2026 Great Willamette Cleanup – Eugene: River House to Beltline (On Water)

Event Basics: Join Willamette Riverkeeper and the River House Outdoor Center for a paddling cleanup effort along the Willamette River through Eugene. We will start at the River House Outdoor Center, pick up trash along two miles of the river, and take out at the Beltline Bridge. We will be collecting trash from both the waterway and the adjacent riverbanks, so volunteers should be prepared to get wet and muddy! Volunteers can reserve a seat in one of our rafts or bring along their own boats.

After the cleanup, we hope that you'll join us for a volunteer appreciation party at 1:30pm in Eugene (location TBD) featuring drinks, light food, and a free raffle for all volunteers.

When & Where: Saturday, October 10th, 2026 | 8:30am - 12:40pm

Please meet at the River House Outdoor Center (301 North Adams Street) by 8:30am. Please park personal vehicles along North Adams Street (around the corner) rather than on Sycamore Ave (directly in front of the River House building) – see the map on the right for details.

We will leave personal vehicles at the River House and paddle down to the Beltline Bridge takeout as a group. A City of Eugene bus will provide shuttle transportation back to the put-in at the end of the day. If you are bringing your own boat, we will be able to transport your watercraft back on top of our raft trailer.

What to Bring:

• Sturdy, closed-toe shoes that you are comfortable getting dirty and wet.
• Sunscreen, drinking water, and layers that are appropriate for the weather.

Additional Details:

• Willamette Riverkeeper and our partners will provide cleanup equipment (trash bags, gloves, grabbers, etc.) and personal floatation devices (life jackets) for this event. PFDs are required and must be worn at all times.
• No paddling or cleanup experience is necessary to participate in this event. Rafts will be operated by experienced staff from the River House Outdoor Center. We will conduct a thorough safety briefing prior to getting out on the water and distributing cleanup supplies.
• Children (ages 10+) are welcome to participate in this event, given that they are accompanied by a parent/guardian who is authorized to sign their participation waiver.
• If you are bringing your own boat, please be proficient paddling in Class II moving water -- there are multiple small rapids to navigate on this river segment.

Questions? Reach out to event coordinator Luke Stuntz at luke@willametteriverkeeper.org or 617-834-8727.

Willamette Riverkeeper thanks all of our amazing partners for supporting the 2026 Great Willamette Cleanup!

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