Greenfield, MA – October 1, 2010 – With local weather and water conditions quickly becoming hazardous on many rivers and streams, officials of the Connecticut River Watershed Council are advising thousands of local volunteers to postpone their annual Cleanup Day scheduled for Saturday, October 2, or move their work areas completely away from watercourses.
“Mother Nature is telling us to wait a minute and we’re listening,” says Chelsea Gwyther, the Connecticut River Watershed Council’s Executive Director. “With a half of foot of rain overnight in some parts of four-state basin, our concern is for the safety of hundreds of Source to Sea volunteers we have ready to head out toward area river and stream banks.”
Last year 2,132 volunteers participated in the annual one-day cleanup that extends the length of the Connecticut River’s 410 miles through New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. Organizers expect this year’s turnout to be over 2,500.
The new date for this year’s cleanup is Saturday, October 16.
“We are urging our volunteers to postpone their scheduled river cleanups on Saturday,” said Gwyther. “We understand the inconvenience, but want folks to know our concern is their safety above all. These are volunteers, and the great work they are helping accomplish should not come with any risk.”
Gwyther encourages volunteers to contact their group leader directly. “Some groups may decide still to hold it but to move the Cleanup to a safer location,” she explains. “People can also check our website at ctriver.org or call us at 413-772-2020 for up-to-date information.
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