Recreation is a vital part of life in the Tri-State and with the area on the Ohio River, water activity is an important part of that.

One of the most beautiful waterways is Symmes Creek, a once neglected part of Lawrence County, that now has been rescued.

That is thanks to a small group of volunteers who have spent countless hours cleaning out the brush and timber that has clogged the creek making it impossible to navigate.

Once a month the Symmes Creek Restoration Committee meets out at the nature center at Lake Vesuvius to come up with ways to keep the creek viable.

Several times a year the committee has special events, always open to the public.

One such is coming up on Aug. 13 when the committee hosts the Symmes Creek Canoe Caper.

This is where those with canoes or kayaks get into the creek at the Chesapeake boat ramp and paddle for several miles scouting out and picking up trash and any debris that is littering the waterway.

The caper has been going on since 1977 when the restoration committee was founded by community activist and nature lover Art Ferguson Jr.

There was a time that a canoeist would put in at the farthest point of the creek but have to stop and pull out and walk for a while along the bank because trash and debris blocked the creek.

But so much of that has been cleaned up thanks to the volunteer efforts of the committee that continue to make sure Symmes Creek remains a jewel.