Portland cleans dirty Willamette, mayor takes a dip

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Portland has a long reputation as a green and eco-friendly city.
 
But the Willamette River — which runs right through its downtown — has been so polluted for years that people refused to swim in it.
 
Now that’s changing, thanks to the completion of a $1.4 billion sewage pipe that dramatically reduced sewage overflows.
 
This summer, Portland is promoting the river as a great place to swim.
 
It’s opening a pop-up beach, Poet’s Beach, with lifeguards, hosting a swim with the mayor and an environmental group even has a river swim team.
 
A big inner tube parade is planned for the Willamette River this weekend, too.
 
The city fits into a larger nationwide trend of big cities cleaning up their rivers for humans — and wildlife too.