2025 Down The River Clean-Up: Barton to Carver Park (ON-WATER)

• This annual trash sweep at the end of summer covers a 20+ mile stretch of the Clackamas River from Estacada to the confluence with the Willamette River in Oregon City.
• The Clackamas Down the River Cleanup is the largest and longest-running on-water cleanup event of its kind in Oregon.
• Each year an average of 200 volunteers rally together in rafts, kayaks, SCUBA gear, drift boats and any other safe vessel to scour the stream bed and banks for trash, collecting an average of 2 tons with over half recycled.
• Since 2003, over 40 tons of garbage — well over the approximate weight of one gray whale — has been removed from the Clackamas River by more than 4,500 volunteers. We wrap up the day with a free BBQ for all volunteers, complete with music, a raffle, and a silent auction.

On-Water Volunteers are boaters & floaters, swimmers and divers, who comb the shallows, shorelines, sloughs, drift racks, and other areas that potentially collect river litter.

1. Boater Support - the most common and needed volunteer role, bring your own vessel (appropriate for the low flows of late summer) and with many hands (and paddles and boats) cleanup the most popular section of the Clack.
2. Safety Kayaker - paddle with a group you know or with other volunteers, and provide back-up and additional eyes on the river. Kayaks can also be great for getting trash stuck in hard to get places on the river.
3. SCUBA/Snorkel/ free diver - there are still treasures (piles of cans, other things) at the bottom of deep pools. Your skills are greatly needed. Please be certified and bring all of your own equipment. Be familiar with river swimming and use all safety precautions.
4. Garbage Scow - you know what this means: you have a boat (drift boat, raft, big canoe) that can hold large irregular items (like pieces of docks, appliances, old pieces of metal, etc.).

Sections range from 3.2 miles to 8.6 miles, with abundant natural splendor on all stretches. You can't lose choosing any section, but be mindful of the different float times and plan your shuttle and timing accordingly.

1. McIver to Barton - is 8.6 miles (starting from the Upper launch), and the most secluded section on the Lower Clackamas. Plan over 4 hours for this section.
2. Barton to Carver - is 5.3 miles and the most popular (and over-loved!) section on the river. Depending on your paddling and/or float speed, weather (wind) and river conditions, it usually takes about 3 hours or longer to complete.
3. Carver to Riverside - is 4.8 miles and almost identical (but less popular) to the Barton to Carver run. Plan 2-3 hours to complete.
4. Riverside to Clackamette - is 3.2 miles, and is the proverbial last leg of the river. While it passes more development (and under I 205), it offers a similar feeling of seclusion as the rest of the river and can be floated in less than 2 hours.

Info: Please have your shuttle set before 9am

Info: Head to Barton Park for the BBQ

Host or Publisher We Love Clean Rivers