Stewardship Activities
River Guardians Monthly Trashy Tuesday
Tuesday, August 24 | 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Join City of Eugene Recreation and Willamette Riverkeeper for our monthly River Guardians Trashy Tuesday as we give back to our mighty Willamette River! Bring your own boat or reserve a seat in ours and help clear trash from the islands and riverbanks in Eugene.
Trashy Tuesday by land with Nearby Nature
Tuesday, August 24 | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Join Nearby Nature for a casual riverside litter patrol on foot! Plan to walk about two miles up and down the north riverside of the Whilamut Natural Area, and Alton Baker Park picking up trash.
Restoration Tours of Green Island
Wednesday, August 25 | 9 – 11 a.m. & 6 – 8 p.m.
Visit Green Island and explore an area where McKenzie River Trust has given the Willamette river room to move and supported renewal of the floodplain forest by planting over a million trees and shrubs! We will explore this large-scale restoration project and discuss the great public and ecological benefits provided by this type of work. Space is limited and registration is required.
Whilamut Restoration Day
Thursday, August 26 | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
It’s Stewardship Day at the Willamette River Festival! Choose between projects in both Eugene or Springfield, and make a difference for YOUR river! Please join the City of Eugene Parks & Open Spaces and Nearby Nature to mulch native treesvin the riparian areas near Knickerbocker Bridge in the Whilamut Natural Area, or, join Willamalane Parks and Recreation District to help “free the trees” of English ivy in the Eastgate Woodlands, meeting at Aspen Street boat ramp.
Wastewater Treatment Plant Tours (and more)
Tuesday, August 24 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Thursday, August 26 | 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Where does your water go? Ever wonder what happens to your dirty water after it circles the drain or toilet? Take a tour of the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission (MWMC) Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant to learn how wastewater is cleaned and returned to the Willamette River. The MWMC is a proud sponsor of the Willamette River Festival and excited to offer two free tours during the festival week.
Please register for your preferred tour time – MWMC staff will follow up with additional details at least one business day prior to your scheduled tour.
Questions? Please contact michelle@willametteriverkeeper.org or 541-913-4318.
Nearby Nature NatureQuest: If Stones Could Talk
Saturday, August 28 | 12 – 4 p.m. – staggered starts, registration required
Enjoy self-led family nature exploration in our Learnscape outdoor classroom. Check in with our staff at the start of your family’s 45 min reserved time slot to receive instructions, and then set off in our safe and exciting outdoor classroom to check out Willamette River fossils, learn Kalapuya words, and create rock art! Materials in both Spanish and English. Follow up your Learnscape time by visiting a Kalapuya Talking Stone (or several Talking Stones!) in the park. Map provided. Pre-registration is required!
Explore the Birds of Green Island
Saturday, August 28 | 7 – 9 a.m. & 9 – 11 a.m.
Discover the birds of Green Island, McKenzie River Trust’s 1,100-acre property just downstream of the confluence of the Willamette and the McKenzie rivers. Volunteer bird experts will be your guides to this landscape, which MRT has been restoring to enhance habitat for fish and wildlife and the active floodplain since 2003. The property is home to hundreds of birds. Bring your binoculars! This tour is open to all skill levels. Only an interest in nature is necessary. Space is limited and registration is required.