Christmas for Coho tree collection dates is January 7 and 14, 2023. The public can drop off used Christmas trees from 9am to 4pm at Northwest Fly Fishing Outfitters (10910 NE Halsey Street, Portland, OR 97220) and the Old Fire Station Next to Royal Treatment Fly Fishing (6000 Failing St., West Linn, OR 97068). The cost is $10 per tree to cover transportation and other related expenses. To protect water quality, we regret that we cannot accept trees with flocking or tinsel.

CONTACT: Mike Gentry (503) 636-0061 michaelgentry04@comcast.net

Christmas for Coho History 

In 2012, the Tualatin Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited began this innovative program that provides a public service while at the same time benefiting Oregon coastal coho salmon. It has grown each year, with many hundreds of trees collected each holiday season. The effort has received national and local media coverage, including an award from Field & Stream magazine in 2014 as one of its Heroes for a Day ten top volunteer conservation projects: http://www.fieldandstream.com/hero-for-a-day/videos/2014/seaside

TU volunteers collect the Christmas trees and deposit them into selected backwaters, beaver ponds, and wetlands in the Tualatin and Clackamas river watersheds. The trees quickly provide shade and shelter for juvenile coho and nurturing breeding habitat for invertebrates the fish feed on. Results have been amazing, with thousands of young coho observed feeding and hiding among the trees. This enhanced habitat helps young coho thrive during the critical rearing period before they swim out to the ocean.