Founded in 1996, Willamette Riverkeeper is the only organization dedicated solely to the protection and restoration of the Willamette River. Our efforts with regard to the improvement of habitat and water quality on the Willamette have made us the leading organization when it comes to Willamette River issues.

Willamette Riverkeeper operates under the principle of the Public Trust Doctrine. The Public Trust Doctrine holds that common areas such as rivers belong to the people, all of the people. While one may own the land next to the river, one cannot own the river itself. Resources like the Willamette River should be protected from harm, pollution and habitat destruction, for the entire public. The public should be able to experience a clean river that poses no threat to their health, and shold be able to not only see, but know that wildlife are not threatened.

The Public Trust Doctrine's origins go back to the Magna Carta and beyond, and reflect a deep held belief that is embodied in modern environmental laws like the Clean Water Act, that our rivers belong to all of us and should be protected as such.

Willamette Riverkeeper belongs to a network of Riverkeeper organizations that work toward similar goals across the country.  United under the Waterkeeper Alliance, Willamette Riverkeeper's progress on the Willamette River is amplified by the succes of other Riverkeeper groups on 165 other rivers, bays, inlets and other waterbodies.

The work of Willamette Riverkeeper is driven by it's passionate Staff and encouraging Board of Directors.  Take a moment to find out more about what draws these individuals to the Willamette River and the role of a Riverkeeper organization.

Staff

Travis Williams, Executive Director and Riverkeeper

From an extensive background of conservation and program development, Travis leads Willamette Riverkeeper to help protect this great Oregon River. Previous to his work with Willamette Riverkeeper he served as Coordinator of the Hydropower Reform Coalition in Washington, DC, a national group dedicated to achieving river restoration through the hydropower dam relicensing process of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Previously he served as Associate Director of Foundation Relations at American Rivers, and served as Coordinator for Program Development for Conservation International. Travis is an avid canoeist.

He grew up in Milwaukie, OR, and graduated from Rex Putnam High School. He has a passion for the river hopes to one day see a river that functions like a river should. He believes the Willamette should be free of contamination and that it should be fit for fish and wildlife, and safe for fishing and swimming for all Oregonians. He holds a BA in International Studies from Portland State University and an MS in Environmental Science from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD.

Contact Travis at travis@willamette-riverkeeper.org

Amy Morrison, River Protection Coordinator

Amy directs Willamette Riverkeeper's River Guardian and River Discovery programs. She is constantly seeking new volunteers and working to spread awareness about the river and the ways people can get involved in its protection and restoration.

Before coming to Willamette Riverkeeper in February 2004, Amy served as a NWSA Americorps member with Tualatin Riverkeepers, where she gained an interest in river advocacy and education. She holds a BS in Environmental Science/Watershed Management from Humboldt State University.

Moving north from her hometown in Ventura California, to the redwoods of Northern California and finally to Portland, Amy has gained a great appreciation for life in the Pacific Northwest. She is thrilled to be working on the Willamette River and enjoys her time spent on the river and in the surrounding communities.

Contact Amy at amy@willamette-riverkeeper.org

Gerry St. Pierre, Restoration Coordinator

Gerry directs Willamette Riverkeeper’s new restoration program. He will be working with watershed councils, county and state agencies, and private landowners to restore habitat throughout the Willamette basin. Gerry will also be recruiting WRK volunteers to work on restoration projects, a potential native plant nursery, and various monitoring activities.

Originally from Michigan, Gerry earned a degree in Biological Sciences from Wayne State University in Detroit. Since moving to Oregon, Gerry has worked on habitat restoration in northwest Oregon, with a special focus on the Columbia and Tualatin Rivers. He has partnered with various local organizations to remove invasive weeds, restore river function, revegetate with native plants and involve landowners and residents in restoring native habitat. Gerry agrees with Rat that “there is nothing- absolute nothing- half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats”, and is delighted to work out of the Portland Boathouse.

Contact Gerry at gerry@willamette-riverkeeper.org.

Amy Baur, Development Coordinator

Since earning a degree in Zoology from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona college, Amy worked and volunteered for conservation organizations and gained marketing and software database experience at a local software company. She will combine her strong organization and office skills with her interest in river conservation to strengthen WRK’s development program. Amy joined the organization as a part-time Development Coordinator in April to research prospective donation opportunities, manage donor acknowledgement processes, and assist in planning future fundraising events.

Contact Amy at amybaur@willamette-riverkeeper.org

Brenna Bell, Staff Attorney

Brenna graduated with honors from the Lewis and Clark Law School in 2001 with a certificate in Environmental and Natural Resource Law.  Before coming to WRK, Brenna was the staff attorney for the Klamath Siskiyou Wildlands Center (KS Wild), based in Southern Oregon.  As KS Wild's attorney, Brenna successfully litigated several federal lawsuits, including a significant victory in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, halting destructive logging operations on thousands of acres of public lands.  Brenna has lived in the Willamette River watershed for almost 15 years, and currently calls the Tryon Creek sub-watershed home. For the past three years, Brenna has served as the president of the board of directors for Tryon Life Community Farm, a sustainability education and demonstration center in SW Portland. 

Contact Brenna at brenna@tryonfarm.org.

Sarah Velander, AmeriCorps Water Quality Coordinator 

Sarah will serve at WRK helping to coordinator water quality volunteers until August 08. She is a local Portlander with a Bachelor of Science in Biology degree from PSU. With additional schooling and a professional interest in the field of environmental restoration. We look forward to finding out what new skills and good ideas Sarah brings to our growing water quality program.

Contact Sarah at sarah@willamette-riverkeeper.org.

Board of Directors

Barbara Dale May, Board President

Ms. May has been a Riverkeeper member and River Guardian for over five years, she has participated in almost every Paddle Oregon event as a pod leader and is always looking for ways to introduce others to the River and Willamette Riverkeeper. As a River Guardian, Barbara dutifully watches over and reports about everything from eagle sightings to new gravel operations on Rivermile 175.5-169 in Eugene. When not keeping an eye on the River, Barbara is often paddling other Oregon rivers, leading cultural adventure trips in Costa Rica, and getting the most out of her recent retirement from teaching Spanish Literature at the University of Oregon.

Bill Young , Treasurer

Over the past year, Mr. Young has been a major contributor to the success of the Portland Boathouse and our River Discovery Program. His leadership and people skills have proven useful as Volunteer Boathouse Manager and have helped to move the Boathouse forward as an organization, also making him a familiar face around the Boathouse. Bill has founded the Willamette River Fun(d) at the Oregon Community Foundation, which has helped to support WRK's work on the Willamette Water Trail.

Joe Coffman

Currently a realtor with John L. Scott Realtors, Mr. Coffman has worked as a city and environmental planner in several locations across the country (Santa Barbara, Portland, Wyoming, and the Midwest). He has also served as a Washington County Housing Commissioner and researcher for the Santa Barbara Environmental Defense Center.

Patricia Benner

Ms. Benner is a doctoral candidate in Fisheries at Oregon State University. Her primary research area involves the characterization historical riverine landscapes and ecosystems in the Pacific Northwest. She is a member of the Corvallis Riverfront Commission, and chairperson of Corvallis Storm Water Planning Committee.

Scott Fogarty

Mr. Fogarty is Executive Director of Friends of Trees. Mr. Fogarty has wide experience in watershed issues, and keenly understands the nexus between healthy river and healthy uplands. He holds a JD (with emphasis in federal environmental regulations) and an MA in political science from West Virginia University as well as a BA in history and political science from Santa Clara University.

John Haines

Mr. Haines joined Mercy Enterprise Corporation/Mercy Corps Northwest in Dec. 2002 as Executive Director. From 1998-2002, he was Vice President and Commercial Lender for ShoreBank Pacific, a start-up community and sustainable development bank in Portland, Oregon. He is a graduate of the University of Wyoming and native of Laramie, Wyoming

Gayle Killam

Ms. Killam is the coordinator of River Network’s clean Water Organizing Project, and effort to improve public involvement in state implementation of the Clean Water Act. She earned her Masters degree from Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment, and received her Bachelor’s degree in economics from Yale University.

Amy Schoener

For nearly two decades Ms. Schoener has lived west of Philomath and has been very much involved with the Marys River Watershed Council. As a local landowner, she has been a Council Chairperson of their water quality/quantity committee, and has been involved with investigating river issue. In addition she often just enjoys the beauty of this peaceful Willamette tributary, from kayak, canoe or shore.

Board Meeting Dates and Times

Willamette Riverkeeper Board meets the third Tuesday of each month from 7-9pm at 1515 SE Water Ave. in Portland.