Earth Day volunteers make a clean sweep of Riverfront Trail

Earth Day volunteers with showed up to remove garbage from Riverfront Trail today, an event planned by the Columbia Gorge Conservation Group.

By Tom Peterson

The Dalles, Ore., April 22, 2026 — Volunteers marked Earth Day by hauling roughly 500 pounds of trash from the Riverfront Trail, clearing debris from the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center to The Dalles Marina during the third annual cleanup organized by the Columbia Gorge Conservation Group.

Despite wet weather, 10 volunteers turned out for the morning effort, spreading out along the trail from 9 a.m. to noon. The group covered the entire stretch, including shoreline areas and inlets such as Klindt’s Cove, where divers removed submerged debris.

“We had a good turnout despite the weather,” said Michael DeHart, 42, president of the Columbia Gorge Conservation Group. “Double digits — that’s great.”

Volunteers collected tires, bottles and cans, as well as what DeHart described as a completely abandoned campsite along the trail.

The cleanup effort filled one large work truck, totaling an estimated 500 pounds of garbage. The Dalles Disposal assisted with disposal.

Local diver Jeffe White working in Klindt’s Cove as Colby Archer looks on from shore.

Underwater work at Klindt’s Cove was led by local diver Jeffe White, a Hood River paramedic, with support from Joe Cruz of The Dalles, who had planned to dive but instead assisted from shore due to an injury. Colby Archer and DeHart also worked as part of the support crew.

Cruz, who has previously removed significant amounts of debris from local waterways, said he was satisfied with the outcome of the effort.

Cruz on a previous dive to remove trash in Klindt’s Cove.

The cleanup builds on ongoing volunteer efforts to remove trash and fishing debris from the Columbia River. In past dives, Cruz has recovered items ranging from cans and metal hardware to abandoned fishing gear, including lines and ghost nets that can continue trapping fish long after being lost.

Organizers said the annual cleanup continues to grow through word of mouth, social media and support from local businesses and families.

“We’re super thankful and grateful for everyone’s support,” DeHart said. “We appreciate our community very much here.”

DeHart said the effort is driven by a long-term goal of stewardship and protecting the river for future generations.

“I have four boys, our vice president has a child — our biggest goal is for future generations,” he said. “We enjoy what we do and want them to enjoy it too. The only way to do that is stewardship.”

The group plans to continue expanding its outreach and conservation efforts, encouraging more community members to take part in protecting the Columbia River and surrounding areas.