The river’s waiting. Siletz go!

The MidCoast Watersheds Council will host the annual Siletz River cleanup day on Saturday, April 1, with the event resuming after a three-year hiatus.

The festivities will start at 9 am, with coffee and doughnuts at Hee Hee Illahee Park, in the town of Siletz. After check-in, volunteers will disperse to different sections of the river to remove trash and debris from the river banks. Once finished, normally around 1 pm, workers will return for a BBQ at Illahee Park.

Volunteers are asked to dress appropriately for the Oregon Coast weather (waterproof boots, rain gear, etc.) and bring some extra work gloves if possible. There is a need for boats that are able to float the river and collect trash; this is a great opportunity for drift boaters to help keep the river scenic. To participate with a boat, call 541-265-9195.

For more than 20 years, local residents, Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, and river users from the coast and Willamette Valley have participated in this event. The Siletz River is an important fishing area, supporting populations of coho salmon, spring chinook, rainbow trout, and steelhead.  The cities of Siletz, Toledo, Newport, and Seal Rock also rely on drinking water from the Siletz River.