08/13/2025
HEADS UP! City of Pocatello and Portneuf River Vision is planning the Annual RIVER CLEANUP - Saturday August 16th (10 a.m. - noon). Meet @ Pacific Recycling Trailhead
We'll have snacks to fuel your efforts. Call us ahead of time if you'd like to bring a boat, use one of our boats, or bring a chainsaw.
We will be sending you out along the river from Sacajawea Park downstream to the Abraszewski Trailhead. There's lots of work to do in the river (we'll have one boat a couple of you can use) and on land.
What should you bring? We'll have nets and gloves you can use, as well as some handsaws. We'll have lots of trashbags. Let us know if you are going to bring a boat or a chainsaw. We'll put you to good use!
What should you wear? If you want to get wet, wear shoes and clothes that can get wet. Otherwise, dress to walk up and down the riverbank. The river is generally 2-4' deep, with some 6' deep holes.
Yesterday, City staff took paddleboards (without fins) down the Portneuf from King Street (Sacajawea Park) to Douglass Lane (north of I-86). We floated about 6 miles over (and under) many debris jams - this stretch of river is NOT recommended for floating until you get to the railroad bridge. What did we see?
A number of tires near Sacajawea Park and downstream
DEBRIS JAMS - the water is low and if you can get in the water to remove trash from these debris jams and help break them up, that would be great. We have a map of the debris jam locations.
There's a large debris jam just downstream of where Pocatello Creek enters the Portneuf. Most of the trash is caught here, if it's not caught upstream. The good news: there's trash, but so much less than there used to be!
Wildlife - deer, great blue heron, barred owl, hawks, small fish and more!