04-21-2005, 03:34 PM
Volunteers will remove trash ranging from tin cans to major appliances from two river reaches in central Missouri.
BOONVILLE, Mo.--Missourians looking for a way to connect with nature and do something good for the environment might want to look into Missouri River cleanup events planned for May and September.
Missouri River Relief has scheduled a trash cleanup for the reach of river around Easley May 14 and for the stretch around Boonville Sept. 24.
Cooper's Landing Marina, located north of Easley on Highway N in southeastern Boone County, is headquarters for the May event, which will feature a post-cleanup party with live music and food. Among the most anticipated features of these events is the announcement of winners of the "best and oddest" trash item contests.
The event will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 14. Participants should bring their own water and wear long pants, boots or tennis shoes and bring life jackets for any children that will travel by boat.
Scout troops, churches, civic clubs and other groups that plan to participate are asked to register in advance at [url "http://www.riverrelief.org/cleanupsignup"]www.riverrelief.org/cleanupsignup[/url]. Additional information is available at the same Web site. For information about bands, food and other aspects of the event, visit [url "http://www.cooperslanding.net"]www.cooperslanding.net[/url].
Franklin Island Conservation Area, located off Highway 40 and across the river from Boonville in Howard County, will be headquarters for the September event. Missouri River Relief will break new ground by concentrating on the Boonville to Rocheport reach of the river.
The cleanup will begin at 9 a.m. and continue until 3 p.m. Boats will ferry volunteers to river banks and islands to pick up trash. Other volunteers will pick up trash along nearby river banks, trails and roads.
River Relief also will organize an educational event for school children on Friday, Sept. 23 at Franklin Island Conservation Area. For more information, visit [url "http://www.riverrelief.org"]www.riverrelief.org[/url], or call 573/443-0292.
The cleanups rely on volunteers to collect trash ranging from tin cans to major appliances. Turnout for the events often runs in the hundreds. The results are equally impressive.
"We normally collect several tons of trash in one day," said Steve Schnarr, coordinator for the May event. "The trash we collect pretty much covers a barge. We sort it out and recycle everything possible. It is a huge undertaking, but many hands make light work. Everyone involved shares the desire to take care of this great river, and we have a great time. Just being out on North America's greatest river is enough to make the time worthwhile."
Although volunteers provide the labor, river cleanups rely heavily on logistical and financial support from conservation-minded organizations. They provide boats, trash bags, work gloves and help coordinate the events.
Current river cleanup sponsors include the Missouri departments of Conservation and Natural Resources, Ameren-UE, Anheuser-Busch, American Compressed Steel, Bass Pro Shops, the City of St. Charles, the Great Rivers Greenway District, Lafarge North America, the Midwest Area River Coalition, REI Recreational Equipment, Tracker Marine, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Environmental Protection Agency.
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BOONVILLE, Mo.--Missourians looking for a way to connect with nature and do something good for the environment might want to look into Missouri River cleanup events planned for May and September.
Missouri River Relief has scheduled a trash cleanup for the reach of river around Easley May 14 and for the stretch around Boonville Sept. 24.
Cooper's Landing Marina, located north of Easley on Highway N in southeastern Boone County, is headquarters for the May event, which will feature a post-cleanup party with live music and food. Among the most anticipated features of these events is the announcement of winners of the "best and oddest" trash item contests.
The event will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 14. Participants should bring their own water and wear long pants, boots or tennis shoes and bring life jackets for any children that will travel by boat.
Scout troops, churches, civic clubs and other groups that plan to participate are asked to register in advance at [url "http://www.riverrelief.org/cleanupsignup"]www.riverrelief.org/cleanupsignup[/url]. Additional information is available at the same Web site. For information about bands, food and other aspects of the event, visit [url "http://www.cooperslanding.net"]www.cooperslanding.net[/url].
Franklin Island Conservation Area, located off Highway 40 and across the river from Boonville in Howard County, will be headquarters for the September event. Missouri River Relief will break new ground by concentrating on the Boonville to Rocheport reach of the river.
The cleanup will begin at 9 a.m. and continue until 3 p.m. Boats will ferry volunteers to river banks and islands to pick up trash. Other volunteers will pick up trash along nearby river banks, trails and roads.
River Relief also will organize an educational event for school children on Friday, Sept. 23 at Franklin Island Conservation Area. For more information, visit [url "http://www.riverrelief.org"]www.riverrelief.org[/url], or call 573/443-0292.
The cleanups rely on volunteers to collect trash ranging from tin cans to major appliances. Turnout for the events often runs in the hundreds. The results are equally impressive.
"We normally collect several tons of trash in one day," said Steve Schnarr, coordinator for the May event. "The trash we collect pretty much covers a barge. We sort it out and recycle everything possible. It is a huge undertaking, but many hands make light work. Everyone involved shares the desire to take care of this great river, and we have a great time. Just being out on North America's greatest river is enough to make the time worthwhile."
Although volunteers provide the labor, river cleanups rely heavily on logistical and financial support from conservation-minded organizations. They provide boats, trash bags, work gloves and help coordinate the events.
Current river cleanup sponsors include the Missouri departments of Conservation and Natural Resources, Ameren-UE, Anheuser-Busch, American Compressed Steel, Bass Pro Shops, the City of St. Charles, the Great Rivers Greenway District, Lafarge North America, the Midwest Area River Coalition, REI Recreational Equipment, Tracker Marine, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Environmental Protection Agency.
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