Show your river some love and join us for our 3rd annual Valentine’s Dip - this year on a Saturday! Feb. 15, 2020 at 11:00am!

FREE! AND ALL PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE TWO FREE ADMISSIONS TO TBFX!

Meet us at Willamette Park on the west side of the river. Look for our tents. REGISTRATION starts at 10am!

We’ll be celebrating 180 days (six months) straight without a CSO (Combined Sewer Overflow) in the Willamette River. All participants will receive TWO FREE ADMISSIONS to the 10th anniversary of The Big Float, TBF X (Saturday July 11th), plus coffee and treats! Over 100 people are anticipated for this years splash!

Why are we jumping into the 44 degree river in the middle of winter? Because it’s there! With supervision, it’s safe for dipping. And we want to bring attention to the improvement of Willamette River water quality and the great success of the Big Pipe and the city’s green infrastructure – green street planters, ecoroofs, rain gardens and more - that keep our river clean and ensure that overflows are exceedingly rare.

What difference has the City of Portland’s Big Pipe project made? Before completion in 2011, overflows in the winter were a regular occurrence, occurring during most rainstorms. The Big Pipe project eliminated 94 percent of overflows. The Bureau of Environmental Services’ water quality testing consistently shows bacteria levels safe enough for swimming.

Still, there are people in Portland who believe EVERY time it rains, regardless of the amount, sewage flows into the Willamette River. Not true! HAP’s Valentine’s Dip brings attention to the FACT that in 2019 there was a total of one and in 2018 there was a total of two sewage overflows, an occurrence of about 0.4% of the year. It is now a statistical anomaly when it happens. HAP is not apologizing for sewage overflows - just helping present them in a reasonable context.

Ultimately, this is a fun way to bring attention to something positive in our community with the Portland’s river-loving community. We will likely even see some people dress up in costume!

“At 4,000 acres, the Willamette River is Portland’s second largest open space and natural area. The Willamette River is the heart of our city and our city’s blue space,” said Willie Levenson, Human Access Project’s Ringleader.

So pack a suit, some river shoes, and show some Valentine’s Day love for your river by taking a chilly dip!

The Human Access Project, known for its cultural transforming event and fundraiser The Big Float, is a nonprofit river advocacy group whose mission is to transform Portland’s relationship with the river that flows right through the heart of our city. Learn more about HAP at humanaccessproject.com

This is a fun way to bring attention to something positive in our community with your river-loving friends. Don’t be shy if you like to wear costumes!

Join us for the Valentine’s Day Dip when loving your river gives you goose bumps!

More details available here: https://www.facebook.com/events/453070705626130/