BEND, OR -- It’s no secret the Deschutes River gets a lot of use; what is not as obvious is how much trash and damage is done. Beer bottles, cell phones, wallets, cameras, bicycles, and even a safe have been found at the bottom of the river channel in Bend.
The Upper Deschutes Watershed Council’s 19th annual Stream Stewardship Day is Saturday, and Kolleen Yake invites everyone to get involved. “Basically the goal is to get as many people out and on and along the river in order to remove in-stream debris from the river itself. Also to pick up litter along the riparian area and remove invasive weeds also from along the riparian area."
Yake tells KBND, “I think last year we had over a hundred large lawn bags of garbage as well as weeds and litter it’s great to get it out of there but it’s very frustrating that it’s in there in the first place.”
River cleanup begins at 10 a.m. at RiverBend Park. Coffee and breakfast foods will be served, then crews will hit the riverbanks. You can also bring your boat if you’d like to help divers in the river. Cleanup will wrap up around 1 p.m. and then door prizes will be awarded from corporate sponsors.
