The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will join forces with other conservation-minded individuals Saturday, April 4 to clean up the Alsea River. The day-long clean-up is set to begin at 8:30 a.m. at the U.S. Forest Service’s Blackberry Day Use area, located approximately 19 miles east of Waldport on Highway 34. The Alsea Sportsman’s Association and Dahl & Dahl are both event partners for this clean-up, and ODFW is seeking additional volunteers to assist in the effort both by boat and from shore. “We need volunteers to work from the river and others to work from the road, picking up trash along the Alsea River corridor and at popular boat ramps and bank access sites along the river,” said Christine Clapp, ODFW biologist in Newport. Free parking passes will be provided to volunteers for the day. Both drift boats and motor boats are needed. There will be coffee and donuts in the morning and a barbecue in the afternoon. “This is a great and fun way for people to show their support for clean and healthy rivers” said Clapp. The clean-up will focus on the river downstream from Missouri Bend, as river flows allow. Persons willing to bring a boat to the clean-up are asked to RSVP to Christine Clapp by calling her at 541-265-8306, ext. 253 or emailing her at Christine.m.clapp@state.or.us.
