Coast Explorer Magazine - The Explorer's Guide to the Oregon Coast and Washington Coast

Related Features

Pelican Post Coast Explorer Cover

Subscribe

Are you a Coast Explorer? Subscribe to Coast Explorer now and don't miss another issue featuring our beautiful photography and design, interesting feature stories and guides to coastal attractions, events, dining, shopping, arts and lodging.

Annual subscriptions (3 issues) now only $15.

SOLV Beach and Riverside Cleanup: A great day for Oregon & SW Washington Presented by the Oregon Lottery

Article Image More than 4,500 volunteers turned out statewide on September 17, despite looming rainclouds, to remove trash and improve watersheds as part of the SOLV Beach & Riverside Cleanup. Volunteers removed an estimated 67,900 pounds of trash, including 1900 pounds recycled, and cleared 12.5 acres of invasive plants such as False Indigo in Umatilla and English ivy in Seaside. Cleanups occurred at 125 sites in Oregon and SW Washington.

"Oregonians made a big difference today in the health of our state," says Melisa McDonald, Executive Director for SOLV. "Volunteers worked on river cleanups along the Deschutes, Columbia, Willamette, Umpqua, Rogue and Wilson Rivers to name a few, as well as removed marine debris from the entire Oregon Coast. Doing double duty to clean up trash from inland sources, before fall rains wash it out to sea and up on our beaches, supports the health of our local waterways, wildlife, people and tourist economies."

Among the most unusual finds were an open safe, half a fishing pole in the Clackamas River, and a pool table, toilet and Volkswagen Bug pulled from Vancouver Lake. Cigarette butts were again the most common item picked up across the state. Cigarette filters are made of a plastic that persists in the environment. "Vancouver, Washington is arguably the cleanest place in the region today with over 500 volunteers having scoured the Columbia River shoreline and Vancouver Lakeside for 8000 pounds of trash," says Rachael Pecore, SOLV Program Coordinator.

The SOLV Beach & Riverside Cleanup is held in conjunction with the International Coastal Cleanup. Over the last 25 years, volunteers in all 50 states and over 100 countries have collected enough cups, plates, forks, knives and spoons to host a picnic for 2 million people.

The SOLV Beach & Riverside Cleanup is presented by the Oregon Lottery. Additional sponsors include Sustaining Sponsors - Metro, Coordinating Sponsors – Local Coast Haulers, and the Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation, Major Sponsors - AAA of Oregon/Idaho, Alaskan Brewing/Columbia Distributing, Chevron Company, Fred Meyer, Portland General Electric, and Wells Fargo, Media Sponsor – KPOJ, Supporting Sponsors - Clean Water Services, IBM, Pacific Power, and TLC Federal Credit Union, Site Sponsors - Resnick, Ruediger, Castner, Clark and Associates, Ameriprise Financial and the City of Yachats. The following local coast haulers donate their services: Central Coast Disposal, City Sanitary, County Transfer & Recycling, Curry Transfer & Recycling, Dahl Disposal, Les' Sanitary, Nestucca Valley Sanitary Service, North Lincoln Sanitary Service, Southern Oregon Sanitation, Thompson's Sanitary Service, Tillamook County Solid Waste and Western Oregon Waste.
Share/Bookmark

 
  • Published in: Online Extras Fall/Winter 2011