Clean Up Your Rivers with Connecticut River Conservancy
Volunteers invited to get dirty for cleaner rivers
Greenfield, MA – Registration is now open for the Connecticut River Conservancy’s (CRC), formerly Connecticut River Watershed Council, Source to Sea Cleanup. This annual event, now in its 21st year, has grown into New England’s largest river cleanup. CRC invites volunteers to continue the tradition of getting dirty for cleaner rivers on Friday & Saturday, September 22 & 23, 2017.
There are three ways for volunteers to get involved in the Source to Sea Cleanup this year: report a trash site in need of cleaning, find a cleanup group near you to join, or organize and register your own local cleanup group. For more information or to register for the event, visit ctriver.org/cleanup.
“The Source to Sea Cleanup strengthens community and gives people an opportunity to improve their neighborhoods,” says CRC Executive Director Andrew Fisk. “When people help clean their rivers, they make lasting connections with each other and with their rivers.” The annual Source to Sea Cleanup is a two-day river cleanup coordinated by CRC in all four states of the 410+ mile Connecticut River basin (NH, VT, MA, CT). Each fall, thousands of volunteers of all ages and abilities clean the Connecticut River and its tributaries on foot or by boat. Volunteers remove trash along rivers, streams, parks, boat launches, trails and more.
“Source to Sea Cleanup volunteers have worked hard to combat litter and illegally dumped trash,” says Alicea Charamut, CRC River Steward and Cleanup organizer. “Their hard work and dedication makes a real difference for our rivers.” In 2016, more than 2,100 volunteers hauled over 50 tons of trash from river banks and waterways in the four river states. Volunteers remove everything from recyclables, fishing equipment and food waste to tires, televisions, and refrigerators. To date, volunteers have kept more than 997 tons of trash from polluting our rivers.
“Some really unbelievable things have been pulled from our rivers, including a cement mixer, parking meters, propane tanks and junk cars,” notes Charamut. This year, in addition to working with local cleanup groups to remove smaller trash items, CRC will continue the larger tasks of cleaning up the many thousands of tires dumped along the Deerfield River in Greenfield, MA and work toward removal of an abandoned oil offloading platform in the Connecticut River in Wethersfield, CT.
“Generous financial support from lead sponsors—Eversource and Tighe & Bond—enable us to organize the thousands of volunteers who participate in the Source to Sea Cleanup and to take on complex projects that require the use of heavy equipment, scuba divers and other professionals to get those really trashed places clean,” says CRC Executive Director Andrew Fisk.
“At Eversource, we value our environment and take great care to promote conservation and carefully manage natural and cultural resources,” said Eversource President of Corporate Citizenship Rod Powell. “The Source to Sea Clean Up is a meaningful way for our employees to put this environmental ethic to work while making this regional treasure a cleaner, safer place for all to enjoy.”
“The Source to Sea Cleanup is a great way for Tighe & Bond to give back and contribute to cleaning up our local environment,” said Tighe & Bond President/CEO Dave Pinsky. “We appreciate the opportunity to help achieve a cleaner Connecticut River, and protect it for future generations.”
If your group wants to get involved but needs a cleanup site, if you have questions, or if you know of a trash site in need of cleaning, contact CRC’s Cleanup Coordinator Alicea Charamut at cleanup@ctriver.org or 860-704-0057. Learn more about the event at ctriver.org/cleanup.
Since 1952, Connecticut River Conservancy has been the voice for the Connecticut River watershed, from source to sea. We collaborate with partners across four states to protect and advocate for your rivers and educate and engage communities. We bring people together to prevent pollution, improve habitat, and promote enjoyment of your river and its tributary streams. Healthy rivers support healthy economies. To learn more about CRC, or to make a contribution to help protect the Connecticut River, visit ctriver.org.
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