2024 Johnson Creek Clean-up!
August 17 @ 8:45 am – 1:00 pm
The Johnson Creek Clean-Up returns August 17th, 2024! This is your chance to GET IN the creek and GET OUT all the trash that has accumulated over the past year. Since 2007, volunteers like you have jumped into Johnson Creek and pulled out over 70 tons of trash from the water. Yes that’s right, over 70 tons! Don’t miss this unique opportunity to get in the creek and remove litter from where it matters the most. See you there!
Arrive at your site at 8:45 am to meet your team and Creek Captain and learn how to be safe in the water. Spend ~3 hours in the creek picking up trash, then travel to Johnson Creek Park to have lunch at 12 noon.
What: Remove trash from Johnson Creek! Get in the water or stay on land and help remove tons of trash from in and around the creek. Stick around afterward for FREE lunch, award ceremony and time to connect with your watershed community.
When: Saturday, August 17th, from 8:45 am – 1pm, including FREE lunch
Where: About a dozen sites throughout the watershed! See site descriptions below. Detailed directions to your site will be emailed to you before the event. Lunch will be at Johnson Creek Park.
How to register: Registration is open now!!
1. Carefully read the site descriptions below. Each site is different and some are more physically challenging than others.
2. Pick the site at which you want to volunteer.
3. Register for ONLY the specific site at which you will volunteer.
4. If you are coming as part of a group, each person in your group needs to register separately.
5. Check your email for site details!
How to prepare: This event will happen rain or shine, so dress for weather: rain coat, warm layers, sun hat, and sunscreen as necessary. Wear shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting wet and muddy. You will be walking in the creek in your shoes. We recommend light-weight shoes like sneakers, running shoes, or breathable hiking boots that will drain easily, rather than heavy boots that will stay water-logged. Do not wear sandals, crocs, etc.–it’s not safe! However, you may want to bring an extra set of footwear to change into at the end. Bring a filled water bottle and a snack.
We will provide: Gloves and all necessary tools, plus free lunch at the end of the event. We can also provide bus fare to and from the event. Please contact malree@jcwc.org to arrange bus fare. Sorry, we cannot provide waders for this event.
Children unfortunately are not permitted. This event involves wading in deep water and contact with potentially harmful materials, such as broken glass, and is not suitable for children. Youth 14 years old and older are welcome if accompanied by an attentive adult.
Accessibility: This event may require wading in water greater than 2 feet deep (see site descriptions for details; not all sites require wading), standing for long periods, walking over uneven ground, going up or down steep slopes, bending, and lifting heavy objects. Each site has different requirements so we can accommodate most physical ability levels. If you have questions about the physical requirements of the event, please contact marlee@jcwc.org. Plus, we have jobs for every level of physical ability! If you don’t want to get your feet wet but still want to help, check out special jobs and land based sites.
Sites and Registration
Special Jobs
Helping set-up for the post-Clean-Up celebration at Johnson Creek Park. Time commitment: approximately 11:30 am – 12:30 pm. Requires: standing, potentially lifting heavy objects
Register for Special Jobs here!
In Stream Sites
Cedar Crossing
Approximate location: SE Deardorff Rd and SE 134th Ave (outer SE PDX)
Description: Walk fully in the creek, moderately deep water (~6 inches ) with some deep pools (<12 inches) that can be avoided. Smooth and angular rock on creek bottom may be slippery. Limited access points.
Number of volunteers needed: 5+
Click here to register for Cedar Crossing!
92nd Upstream
Approximate location: 92nd Ave to Knapp St (outer SE PDX)
Description: Walk fully in the creek, moderately deep (~6 inches) water with some deeper pools (>12 inches) that can be avoided. Smooth and angular rock on creek bottom may be slippery. Limited access points.
Number of volunteers needed: 10+
Click here to register for 92nd Upstream!
92nd Downstream
Approximate location: Lambert St to 92nd Ave (outer SE PDX)
Description: Walk fully in the creek, moderately deep (~6 inches) water with some deeper pools (>12 inches) that can not be avoided. Smooth and angular rock on creek bottom may be slippery. Limited access points.
Number of volunteers needed: 10+
Click here to register for 92nd Downstream!
82nd Upstream
Approximate location: 82nd Ave to Lambert St (outer SE PDX)
Description: Walk fully in the creek, moderately deep water (~6 inches) with some deeper pools (>12 inches) that can not be avoided. Smooth and angular rock on creek bottom may be slippery. Limited access points.
Number of volunteers needed:10+.
Click here to register for 82nd Upstream!
82nd Downstream
Approximate location: Between Luther Rd and 82nd (inner SE PDX)
Description: Walk fully in the creek, moderately (~6 inches deep) with some deeper pools (>12 inches) that can be avoided. Smooth and angular rock on creek bottom may be slippery. Limited access points.
Number of volunteers needed: 10+
Click here to register for 82nd Downstream!
Luther Road Downstream
Approximate location: South of Luther Road (inner SE PDX)
Description: Walk in the creek and access from the banks. Moderately deep water (~6 inches) with deeper pools (>12 inches) that can be avoided. Smooth rocks on creek bottom may be slippery and placed logs may have deep pools. Good access points.
Number of volunteers needed: 10+
Click here to register for Luther Downstream!
Mill Park Upstream
Approximate location: Johnson Creek Blvd between Linwood Ave and Bell Ave (inner SE PDX)
Description: Walk fully in the creek, mostly shallow water (<6 inches) with some deeper pools (>12 inches) that can be avoided. Smooth rocks on creek bottom may be slippery and angular rocks may be present. Limited access points.
Number of volunteers needed: 5+
Click here to register for Mill Park Upstream!
Mill Park Downstream
Thank you to Precision Castparts for adopting this site!
45th Place Upstream
Thank you to Precision Castparts for adopting this site!
Tideman Johnson Upstream
Thank you to Walker Emulsions for adopting this site!
Berkeley Place Upstream
Approximate location: Tacoma St west of 32nd Ave (Sellwood)
Description: Walk fully in the creek with some overbank traverse around very deep pools. Smooth rock on creek bottom. Relatively good access points.
Number of volunteers needed: 10+
Click here to register for Berkeley Place Upstream!
Johnson Creek Park Upstream
Approximate location: McLoughlin Blvd between Umatilla St and Marion St (Sellwood)
Description: Walk fully in the creek, some deeper pools (>12 inches) that can not be avoided, some angular rock on creek bottom. Relatively good access points.
Number of volunteers needed: 10+
Click here to register for Johnson Creek City Park Upstream!
Milport Upstream
Approximate location: McBrod Avenue between Ochoco St and Milport Rd (Milwaukie)
Description: Walk fully in the creek, mostly shallow water (<6 inches deep) with a couple of deeper pools (>12 inches deep) that can be avoided, smooth bottom may be slippery. Limited access points to get in and out of the creek.
Number of volunteers needed: 5+
Click here to register for Milport Upstream!
Milport Downstream
Approximate location: McLoughlin Blvd between Hwy 224/Milwaukie Expy St and Milport Rd (Milwaukie)
Description: Walk fully in the creek, mostly shallow water (<6 inches), smooth bottom may be slippery. Placed logs may have deeper pools (>12 inches). Limited access points to get in and out of the creek.
Number of volunteers needed: 5+
Click here to register for Milport Downstream!
Land Based Sites – no walking in water
Tideman-Johnson Park
Approximate location: Tideman Johnson City Park (inner SE PDX)
Description: Clean up park grounds, mostly staying on paths with some walking through brush. Some paths are relatively steep.
Number of volunteers needed: 5+
Click here to register for Tideman Johnson City Park!
Foster Floodplain
Approximate location: SE Foster Road and 106th Ave
Description: Clean up park grounds, mostly off the paths. Level terrain.
Number of volunteers needed: 5+
Click here to register for Foster Floodplain!
Johnson Creek Park
Approximate location: Johnson Creek Park near SE 21st Ave.
Description: May require walking through extremely shallow water but otherwise on land.
Number of volunteers needed: 5+
Click here to register for Johnson Creek Park!
Errol Heights Park
Approximate location: Springwater Corridor trail and SE 37th Ave
Description: Clean up park grounds, mostly staying on paths with some walking through brush. Some paths are relatively steep.
Number of volunteers needed: 5+
Click here to register for Errol Heights Park!
A huge thank you to this year’s sponsors and partners. We could not do this important work with you! Thank you Clackamas Water Environment Services, Metro Regional Refresh Fund, Mintkeski Family Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation, Portland Parks and Recreation, North Clackamas Water Environment Services, City of Portland’s Bureau of Environmental Services, Portland General Electric, Ground Score Association, and Junk It Portland.