Dark clouds threatened, but a record number - more than 800 volunteers - turned out for this year’s Spokane River Clean-Up.

Happily, the rain stayed away - enabling folks to stay (mostly) dry while cleaning the Spokane River shoreline ranging from the Spokane River Gorge, the Iron Bridge area from Northern Lights Brewery to Avista’s headquarters on Mission, and a stretch between the Bowl & Pitcher and the downriver disc golf course. As in years past, folks from Northwest Whitewater Association (NWA) - and this year, joined by FLOW Adventures - helped clean near-shore and riverbed areas.

Did this year’s turnout and quantities of trash surpass last year’s effort? You bet! Figures released by the City show that 12,020 pounds - that’s more than six tons - of garbage was collected. On top of that, 4,101 pounds of trash is now on its way to Earthworks Recycling. So what’s the total take? Eight tons of garbage cleared from our river shorelines!

The “most interesting trash” competition was judged by local artist and garbologist Gabriel Brown, covering four categories - useful/valuable, beautiful/pretty, sad/creepy, and humorous/entertaining. The grand prize, a float for four people by NWA, went to a rusted Studebaker door hauled in by Brett, Kristen and Jasper Danielson.

Thanks to all 36 of our team leaders, on-site medics and incident commanders, steering committee, and numerous event partners. Thanks too, to our fantastic cleanup sponsors, including Wheelabrator Spokane, Waste Management, Washington Trust Bank, and Avista Utilities.

Check out the snapshots of this year’s event below - thanks and credits to Steve Dawson of the Spokane Camera Club. Plus, we’ve added links to some great media follow-up and on-line coverage of the event.

Already thinking waaaay ahead? It’s not too soon to mark your calendar for next year’s seventh annual Spokane River Clean-Up - (tentatively) set for Saturday, October 3rd, 2009!

“Shallow Cogitations” post (weblink)
Down to Earth post (weblink)
Out There Monthly post (weblink)
2008 Clean-Up Snapshots (Flash™ gallery)

As the design and permitting phase of Spokane’s proposed whitewater park continues to progress, one step involves hosting “open-house” style meetings to give folks an opportunity to see the work first-hand - and to give FOF and its design consultants feedback.

Just such an event is coming up soon: Spokane Parks, acting as lead in this case, is hosting a public meeting on the whitewater park on Thursday, August 14 at the West Central Community Center from 6:00 to 7:30 pm. Per State requirements, the Department recently sent notice by mail to those who live near the project area, and has posted notice in “People’s Park” near the Sandifur Bridge.

Again, the purpose of the meeting is to receive comments and input from the community on the preliminary design of the feature, and will serve as the initial public meeting for the project’s conditional use permit application under State shoreline regulations.

Please help us out by attending this important meeting, and by letting anyone who wishes to express their support for and/or concerns about the project know about it, too!

It’s already one of our favorite publications (we tend to read it cover-to-cover as soon as it arrives) but the March issue of Out There Monthly has special appeal for Friends of the Falls, since it’s our Board Vice-Chair, Travis Nichols, gracing the cover!

The related article, entitled ”Year of the River,” celebrates opportunities inherent in what should be a very good flow year for the Spokane River, due to an ample snowpack in nearby mountains. It’s full of information about various stretches of the river, including little-known history, safety information for would-be boaters, club contacts, and more.

As for Travis, he’s been involved with FOF since his volunteer “work” helping kayak-escort several of our spring raft trips a few years ago. He’s an expert whitewater guy, and even helps teach newcomers to the sport. Some of Travis’ key volunteering these days involves representing FOF in the City’s ongoing Shoreline Master Program effort.

Check out the Out There article below, or better yet, pick up a copy at just about any area coffee house, grocer, or pub. We’ve included a link to a larger picture of Travis’ cover, too, but it’s mainly there to embarrass Travis a bit…

Oh, and we might add that the author of the Out There article, Paul Delaney, has also served as skipper on many of FOF’s spring floats. Great article, Paul, and great choice for the cover!

“Year of the River” - Out There Monthly, March issue (Weblink)
Cover Picture (.jpeg file)

Following a long cold winter, we’ve had some fantastic spring weather recently. And because regional mountain snowpack levels were pretty healthy this year, they’re now beginning to feed what should be a great year for the Spokane River and Falls. Right now, they’re truly spectacular.

One FOF member took a few snapshots of the river last Sunday and Monday, and sent them along for everyone’s enjoyment. Captions are included, in case you’re not sure about the vantage points.

Check out the photos below, but know there’s no photographer or camera made that captures the experience of standing near the river in-person. If you go, be sure to visit the base of the Lower Falls in Huntington Park; despite appearances, this area is open to the public. Find stairway access behind the north side of City Hall.

Tribes considered the Falls to be sacred; many thousands since - if given opportunity and the proper perspective - have reached similar conclusions.

The River and Falls await. Set other things aside, watch and listen.

Update: As the river neared its peak on May 23, the Spokesman-Review’s Thomas Clouse filed an amazing, well-narrated video story - check it out at the link below!

Falls Snapshots (Flash™ Gallery)
Spokane River Water Show (weblink)