status under section 501(c)3 of the Federal Tax Code. Some of your sponsorship may be tax-deductible.  Please consult with your tax professional concerning deductibility of your sponsorship.

 

Wow – many hands make light work! Thanks to all of our amazing past sponsors, in kind supporters, and donors. We couldn’t make this event a success without you. We Love Clean Rivers and the Clackamas River Basin Council truly appreciate and thank the following organizations:

Volunteer Roles

On-Land Volunteer Positions

On-Water Volunteer Positions