Sucessful clean up of the McKenzie River from Bellinger Landing to Marcola.

Community volunteers joined six agencies on Saturday February 27th to collect and remove garbage and other debris from lower McKenzie River riparian areas.

About three weeks ago, McKenzie River Guide Association voiced concerns about garbage from dispersed camp sites and illegal dumping, along with old boat dock debris that contains Styrofoam, strewn along the banks of the river on private and public properties. The Eugene Water & Electric Board convened a meeting to address the issue and several partners joined together to come
up with a cost-effective clean-up plan.

The riparian clean-up area runs from the Bellinger Landing County Park off Camp Creek Road east to Marcola Road. Five jet boats will carry volunteers to the various debris sites and haul filled garbage bags back to the Hayden Bridge Boat Ramp.

Volunteers collected and removed the garbage Saturday before the next high water event washes the debris into the McKenzie River – the sole source of drinking water for nearly
200,000 Eugene-area residents.

A special thanks to everyone involved.