Volunteering and Canoeing with the Tualatin Riverkeepers
July 24th, 2009 by Allison George
Putting in at Munger Farm, Tualatin Riverkeepers
Paddling on the Tualatin River is a fun outdoor recreational opportunity during the summer months, and recently some of the WCVA staff and our guests went on a guided canoe trip on the Tualatin River led by the Tualatin Riverkeepers. If you haven’t heard of the Riverkeepers, they are a terrific community-based nonprofit organization working to protect and restore the Tualatin River watershed through education, restoration, advocacy, and facilitating public access to nature.
The paddle trip was also intermingled with a good cause: habitat restoration. Some of my coworkers started the day by helping the Riverkeepers hand-clear some invasive, non-native plant species. Hand pulling weeds may be hard work, but it protects the nearby watershed and wildlife from herbicides and other chemicals, to give native, soil-stabilizing plants a chance to recover.
Pulling invasive species for a good cause.
We all had a great time on the river, and although I personally didn’t catch many glimpses of wildlife during our two hour trip, the little pirates in my canoe claimed sightings of Crocodiles, Chilean Sea Bass, and Harry Potter.
The 'pirates'.
Takin' in some shade before heading back.
After the paddle trip, we hit the South Store Cafe for a delicious lunch, and then headed across the street to shop and pet the goats behind the Smith Berry Barn. *Tip*: remember to bring some quarters for the goat-treat dispensing machine if you head back there. These cute little goats love their treats!
Resources:
The Tualatin Riverkeepers website www.tualatinriverkeepers.org is chalk full of information, including a down-loadable paddler’s map of the Lower Tualatin River with river access points, hazard zones, and estimated paddling times.
Canoe Rentals
The Tualatin Riverkeepers has limited canoes available for participants on their organized paddle trips. Check their website for further information, including their guided trips and events schedule. Other local canoe rental sources include:
Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe 503-285-0464 *Easy Alert*: They offer family friendly paddle-away boat rentals right on the Tualatin River from their location in Browns Ferry Park during the summer months.
Tags: Canoeing, Tualatin River, Tualatin Riverkeepers, vounteering
Posted in Events, Family Fun, Nature, Seasonal Fun, Water Fun | 3 Comments »