Volunteers from around the Tri-State will help clean up the Ohio River this weekend.

Monday, June 12, 2000

Volunteers from around the Tri-State will help clean up the Ohio River this weekend.

River Sweep, the annual riverbank cleanup that extends the entire length of the Ohio, will involve volunteers from six states this Saturday morning.

"The River Sweep is very important because for a few hours on one day volunteers can help make a difference," said Jeanne Ison, Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission project director.

The project has grown so much, that ORSANCO has been able to expand the sweep to tributaries and feeder streams of the Ohio.

And, because there’s so much to clean up, volunteers are greatly needed, said Rhonda Barnes, ORSANCO communications coordinator.

"There’s more than enough time to decide you want to volunteer," Ms. Barnes said.

The River Sweep gives people a sense of purpose with the river and brings them closer to understanding issues about their water, she said.

"It’s a shame there’s so much that has been dumped into the river."

Already, organizers are receiving reports that this winter’s flooding and strong spring rains has piled trash up around the river’s Tri-State shores, Ms. Barnes said.

"There’s more litter and hopefully this will clean up some of that," she said.

Volunteers who want to participate in Lawrence County can choose from two separate cleanup locations – the Center Street boat landing in Ironton and the Symmes Creek boat landing in Chesapeake.

Coordinator for the Symmes Creek cleanup site will be the Lawrence County Municipal Court, Judge Don Capper and bailiff Carolyn Miller. Groups and individuals who want to participate at that site Saturday morning may call the municipal court at 867-3127.

The Ironton boat ramp cleanup site will be coordinated by the Kitts Hill Grange. Volunteers for that area may call the Lawrence-Scioto Joint Solid Waste Management District at 533-4418.

It’s easy to volunteer, Ms. Barnes said.

Volunteers need only show up about 9 a.m. or anytime Saturday morning, register, don some gloves, grab trash bags and get to work, she said.

Trash bags, gloves and other materials will be provided.

Each participant receives a free T-shirt and the community pride of helping keep their river clean, Ms. Barnes said.

River Sweep 2000 is sponsored by ORSANCO, community groups, government agencies and various industries throughout the Ohio River Valley.

ORSANCO is the water pollution control agency for the Ohio River and its tributaries.

For more information, contact ORSANCO at 1-800-359-3977.