Local Action, Regional Impact: Volunteers Clean Beaches, Rivers and Community Spaces
Updated: 14 hours ago
From September 18 through September 27, communities across Oregon and Southwest Washington came together for SOLVE’s annual Beach & Riverside Cleanup. During a 10-day volunteer effort, 1,553 volunteers participated in 96 cleanup and restoration projects across 15 counties, contributing more than 3,100 hours of service. Projects took place in Clackamas, Clark, Clatsop, Coos, Curry, Deschutes, Jackson, Lane, Lincoln, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Washington, and Yamhill counties.
Together, volunteers removed nearly 9,000 pounds of litter and debris, helping prevent pollution from traveling through local waterways to beaches and the Pacific Ocean. Volunteers also cleared over 9,450 square feet of invasive species, an area larger than three tennis courts, and mulched 300 plants to support healthier habitats and more resilient landscapes.
“Every year, Beach & Riverside Cleanup shows what is possible when people unite to care for the places they call home,” said Kris Carico, CEO of SOLVE. “This year, we saw that community action take many forms, from cleaning beaches and rivers to removing invasive plants and caring for neighborhood spaces. These local efforts add up to a meaningful regional impact.”
A Season of Environmental Action
The Beach & Riverside Cleanup showcased the range of community members, partners and projects that make SOLVE’s work possible across Oregon and Southwest Washington. From established cleanup initiatives to hands-on restoration projects, highlights from this year included:
Oregon Coast: Cleaning Up for People and Wildlife
Along the Oregon Coast, 25 cleanup events from Astoria/Warrenton to Gold Beach invited volunteers to remove litter and marine debris from beaches, shorelines and coastal recreation areas.
Several projects connected cleanup efforts directly to wildlife protection. At Siltcoos Beach, volunteers helped remove marine debris near protected western snowy plover nesting habitat, while other coastal projects focused on keeping beaches and coastal recreation areas clean and safe for wildlife and visitors. In Gold Beach, Paws for Nature combined a community beach cleanup with a dog walk, giving people and their four-legged companions a chance to care for the coastline.
Rivers Across the Region
River-focused projects gave volunteers opportunities to care for waterways and the communities connected to them.
In Portland, volunteers gathered at OMSI before spreading out along the Eastbank Esplanade and surrounding streets to remove litter before it could reach the Willamette River. Additional Portland projects along the riverfront included cleanups at Peace Memorial Park, the Eastbank Esplanade and Duckworth Dock.
Farther east and south, volunteers took action along the Upper Clackamas River and at three cleanup events along the Molalla River, removing litter from river corridors and recreation areas while helping care for trails and surrounding natural areas. In Salem, volunteers gathered at Cascades Gateway Park to remove litter before it could flow into Walter Wirth Lake and Mill Creek.
In Southern Oregon, volunteers joined projects across the Rogue Valley as part of Bear Creek Stewardship Day, caring for the Bear Creek watershed through litter removal, invasive plant removal and pollinator garden maintenance. Projects took place in Ashland, Talent, Phoenix and Medford, uniting neighbors, organizations, local partners and volunteers to care for the waterways and natural areas that connect community members throughout the valley.
These projects reflect the breadth of river-focused action taking place through Beach & Riverside Cleanup, from urban riverfronts and popular recreation areas to watershed and habitat restoration projects across the region.
Community Action in Vancouver, Washington
Across the Columbia River in Vancouver, Washington, five Beach & Riverside Cleanup events drew volunteers to a mix of litter cleanup and habitat restoration. Projects ranged from removing litter at Waterfront Park and Esther Short Park to ivy removal at Historic Covington House and Ellsworth Springs West, helping protect trees, wildlife habitat and recreational spaces.
The projects highlighted the many ways everyone can contribute to healthier waterways and natural areas, whether through picking up litter, removing invasive plants or caring for the public spaces they use every day.
Pick It Up, Milwaukie! | September 19
For the second year, Pick It Up, Milwaukie! united residents, local businesses, and families in downtown Milwaukie and at Milwaukie’s Bay Park, in partnership with Bob’s Red Mill. Volunteers removed litter from downtown streets, business corridors and green spaces, including the river’s edge at Bay Park, before gathering at the Sustainability Fair.
Pick It Up, Bend! | September 27
Following its inaugural event in 2025, Pick It Up, Bend! returned for a second year at the Old Mill District. 42 volunteers spent the morning removing 175 pounds of litter from some of Bend’s most popular recreational spaces. The event also continued SOLVE’s partnership with the Johnson Ohana Foundation. SOLVE joined Jack Johnson’s concert in Bend as a Village Green partner, connecting a morning of local volunteer action with an evening focused on community and the environment.
Pick It Up, Bend! 2026 was made possible through the support from Old Mill District, Hayden Homes Theatre, Lithia & Driveway, and Cascade Disposal.
Pick It Up, Milwaukie! and Pick It Up, Bend! are part of SOLVE’s growing Pick It Up! regional cleanup initiative, which unites residents, businesses and local organizations to improve shared public spaces city by city.
Thank You to Our Volunteers and Partners
SOLVE extends its gratitude to the volunteers, event leaders, business partners and organizations who made the 2026 Beach & Riverside Cleanup possible. Their time and effort helped make a visible difference across Oregon and Southwest Washington.
SOLVE’s 2026 Beach & Riverside Cleanup is proudly supported by Clean Water Services, Kaiser Permanente, Knife River, Keep America Beautiful, Metro, Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation, Owens Corning, Portco Packaging, Tillamook, Harper Houf Peterson Righellis Inc., and KOIN.
To learn more about SOLVE and find upcoming volunteer opportunities, visit solve.org.
