Volunteer for a Clean Columbia

CRK needs your help, your voice, your letters, and your influence to make sure that human health and the ecological health of the River are valued appropriately in all decisions regarding the Columbia River. The value of healthy fish, clean drinking water, safe recreational water, and the River's incredible beauty have until now, been outweighed by short-term economic interests.  It is time we realize that the Northwest economy, as well as our quality of life, depend upon the effective protection of our natural resources, including the River.

Volunteer projects that need your support are periodically listed below: to help us support your interests and concerns please email your what sort of work you would like to do to lorri@columbiariverkeeper.org.

•  Join Columbia Riverkeeper and support work to protect the Columbia River.  
• Voice your views or help out with current River Campaigns, including: 1) prevent proposed Liquefied Natural Gas terminals and associated pipelines, 2) support Hanford Clean-up work by speaking up at public hearings, submitting written comments and letting your elected officials know clean-up of nuclear waste is important to you, 3) create a wildlife preserve and nature park on West Hayden Island between Portland and Vancouver, 4) help clean up air quality in the Columbia Gorge by demanding that the PGE Boardman Coal Plant install modern pollution controls.     
• Adopt-a-River stretch of the Columbia or a tributary and join a network of river-people who pick up trash at least 2 x a year, and keep a close eye on their site via quarterly habitat assessments.         
  
• Monitor water quality for baseline health at your adopted site, and help out with targeted research studies including tests to better understand Windsurfer ailments or River Nose, and toxics in stormwater.     
  
• Help maintain rain gardens or demonstration riverscape projects designed to filter stormwater and support native plants that require less water than lawns.  Periodic weeding, mulching, and bioswale maintenance are needed at CRK rain gardens at the Hood River Office, Mosier School, Acre Coffee shop in Hood River, the Hood River Waterfront Park, and Portland Meek Highschool.
• Have a science, engineering, or other technical background?  Please join our Technical Review Committee to help us interpret and recommend actions on new studies and proposed policies. Please send us a basic resume.
• Have a design or graphic arts background?  We always need help designing ongoing outreach materials - please send us a sample of your work.
• The Hood River office needs a dedicated college student to help review pollution permits.
• The Hood River office periodically needs detail orientated volunteers to help out with entry of water quality data, and habitat assessments on Google Earth.
• Help out with local fundraisers including our annual Art Auction in downtown Portland, and Spirit of the River performance events in Astoria and Hood River. 
  
• Help distribute fliers & information in your area about the Columbia and areas of concern.
  
• Daily actions you can take to help rivers out include: conserve electricity and work for more environmentally friendly alternatives, conserve water use, buy unbleached and recycled paper products, pick up litter, be careful of what may end up in the river via stormwater - pesticides, fertilizers, oil... see how can you help. 
• Teach your children about the River and how to care of her.

   For additional information:

Lorri Epstein

Water Quality Director

lorri (at) columbiariverkeeper.org

541-399-0769