Last summer, a unique event unfolded on the serene waters of the Willamette River, as a group called Mosquito Fleet launched a sunset kayaking adventure.
Approximately 20 individuals, many of whom were first-time kayakers, paddled under the shadows of the St. Johns Bridge.
This excursion, however, was more than just a recreational outing; it was an exploration of the intricate relationship between nature, community, and political action.
Kelsey Baker and El Navarro, two members of the Mosquito Fleet leadership team, guided the group through the waterways, pointing out significant ecological features like osprey nests and evidence of beaver activity along the riverbanks.
A noticeable point of interest during the evening was Zenith Energy’s towering fuel tanks, a stark reminder of the environmental challenges facing the area.
During a halt at Willamette Cove, the group engaged in a discussion about potential cleanup plans for the region, recognized as one of the most polluted parts of the Portland Harbor Superfund Site.
Baker highlighted the political dimension of such outings, stating, “Not a lot of people think of kayaking as political, but when you’re paddling in the middle of a Superfund site across from a six-mile stretch of tanks full of explosive fossil fuels, you can’t ignore it.”
The origins of Mosquito Fleet lie in kayaktivism, a movement where kayaks serve as tools for on-water demonstrations advocating for climate justice.
In 2015, the organization played a pivotal role in a protest in the Port of Seattle against Shell Oil’s plans for Arctic drilling.
That same year, Portland gained national attention when 13 climbers suspended themselves from the St. Johns Bridge to block the passage of the massive Fennica icebreaker, while flotillas of paddlers rallied below.
As the pandemic receded, Mosquito Fleet has shifted its focus to a more essential mission: fostering access to waterways for all.
Through various social outings including sunset paddles, BIPOC paddles, and queer paddles, Mosquito Fleet aims to build connections within the community.
Baker shared her enthusiasm about expanding access when she initiated a kayak lending library featuring about 25 kayaks and canoes.
Set to open at Green Anchors, an eco-art compound situated on a repurposed industrial site by the Willamette, the library allows community members to borrow kayaks free of charge during daylight hours from early summer to early fall.
“I was just like, How can we share this?” Baker recalled.
“We have so many resources, and we’re right here on the water.
I don’t want to just be a small group of people who paddles together and does actions every once in a while.
There’s so much space in between that.”
In addition to paddling, Mosquito Fleet has expanded its outreach initiatives to include kayak training, river and beach cleanups, and disaster preparedness workshops.
Last year, they utilized canoes to distribute food and water to unhoused individuals residing along the Willamette River.
Paddling also remains a form of activism; flotillas have raised awareness against proposed clearcuts in Forest Park and urged the City of Portland to revoke the land use permit for Zenith Energy.
Baker articulated the changing nature of climate justice work, stating, “What does it mean to do climate justice work in a time of climate chaos?”
This evolving understanding not only informs Mosquito Fleet’s activities but also reflects broader national sentiments regarding environmental action.
To foster growth and inclusion, Baker expanded the leadership team to include 10 diverse members, all of whom identify as BIPOC, queer, and/or femme, and are dispersed geographically.
Navarro, who has significant ties to the Willamette River region, remarked on the importance of seeing the river as a living entity that has endured harm rather than viewing it as a dirty or unsafe environment.
“To a certain extent, those things are true,” Navarro noted, “but it itself is not this poisonous, nasty thing.
It had poisonous, nasty things done to it.
Once we start seeing it as a living thing that doesn’t deserve to have that done to it, then our minds start shifting about what’s actually possible for the future of the river.”
During the sunset paddle, participants were encouraged to reflect on their personal connections to water, an exercise designed to nurture gratitude and foster deeper relationships with the environment.
Navarro explained their approach, stating, “You have to provide folks the opportunity to get on the water and see what’s going on.
To actually care and invest in it—for those direct actions to be worth it, for it to mean something—you have to show them what’s at stake.”
The Mosquito Fleet exemplifies a transformative approach to environmental activism, blending community engagement with a commitment to social justice and ecological restoration.
image source from：https://www.pdxmonthly.com/travel-and-outdoors/2025/06/portland-mosquito-fleet-kayak-climate-justice
