BEND, OR -- With hundreds of people floating the Deschutes through Bend each day, in the summer, more garbage and personal items fall into the river. The Upper Deschutes Watershed Council hosts the annual Deschutes River Cleanup, next month.
In addition to beer bottles and other garbage, Kolleen Miller says they find more and more wallets, bicycles, cell phones and Go Pro video cameras. “The use has increased dramatically, so we’re finding dramatically more garbage in the river itself.” About 160,000 people float the river through Bend each year.
Miller tells KBND News they try to encourage everyone to prevent items from falling into the river, in the first place. “Prepare a little bit more if they are going to float the river, and sort of assess what they’re bringing with them. And either use a dry bag and clip their belongings to their boat or leave their belongings in their car and not take them on the river at all.”
This year’s cleanup is August 6. Volunteers are needed to clean up along river banks. They’re also seeking volunteers with canoes or boats to help scuba divers haul items out of the river.
If you’re interest in helping out, visit the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council’s website.
