The Upper Deschutes Watershed Council will host its annual Deschutes River Cleanup on Saturday, July 11, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Bend, Oregon. This event aims to protect the health of the Deschutes River and raise public awareness about responsible recreation.

Cleanup Efforts

Cleanup activities will take place at Farewell Bend Park and five other streamside locations, engaging more than 200 community volunteers in stewardship and education. The annual cleanup is an important opportunity for community members to steward the Deschutes River and its riparian areas.

Recreation in and around the river has significantly impacted its health, necessitating ongoing efforts to protect water quality for fish, plants, and wildlife. The cleanup will occur at six different sites along the Deschutes River, including Farewell Bend Park, First Street Trail, Sunriver, La Pine State Park, Riverbend Park, and Tumalo State Park.

Cleanup activities will include removing invasive weeds and litter from stream banks and the river itself. The Farewell Bend and Riverbend Park sites are expected to host the largest number of volunteers. Paddlers and scuba divers from Central Oregon Diving and Deschutes County Search and Rescue will participate in the cleanup.

Community Involvement

Kolleen Miller, Education and Development Director for the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council, emphasized the need for community action. “Recreation in and around the Deschutes River has led to significant impacts to the health of the river,” Miller said. “This is an important time for the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council and our community to come together and protect our river so that the fish, plants, and wildlife that depend on this area can survive and thrive.

Partners for this year’s event include Oregon State Parks, Sunriver Women’s Club, Sunriver Owner’s Association, Sunriver Chamber of Commerce, REI, Luno, Leadership Bend, the Old Mill District, Antioch Church, and Greater Bend Rotary. Sponsors for the Deschutes River Cleanup include Mt. Bachelor/Sun Country Tours, Visit Bend, the City of Bend, Tumalo Creek, Bend Park and Recreation District, the Old Mill District, Brooks Resources, Taylor Northwest, and Confluence Fly Shop.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.