Second Willamette River drowning reported near Eugene, man identified
A second Willamette River drowning near Eugene was reported at Clearwater Park, where 26-year-old Justin Daniel Brudvig of Oregon City was found face-down, tethered to a paddleboard.
A second Willamette River drowning near Eugene was reported at Clearwater Park, where 26-year-old Justin Daniel Brudvig of Oregon City was found face-down in the water, tethered to a paddleboard. Lane County Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol deputies were notified of a water rescue around 4:40 p.m. July 14, and Eugene Springfield Fire later located Brudvig after a missing-person call.
Clearwater Park sits on the Middle Fork Willamette River and offers direct river access, two boat ramps and parking on a 65-acre natural area managed by Willamalane Park and Recreation District. The park is used for fishing, boating and other water activities, which puts paddlers and swimmers into moving water at one of the region’s most accessible launch points.
The sheriff’s office said Brudvig was paddleboarding when he was found. The Lane County Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol works across 4,620 square miles and covers more than 40 lakes, five navigable rivers and streams, plus coastal waters, making it the county unit that handles the most immediate river response calls in Lane County.
The death comes amid a string of recent Willamette River emergencies in the Eugene-Springfield area. KLCC reported on July 16 that drownings had claimed victims on both the Willamette and North Umpqua rivers, and local coverage over the past year has repeatedly pointed to the Willamette’s hazards during summer floating and paddleboarding trips, including snags, lost floatation devices and near-drownings.
Lane County and regional water-rescue agencies are urging people to change their habits now. Wear a life jacket on or near the water, keep alcohol out of boats, know the route and the hazards before launching, and call 911 immediately if someone is missing or goes under. The Willamette Water Trail also points paddlers to the Oregon State Marine Board’s free online safety course for non-motorized boating and paddling, a basic step that can be taken before heading back to Clearwater Park or any other Eugene-area river access point.
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