Your Float Matters
Every summer, thousands of people head to the Clackamas River to float, paddle, swim, and spend time with family and friends. It’s one of the best ways to experience the beauty of the watershed.
What if every one of those trips also helped protect the river?
Stewardship doesn’t always mean spending an entire day volunteering. Sometimes it’s as simple as packing out what you bring, picking up a few pieces of litter along the way, or encouraging a friend to do the same.
Imagine the impact.
If just one out of every ten groups floating the Clackamas picked up three pieces of litter, thousands of pieces of trash would be removed from the river every summer.
A Different Way to Float
For one group of friends, a day on the Clackamas looks a little different. Tina, Erin and their friends have been cleaning the Clackamas River for years. They float the river, enjoy the cool water and warm breeze, and pick up what they can along the way.
Nearly every week during the summer, they launch at Barton Park and float to Carver while collecting litter along the way. Armed with grabbers, bags, and plenty of enthusiasm, they remove everything from beverage cans and plastic bottles to abandoned inflatables and fishing line before those items can travel farther downstream.
The Clackamas River Basin Council provides Stash the Trash bags, but it’s the River Ambassadors who provide the dedication. Week after week, they choose to spend part of their recreation time caring for a river they love.
They still enjoy the float.
They simply leave the river a little better than they found it.
The River Ambassador Challenge
On your next trip:
✔ Bring a small trash bag or mesh Stash the Trash bag.
✔ Pack out everything you bring with you.
✔ Pick up three pieces of found litter if it’s safe.
✔ Encourage someone else to do the same.
Small actions create lasting change.
Why Keeping the River Clean Matters
The Clackamas River is much more than a summer destination.
It provides drinking water for more than 300,000 people and supports salmon, steelhead, Pacific lamprey, osprey, beavers, and countless other species that depend on clean water and healthy habitat.
When litter is left behind, it doesn’t simply disappear. Wind and rain carry it downstream, wildlife can become entangled in it or mistake it for food, and plastic slowly breaks into smaller pieces that become increasingly difficult to remove.
Every piece of litter removed from the river is one less item affecting the places people come to enjoy and the species that call the Clackamas home.
Click here to see some of the native plants and wildlife that call the Clack home.
Plan Your Float with Stewardship in Mind
Every great river trip begins with a plan.
As you’re exploring the Clackamas Water Trail, use the interactive float maps to choose the section of river that’s right for your group, estimate your time on the water, and locate access points before you leave home.
Before launching, take a few minutes to review the safety information and river etiquette guidelines. Understanding the conditions and knowing what to expect helps create a safer experience for everyone on the river.
Then add one more thing to your packing list—a Stash the Trash bag.
It takes almost no extra effort, but it can make a lasting difference.
Join the Movement
The River Ambassadors are proving that stewardship can be part of every river adventure, and they’re not alone.
Each year, hundreds of volunteers come together during the Down the Clackamas River Cleanup and the Upper Clackamas River Cleanup to remove thousands of pounds of litter from one of Oregon’s favorite rivers. These events demonstrate what’s possible when a community works together toward a common goal.
Whether you join an organized cleanup or simply pick up a few pieces of litter during your next float, you’re helping protect the Clackamas River for everyone who enjoys it today—and for future generations.
Want to do more?
Join a community cleanup event, bring a friend on your next stewardship float, or simply make it a habit to leave the river a little cleaner than you found it. Every action counts.
Join the Movement
The Clackamas River gives us so much—cool water on a hot summer day, unforgettable adventures, places to gather with friends and family, and a connection to nature that keeps us coming back year after year.
The next time you launch onto the river, consider taking one extra step to give something back.
Bring a trash bag. Pick up a few pieces of litter. Set an example for the people floating beside you.
Stewardship doesn’t have to be complicated.
Sometimes it starts with one float, one person, and one simple decision to leave the river better than you found it.
Thank you to Tina Johnson and Erin Holland for providing the photos in this post!
About the Author:
Amy Barton is the Communications & Development Manager for the Clackamas River Basin Council (CRBC).
CRBC is a nonprofit watershed council that works to restore and protect the Clackamas River.
Photos used in this post were taken by Amy while recreating on the Clackamas River.
