CANCELLED — 8th Annual Lower Sandy Floating Cleanup

With heavy hearts we’re CANCELLING the 8th Annual Lower Sandy Floating Cleanup, due to the potential for lingering smoky conditions this Saturday. The weather forecasts shift every day and the smoke is lingering at ‘hazardous’ levels until at least Thursday. Smoky air conditions will still linger through Saturday. Community safety and health motivates everything we do: including this cancellation.

We apologize for this loss and hope to make it up to you: We’ll be planning a short series of cleanups this fall & spring to get you out at the River and making a difference! Stay tuned for more details.

Updated 9/15/2020

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Enjoy a float down the Sandy River while collecting litter along its banks. This event is a one part relaxing float, one part exciting scavenger hunt!

CLICK HERE for Tickets & Registration

At 10am, we’ll gather at Dabney State Recreation Area (using physical distancing) for a short introduction & safety talk. Then we’ll launch our rafts, kayaks, and other watercraft into the Sandy! Floaters will stop at various beaches along the river to collect litter, sometimes working as a team, for example, to dig something exciting out of the sand. Who knows what you’ll find! Floaters can expect to arrive at Lewis & Clark State Recreation Area (L&C) around 3pm.

This year we’re introducing a Land Litter Team, where you can participate from the comfort of your own two feet! This group will collect litter at a local recreation area. Youth between 10-17 are also very welcome and must be accompanied by an adult. See ticket options below.

This Floating Cleanup is the culmination of our 2nd summer of the Stash the Trash program, a DIY cleanup program at 5 lower Sandy parks. These mesh garbage bags make it easy to ‘pack it out’ while you have fun in the water.

Tickets

There are 4 ticket options. You can register as an ‘individual’, or if you have multiple people in your group, you can register as a ‘team’.

1. Reserve a paddle in a 4-6 person raft
2. Reserve a paddle in a 1-person inflatable kayak (limited availability)
3. BYOWC (Bring Your Own Water Craft), i.e. you’re bringing your own water craft (kayak, raft, tube, boat, floatie!) paddle, and personal flotation device (PPD– or life jacket– is mandatory for everyone).
4. Land litter team: collect litter at a local recreation area in a more traditional land-based crew.

To minimize the potential spread of COVID-19, participants in each raft (borrowed AND BYO) need to be in the same COVID exposure circle (or “household”). Household groups using a raft provided by Stout Creek Outfitters will float with a masked river guide (guide sits at rear as approved by OR State Marine Board Guidelines). If you have less than 4 people in your household, please reserve a kayak paddle, or BYOWC! Thank you for cooperating with this new logistical safety detail.

Ready to register? Click here for tickets!

Suggested Donation

Suggested donation: $3-50 per person. Your donation includes a free parking pass at Dabney. Any additional funds donated support this event and the ongoing operations of the Sandy River Watershed Council.

Money or credit-card access shouldn’t be a barrier to participating: contact Katelyn at katelyn@sandyriver.org for sliding scale or card-free options or any other questions.

Thank you!

Big thank you to our funder, the City of Troutdale, and to our partners: Oregon State Parks, SOLVE, & Stout Creek Outfitters.

We look forward to seeing you on the river!

More event logistics below.

After registering, you’ll receive this information in your inbox.

— Event overview —

Please arrive at 10am at Dabney State Recreation Area between 9:30-10am. If you are bringing your own watercraft, please arrive on the earlier side. At 10am we will circle up for a short introduction & safety talk. Then we’ll launch our rafts, kayaks, and other watercraft. Floaters will stop at various beaches along the float and collect litter, sometimes working as a team, for example, to dig something out of the sand. Floaters can expect to arrive at Lewis & Clark State Recreation Area (L&C) around 3pm.

— Shuttles —

Since we started upstream, we end about 3 miles downstream from your car! Ideally, you plan to provide your own shuttle:

• Someone drops you off at Dabney & picks you up at L&C
• You leave your car at Dabney & someone picks you up at L&C to return you back to your car
• Some other creative solution!

Alternatively, we can shuttle drivers (with masks & windows rolled down) back to Dabney.

— Gear checklist —

Please wear:

• Clothing that can get wet (bathing suit, sun shirt, etc.)
• A face covering. Face coverings will be required throughout the event.
• Footwear that can get wet & won’t fall off in the water (old sneaks, chacos/tevas, etc.NO flip flops.

Please bring:

• Lunch
• Full water bottle
• Sunscreen, chapstick, & hand sanitizer (optional)

Note: each raft will have a dry bag to hold lunches & minimal small personal items (like phone+keys, etc.) while floating.

— COVID-19 safety —

Like always, we are taking safety at our event seriously. After careful consideration with our partners and research on the most up-to-date safety practices, we have implemented the following measures to promote the health and well-being of attendees and staff:

New policies and procedures:

• “Event Check-in” will be happening virtually! Keep an eye out 48 hrs before the event for a survey in your email inbox.
• Physical distancing between folks not in the same COVID exposure circle or household.
• Participants, SRWC staff, and Guides will be wearing masks at all times.

How these were determined:

• Conversations with partners
• Research on WHO, CDC, & State of Oregon safety recommendations

What’s expected of attendees:

• Look for “Pre-Event Sign In” in your email inbox 48 hours before the event starts & fill out the survey. This will decrease our use of shared touched items!
• Opt-out of attending if you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, have tested positive within 2 weeks before the event, or have been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 within 2 weeks before the event.
• Contact us if you or your raft team cannot attend so we can give your spot to another group.
• Physical distance with others who are not in your household or COVID exposure circle.
• Wear a mask or face covering at all times.
• Wash and/or sanitize your hands when available and after event.
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow.
• Communicate with us if you have any questions or concerns.

As the situation evolves, so will our approach to keeping you safe. We thank you for your patience and flexibility as we manage this and ask that you check back here for updates.

— If you or your team isn’t able to attend —

Please let us know! You can respond to this email with the subject line “Cancelled Reservation” and list the names of the participants who will not be attending. This will help us run our event more smoothly and allow us to offer your open spot(s) to some lucky folks on the waiting list.

— We look forward to seeing you at the Sandy! —

If you have any questions, please contact Katelyn at: katelyn@sandyriver.org.