Trillium Creek Cleanup Oregon Clackamas River Basin Council

We cleaned an illegal dumpsite along Trillium Creek

Several years ago the Clackamas River Basin Council completed a Shade Our Streams project at Orchard Summit, a beautiful streamside along Trillium Creek in Damascus, OR. We removed invasive weeds and planted native trees and shrubs in the creek’s riparian area to help stabilize the creek bank, and improve water quality and fish and wildlife habitat.

Unfortunately, this area has been recently impacted by illegal dumping. For what is likely several years, trucks have been using this area to empty their loads, including a whole truck load if ice cream.

The image to the right shows just how bad the damage was from dumped trash. What is worse, this trash was shredded and carried throughout the site by curious wildlife.

In response, North Clackamas Parks and Recreation reached out to the Clackamas River Basin Council for help. We knew this was a big job, so we invited volunteers and partner organization We Love Clean Rivers to join the effort.

On Saturday, November 12, fifteen volunteers alongside staff from the Clackamas River Basin Council, North Clackamas Parks and Recreation, and We Love Clean Rivers in cleaning up riparian habitat along Rock Creek at the Orchard Summit Natural Area. We worked along uneven terrain and steep slopes to clear out trash before the heavy rains brought the trash into the creek. Volunteers removed:

  • 700 lbs of trash
  • 1 couch
  • 4 chairs
  • 9 tires
  • 8 jugs of oil

Watch our TikTok to see a video of the action:

@clackamasriver

We cleaned up Trillium Creek at Orchard Sunmit! This streamside outside Portland, OR was being used as an illegal dumping ground. But our volunteers were up to the task. Now this site is cleaned up for fish, wildlife, and drinking water quality. It’s what we do baby! Follow us to see more restoration work. #restoration #conservation #oregon #clackamas #cleanup #trash #trashpanda #habitatrestoration #foryou #fyp #wildlife #drinkingwater #savethesalmon

♬ Summer – Instrumental – Devinney

Interested in helping out?

If you would like to be part of a future cleanup, tree planting, or invasive species removal, please check our calendar to register: https://clackamasriver.org/events/

CRBC thanks Water Environment Services for funding this work party!

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