Mid-Willamette Outreach Group

MWOG partners (City of Keizer, City of Salem, Marion County, and Marion Soil & Water Conservation District) collaborate to provide water quality outreach and inspire behaviors that result in healthy
streams and communities.

We coordinate virtual and in-person learning opportunities to help everyone connect with the precious waters of the Willamette Valley.

Our River is a multi-pronged outreach campaign of Mid-Willamette Outreach Group. The Willamette River is our river to protect and enjoy; as residents of the mid-Willamette Valley, what we do in the watershed impacts the quality and quantity of water available, which in return impacts our own vitality. Through Our River events, everyone is invited to connect with the Willamette in fun and thoughtful ways.

Our River Goals

Actively connect residents to the Willamette River through ongoing adventures and opportunities that put people in, on or near the water,
Reduce the barriers of participation by providing activities at low or no cost, and providing needed supplies.
Provide participants with the opportunity to build pride in our Willamette River and our community.
Provide opportunities to serve and steward the Willamette River.

Our River Activities

Date	Event	Description	Partners
April 22	Earth Day Event & Litter Clean-up at Keizer Rapids Park	Celebrate Earth Day with community service.	Willamette Riverkeeper
May 17: 9am- 12:30pm	River Clean Up at Wallace Marine Park	Part of connecting to Our Willamette River is being good stewards of the river and keeping it clean and pollution free. Participate for an on-the-water river cleanup. Bring your own boat or reserve one through Willamette Riverkeeper. Event is best suited for those over 18 years old or 14 years old with a parent or legal guardian. Register here.	City of Salem, Willamette Riverkeeper, and Our River
May 20 9-11:30 am	Learn to Fish at Keizer Rapids Park	Learn the basic skills needed to begin fishing in urban fisheries. Space is limited – register now!	Keizer Police Department, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Salem NW Steelheaders
June 3-4	Free Fishing Weekend	Visit the ODFW webpage for details.	Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
June 14: 9am- 12:30 pm	River Clean Up at Wallace Marine Park	Participate in a trash removal event on the Willamette River! The volunteer group will paddle a short distance upstream from Wallace Marine Park to the north end of the Willamette Slough and work under the Peter Courtney Bridge. Bring your own boat or reserve one through Willamette Riverkeeper. Event is best suited for those over 18 years old or 14 years old with a parent or legal guardian. Register here.	City of Salem, Willamette Riverkeeper, and Our River
July 12: 9am- 12:30pm	River Clean Up at Wallace Marine Park	Participate in a trash cleanup on the Willamette River. Volunteers will paddle out to under the Peter Courtney bridge to clean up trash. Bring your own boat or reserve one through Willamette Riverkeeper. No paddling experience is necessary. Event is best suited for those over 18 years old or 14 years old with a parent or legal guardian. Register here.	City of Salem, Willamette Riverkeeper, and Our River
July 19 9am-2pm	Learn to Kayak at Keizer Rapids Park	Learn how to safely kayak and canoe. Space is limited – register now!	Oregon State Parks, Oregon Marine Board and Salem Kayak Rentals
Aug. 23: 9am- 12:30 pm	River Clean Up at Wallace Marine Park	Volunteer to help clean up trash in the Willamette River! This river clean up starts at Wallace Marine Park. Volunteers will paddle out to the Peter Courtney bridge. Bring your own boat or reserve one through Willamette Riverkeeper. No paddling experience is necessary. Event is best suited for those over 18 years old or 14 years old with a parent or legal guardian	City of Salem, Willamette Riverkeeper, and Our River
September 9 12-3pm	Community Salmon Day at Bush Pasture Park	Celebrate and explore the wonders of Pacific Salmon at this free event.	MWOG partners
September 13: 9am- 12:30 pm	River Clean Up at Wallace Marine Park	Help cleanup trash in the Willamette River and be a good steward of the river that flows right along Salem and Keizer. This river clean up starts at Wallace Marine Park. Volunteers will paddle out to the Peter Courtney bridge. Bring your own boat or reserve one through Willamette Riverkeeper. No paddling experience is necessary. Event is best suited for those over 18 years old or 14 years old with a parent or legal guardian. Register here.	City of Salem, Willamette Riverkeeper, and Our River

Erosion Control Summit

The Erosion Control and Stormwater Management Summit is for builders, developers, planners, architects, contractors, engineers, landscapers, and municipal staff and crews. This one-day summit is held in late January. Participants learn techniques in construction erosion prevention, green stormwater infrastructure maintenance, permit updates, impacts of pollution from stormwater runoff, and more. Registration link will be posted here when available.

Click here to sign up to receive email updates and notifications about registration dates, pricing, speakers, presentations, and more for the annual Erosion Control & Stormwater Management Summit.

Water Festival

This one-day festival usually takes place in May and provides an educational opportunity to students from a different participating school each year. Activities center around watershed health and water quality.

Community Salmon Day

If you are curious about Pacific Salmon and their freshwater habitats, come walk the path at Bush’s Pasture Park on Community Salmon Watch Day. Learn about these awe-inspiring fish and what makes them special, explore the key characteristics used to determine stream health, and visit with Claudia Chinook – the largest salmon around! Here is the Community Salmon Watch Day brochure. Visit with the various experts at your own pace and for as long or short as you like. Everyone is sure to learn something new! This free community event is held in the fall.