Volunteer scuba divers will once again descend beneath the surface of Mirror Pond in Bend, Oregon, this weekend as part of the 30th Annual Deschutes River Cleanup, marking the first underwater cleanup of the popular waterway in around 15 years.
Organised by the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council, the annual cleanup has become one of Central Oregon’s largest volunteer environmental events, bringing together hundreds of participants to remove litter from the Deschutes River and its surrounding parks. This year’s event takes place on Saturday, July 11, with cleanup sites stretching throughout the watershed.
Mirror Pond, one of Bend’s most recognisable landmarks, has long attracted locals and visitors alike. While volunteers regularly collect rubbish from the riverbanks, underwater cleanups require experienced scuba divers capable of safely recovering debris from the riverbed.
According to organisers, this will be the first time in approximately 15 years that divers have carried out a dedicated cleanup beneath Mirror Pond. Over the years, similar operations have recovered bicycles, shopping carts, traffic cones, fishing gear, cans, bottles and other discarded items that have accumulated below the surface.
Although the exact amount of debris awaiting volunteers remains unknown, organisers hope the cleanup will improve water quality, protect aquatic habitats and help preserve one of Central Oregon’s most popular recreational areas.
The Deschutes River Cleanup has grown steadily since its beginnings three decades ago, with volunteers contributing thousands of hours to remove litter, invasive waste and other pollutants from the river system. In addition to scuba divers, kayakers, paddleboarders and land-based volunteers will work together across multiple cleanup locations.
Beyond removing rubbish, the annual event also serves as a reminder of the role the diving community plays in protecting aquatic environments. Community cleanups provide divers with an opportunity to give back to the waters they enjoy while raising awareness of the importance of preventing pollution before it reaches rivers, lakes and oceans.
As the Deschutes River Cleanup celebrates its 30th anniversary, the return of divers to Mirror Pond highlights both the continuing need for stewardship and the positive impact volunteer divers can have beneath the surface.
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