The Clean Rivers Coalition launched the Follow the Water – Connect the Drops public outreach campaign in April 2022. This campaign serves to amplify the “voice of water”, unify messages around clean water, and serve people throughout Oregon, and Southwest Washington, including the communities along the middle and lower Columbia River and coast.

The goals for Follow the Water are threefold: 1) Connect people to there rivers; 2) Connect people’s behavior to the rivers; and 3) Promote clean water behaviors. The campaign is built on the notion that water health is not a local issue, but a region-wide issue that require regional solutions with statewide support. And that through collaboration and sharing, our outreach work will be more effective.

Clean Rivers Coalition formed in 2016

The Clean Rivers Coalition is comprised of over 60 partners, including local municipalities, state and federal agencies, watershed councils, soil & water conservation districts, and water-related nonprofits. The coalition works within communities and across stakeholders to deliver water awareness and behavior change campaign in an equitable, inclusive, and culturally appropriate manner that reaches and benefits diverse populations.

The Clean Rivers Coalition was formed in 2016 with a steering committee of representative voices from around the state.  The Coalition hosts one or two forums each year to build the campaign website, social media, and on the ground behavior change work using Community Based Social Marketing techniques.

In 2019, CRC commissioned a survey of 1,000 Oregonians  to serve as a foundation of our understanding of our audience. Many people are not aware of the health of our rivers and streams or how their actions are connected to water pollution or protection. However, they have strong values to protect our water, and their inclination to act increases with stronger connection to these waters. We aim to develop a cultural connection between people and their local waterways, and to build an understanding of actions needed to protect water resources. 

Vision:

Diverse communities are engaged in creating and enjoying clean water.

Mission:

Build the bridge between clean water and healthy communities through education and engagement.

Steering Committee members

  • Lara Christensen, Oak Lodge Water Services
  • Kathy Eva, City of Eugene
  • Erinne Goodell, Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership
  • Keri Handaly, City of Gresham
  • Roy Iwai, Multnomah County – Steering Committee Chair
  • Eric Lambert, Clark County
  • Katie Meckes, East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District
  • Brooke Mossefin, City of Springfield
  • Deborah Topp, City of Salem
  • Kaileigh Westermann, City of Keizer
  • Nate Woodard, Washington Department of Ecology

For more information about CRC and how to get involved, please visit our CONTACT page.

Representatives from over 60 organizations within Oregon have attended our forums. The list of organizations includes:

Benton County
Benton Soil and Water Conservation District
City of Albany
City of Bend
City of Corvallis
City of Creswell
City of Eugene
City of Gresham
City of Keizer
City of Lake Oswego
City of Milwaukie
City of Oregon City
City of Portland
City of Salem
City of Silverton
City of Springfield
City of West Linn
City of Wilsonville
City of Wood Village
Clackamas County Water Environment Services
Clackamas River Basin Council
Clark County
Clean Water Services
Coast Fork Willamette Watershed Council
Columbia Slough Watershed Council
Corvallis Sustainability Coalition
East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District
EWEB
Hood River Watershed Group
Johnson Creek Watershed Council
Luckiamute Watershed Council
Marion County
Marion Soil & Water Conservation District
Mary’s River Watershed Council
McKenzie Watershed Council
Meyer Memorial Trust Willamette River Initiative
Multnomah County
North Santiam Watershed Council
NW Center for Alternatives to Pesticides
Oak Lodge Water Services
Oregon Department of Agriculture
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife
Oregon Department of Parks & Recreation
Oregon Environmental Council
Oregon State University
Polk County Community Development
Port of Portland
Rogue Valley Council of Governments
Rogue Valley Sewer Services
Sandy River Watershed Council
SOLVE
South Santiam Watershed Council
Tualatin Riverkeepers
Tualatin Soil & Water Conservation District
US Environmental Protection Agency
US Geological Survey
Wasco County Soil & Water Conservation District
Willamette Partnership
Willamette Riverkeeper