Annual Deschutes River Cleanup 2026

Cleanup activities will take place at six sites along the Deschutes River: Farewell Bend Park, First Street Trail, La Pine State Park, Riverbend Park, Sunriver, and Tumalo State Park. Volunteers will help pull invasive weeds and remove litter from the river and streambanks. You will select your cleanup site when you register.

While much of the work will take place along the streambanks, we are excited to once again partner with scuba divers from Central Oregon Diving with support from Deschutes County Search and Rescue! We are seeking paddlers to support our divers on the water in the Old Mill District during the cleanup.

One week before the event, volunteers will receive an email with specific site details and meeting logistics. On cleanup day, please meet your site host at 9:00 am at your selected location. Please double-check your email to make sure you are going to the correct cleanup location. Come prepared with sturdy shoes, a hat, sun protection, gloves, a water bottle, and snacks.

Volunteers registered for Farewell Bend and Riverbend Park will meet at the Farewell Bend shelter at 9:00 am for a brief introduction and thank you to partners before cleanup activities. Paddlers will be paired with a scuba diver for the day and must bring a whistle, PFD, and throwable safety device.

**NEW THIS YEAR: All paddlers must have a waterway access permit!** Permits can be purchased

After the cleanup, join us for a volunteer appreciation celebration from 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm on the lawn of our office at 805 SW Industrial Way. Don't miss your chance for amazing door prizes, delicious food, and refreshing drinks!

Thank you to our fabulous event sponsors: Bend Park and Recreation District, Car Stickers, The City of Bend, Confluence Fly Shop, Luno, Mt. Bachelor/Sun Country Tours, Qorvo, REI, Tumalo Creek, Old Mill District, and Visit Bend!

The Deschutes River Cleanup brings our community together to care for the river we all love and enjoy. Thank you for your support as a river steward!

Thank you to all of our title sponsors for supporting this year's cleanup!

Also check out other Meetups in Bend, Trips & Adventurous Activities in Bend.