Tualatin Riverkeepers

Longer stretches of warm days, along with healthier rivers, have led to a significant increase in recreationists on the Tualatin and Willamette Rivers. Thanks to support from the Oregon State Marine Board and Oregon Parks And Recreation Department, TRK and Willamette Riverkeeper are working to make our rivers safer as we continue to protect them. Thanks to our friends at OPB for covering this important issue. https://lnkd.in/gn_fTXg3

A huge thanks to the more than 40 employees of Brew Dr. Kombucha who joined us today at Dirksen Nature Park in City of Tigard. This company models what it takes to create a thriving, equitable, and sustainable community and watershed. Cheers to you, friends!

We have considerable work ahead on the advocacy front, and we’re so incredibly pleased that these efforts will be led by such a talented, passionate individual. Congratulations Eve!

We have considerable challenges in our work to protect and restore the Tualatin River watershed, but we're buoyed by the partnership of so many friends. Thanks to everyone who joined us at Alpaca Farm and Gardens on Saturday for our Green Heron fundraiser, helping to raise nearly $50,000 in support of our work. Congratulations to longtime member and volunteer Jeff Kohne on receiving the Green Heron Award and to Explore Tualatin Valley, our 2024 River Champion! Special thanks to all of our sponsors, including Clean Water Services, Alaska Airlines, Intel Corporation, NW Cannabis, BinaryBrew, Heritage Bank NW, and Metro.

Our members and partners in the Tualatin Valley and our region are critical to our work to protect and restore our watershed, but did you know that we’re only a small part of a global movement? Our Staff Attorney and Riverkeeper, Eve Goldman, and Executive Director, Glenn Fee, traveled to Milwaukee last week for the Waterkeeper Alliance Global Conference, joining 200 colleagues from as far away as Senegal, Ecuador, and Nepal. We learned quite a bit from our talented Alliance partners, including legal tools to help ensure clean water, working more effectively with local officials, and engaging community stakeholders in our advocacy work. Perhaps most valuable was the renewed energy and commitment to our work in the Tualatin Valley knowing that passionate individuals from around the globe are fighting alongside us for clean water. We’re honored to be a part of the Waterkeeper movement, and we look forward to increased collaboration with our local and regional Waterkeeper groups, including Columbia Riverkeeper, Willamette Riverkeeper, and Puget Soundkeeper. A huge thanks to our friends at Milwaukee Riverkeeper for being the best hosts imaginable.

From urban growth pressures to agricultural practices to impacts from climate change, the Tualatin River watershed faces complex pressures. Tualatin Riverkeepers is committed to working with our partners to protect this watershed, and our annual Green Heron Gala is our opportunity to highlight everything worth protecting. Please join us October 5 at Alpaca Farm and Gardens in Hillsboro for an evening featuring the best that our watershed has to offer - from food to wine and beer to incredible auction packages and the people who make it all so special. We're excited to honor longtime TRK volunteer Jeff Kohne with our Green Heron Award and our good friends at Explore Tualatin Valley with our River Champion Award. Many thanks to our River Otter sponsors - Clean Water Services, Alaska Airlines, Intel Corporation, and Northwest Cannabis - and our table sponsors. We're incredibly grateful for the winery and farm owners, artists, and conservationists in our watershed whose contributions will help make this an incredibly evening. Individual tickets and table sponsorships are still available! Come join us on October 5 at Alpaca Farm and Gardens! https://lnkd.in/gHsQiVEC

CPAH's Youth Summer Program wrapped up on a high note this month with a fun end-of-summer party, bringing together youth and their families to celebrate a summer full of fun. This summer, the youth at three CPAH properties engaged weekly in a wide range of activities from July through August. Special learning activities were made possible by our partners' support: Play Fit Fun , Tualatin Riverkeepers, and Grow Portland. #summerprogram #communitysupport #youthempowerment

“The nearby landowners and residents did incredible work to express why this proposed ordinance was a poor decision and to galvanize additional Washington County residents and organizations,” added TRK Executive Director Glenn Fee. “Development pressures in the county are at an all-time high and land use decisions must be made in concert with protections of natural resources and threatened species like salmonids. We’re pleased by a growing coalition of family farm owners, recreationists, and residents who are committed to protecting what makes living in Washington County so special.” Through the leadership of 1000 Friends of Oregon and a dedicated group of Washington County landowners, LUBA has overturned Washington County Ordinance 882. Read more from 1000 Friends.....

Tualatin Riverkeepers is a proud member of the Waterkeeper Alliance. Resources and support from Waterkeeper and the 311 members of our global alliance keep us focused and energized on keeping plastics and emerging contaminants out of the Tualatin River watershed and beyond. ?? ?? ??

This lovely stretch of upcoming weather has us excited for prime paddling season, but a smidge of rain never stops our work or preparation! We hosted three great events over the weekend - a habitat restoration with Lam Research employees on Friday, a rescue training for our paddle trip volunteers Saturday, and an exciting paddle on the not-so-calm Lower Tualatin Sunday. Be sure to refresh our event calendar (tualatinriverkeepers.org) for upcoming paddles, projects, and trainings. Happy Spring!