Events
Friends of Wallace Park Fall Festival
Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026
3 to 7 p.m.
Wallace Park
NW 25th Ave. and NW Raleigh St.
Portland, OR 97210
Look for WaterWatch with fellow water nonprofit WaterStrong at the third annual Friends of Wallace Park Fall Festival Saturday, Sept. 12th, from 3 to 7 p.m. at Wallace Park in Northwest Portland. Focused on ending drowning and promoting safer waters, WaterStrong makes life jacket drops at area parks and boat launches, and offers programs on water safety, survival swimming, first aid, and CPR. Stop by and join us for this fun, free event on Saturday as we celebrate the arrival of autumn later this month.
HR 655 Presentation at Forest Over Profits Gathering
Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
350 PDX Climate Justice Warehouse
Rebuilding Center
3625 N. Mississippi Ave.
Portland, OR 97227
WaterWatch communications manager Tommy Hough will offer a presentation on HR 655 and WaterWatch’s communications response to it on Saturday, Sept. 12th, at 11:30 a.m. at the Forest Over Profits event in conjunction with the Center for Biological Diversity at the 350 PDX Climate Justice Warehouse, located at 3625 N. Mississippi Ave. in Portland.
Paddling Across Time — A Hayes River Journey
Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Hopworks Brewing
Powell Mothership Location
2944 SE Powell Blvd.
Portland, OR 97202
In conjunction with the Lower Columbia Canoe Club, WaterWatch is thrilled to present Portland adventurer Lee Sessions, who has ventured to the far north on more than 35 canoe expeditions in pursuit of a lifelong passion for paddling and rediscovering the routes of early explorers, as he presents “Paddling Across Time,” a presentation that follows Lee and his crew as they recount their 2025 self‑supported canoe expedition down Nunavut’s remote Hayes River — a seldom traveled route north of the Arctic Circle in Inuktitut, Canada’s largest, northernmost, and newest territory.
Drawing on research and interviews with previous travelers to the region, Lee and his team explore how motivations for undertaking northern journeys have evolved over time. Their own experience — six paddlers navigating a challenging Arctic river — offers a contemporary lens on the pull of wilderness, the meaning found in shared effort, and the deep connections forged through travel in the far north. The Hayes River also has a special connection with famed Oregon explorer Frederick Schwatka.
RSVP today for this special event at Hopworks Brewery at 2944 SE Powell Blvd. on Wednesday, Sept. 16th. The presentation will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m.
The Best Fly Fishing is Everywhere
A reading and photo travelogue with author Jesse Lance Robbins.
Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026
6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Steeplejack Brewing Co.
2400 NE Broadway
Portland, OR 97232
Join WaterWatch on Tuesday, Sept. 22nd, at 6:30 p.m. at Steeplejack Brewing in Portland as we welcome Springfield-based author and WaterWatch board member Jesse Lance Robbins as he reads selections from his new book The Best Fly Fishing is Everywhere and shares photos from his angling travels.
Jesse’s collection of essays, stories, and meditations moves beyond the pursuit of the
perfect cast or the biggest catch to explore fly fishing as a dialogue between human and nature, solitude and connection, movement and stillness. Former WaterWatch executive director John DeVoe will host the event and moderate a short discussion and Q&A following the readings.
RSVP now to join us for this free event. Copies of The Best Fly Fishing is Everywhere will be available for purchase, with all proceeds going to WaterWatch of Oregon. Great food and drinks are available from Steeplejack! For more, visit JesseLanceRobbins.com.
WaterWatch 24th Annual Celebration of Oregon Rivers
Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026
Doors open at 4:30 p.m.
Castaway Portland
1900 NW 18th Ave.
Portland, OR 97209
Get your tickets and tables for WaterWatch’s 24th Annual Celebration of Oregon Rivers and annual auction coming up on Saturday, Nov. 7th, at Castaway Portland — the same location as last year just north of Downtown Portland at 1900 NW 18th Ave.
Help celebrate our 2026 successes and ensure our momentum remains strong at the biggest river party of the year! Good news too as Golden Tickets will return for this year’s event. For a one-time gift of $100, you can choose from many of this year’s live auction packages should we draw your Golden Ticket number at the event Nov. 7th. We only sell 100 Golden Tickets per year, so purchase yours when they go on sale. Proxy bidding will also return!
Purchase your tickets today and join us Saturday, Nov. 7th, for our 24th Annual Celebration of Oregon Rivers. A special thank you to Katie Jeanne Reim at Final Switchback for granting us permission to use her lovely waterfall artwork as part of our invitation design.
