Community volunteers to clean up Deschutes River

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Upper Deschutes Watershed Council will host its annual Deschutes River Cleanup on Saturday, July 11, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. This event aims to protect the health of the Deschutes River and raise public awareness about responsible recreation.

Cleanup activities will take place at Farewell Bend Park and five other streamside locations, engaging more than 200 community volunteers in stewardship and education.

The annual cleanup is an important opportunity for community members to steward the Deschutes River and its riparian areas. Recreation in and around the river has significantly impacted its health, necessitating ongoing efforts to protect water quality for fish, plants and wildlife.

The cleanup will occur at six different sites along the Deschutes River, including Farewell Bend Park, First Street Trail, Sunriver, La Pine State Park, Riverbend Park and Tumalo State Park.

Cleanup activities will include removing invasive weeds and litter from stream banks and the river itself. The Farewell Bend and Riverbend Park sites are expected to host the largest number of volunteers.

Paddlers and scuba divers from Central Oregon Diving and Deschutes County Search and Rescue will participate in the cleanup. This year, paddlers and scuba divers will also clean debris from Mirror Pond, a new addition to the cleanup efforts.

Kolleen Miller, Education and Development Director for the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council, emphasized the need for community action. “Recreation in and around the Deschutes River has led to significant impacts to the health of the river,” Miller said. “This is an important time for the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council and our community to come together and protect our river so that the fish, plants and wildlife that depend on this area can survive and thrive. We want community members of all ages to join us for a great day of watershed stewardship and education!”

Partners for this year's event include Oregon State Parks, Sunriver Women's Club, Sunriver Owner's Association, Sunriver Chamber of Commerce, REI, Luno, Leadership Bend, the Old Mill District, Antioch Church and Greater Bend Rotary. Sponsors for the Deschutes River Cleanup include Mt. Bachelor/Sun Country Tours, Visit Bend, the City of Bend, Tumalo Creek, Bend Park and Recreation District, the Old Mill District, Brooks Resources, Taylor Northwest and Confluence Fly Shop.

A large-scale public outreach campaign is underway to raise awareness about responsible recreation on the river and its trails.