NEWPORT, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and Alsea Sportsman’s Association will join forces with other conservation-minded individuals next Sunday, April 28 to clean up the Alsea River. This event is also sponsored by SOLVE and Dahl Disposal Service.

The Clean Up is set to begin at 9 a.m. at the U.S. Forest Service’s Blackberry Campground (day use area), located approximately 19 miles east of Waldport on Highway 34. ODFW is seeking volunteers to assist by boat and from shore.

“We need volunteers to work from the river and others to work from the road, picking up trash along the Alsea River corridor and at popular boat ramps and bank access sites along the river,” said Christine Clapp, ODFW STEP Biologist in Newport.

The Clean Up will focus on the river downstream from Campbell Park. Free Northwest Forest day passes will be provided to volunteers, and a shuttle service will also be available. Both drift boats and motor boats are welcome. There will be coffee and donuts in the morning and a barbeque hosted by the Alsea Sportsman’s Association in the afternoon.

“This is a great and fun way for people to show their support for clean and healthy rivers, and it is one of several opportunities on the Mid Coast,” said Clapp. The Mid Coast Watershed Council is hosting the Siletz River Clean Up on Saturday, May 11 (9 a.m. at the Hee Hee Illahee boat ramp in Siletz).