Published: June 15, 2009 01:55 pm      

Annual River Sweep set for Saturday

ASHLAND — If it stops raining and the river doesn’t rise, volunteers will again join forces along the banks of the Ohio River Saturday for the annual River Sweep.

“I am hoping for a big turnout at all of our site locations this year. Everyone is encouraged to attend. There is no age limit for the volunteers, however, younger children will need to be accompanied by an adult,” Kelly Ward, River Sweep coordinator for the FIVCO district, said. “We expect a couple of hundred people and encourage everyone to bring their own gloves.”

Boyd County’s only River Sweep location will be at Catlettsburg City Park from 8:30 a.m. until noon because ongoing work at Ashland’s riverfront. In Greenup County, volunteers will work at the old ferry landing and river bank along Ky. 244 from 9 to 11 a.m.; and from 9 a.m. until noon at Greenup City Park, Worthington City Park and the old boat landing in South Shore.

Organizers emphasized volunteers do not have to commit themselves to cleanup duties from start to finish but are welcome to do what they can in the time they have available.

“Even if you only have a few minutes to spare, please stop by the nearest location to participate,” Ward said.

While tremendous strides have been made to improve water quality in the Ohio River, she said increased recreational use of the waterway has contributed to additional litter along riverbanks, along with debris and pollution from the river’s many tributaries.

“I think this is a great thing for our two counties (Boyd and Greenup) as well as the Tri-State region,” Ward said. “I think people take for granted just how valuable a resource we have in the Ohio River and its surrounding tributaries.

“People should take pride in keeping our waterways clean, not only for our benefit, but for all of the wildlife that depend heavily on the Ohio River for their way of life,” he continued. “I know it is so easy to get caught up in the daily stresses of life, but we really need to start doing a better job of learning to conserve and preserve all of our natural resources.”

Ward said teams of volunteers from local companies including Marathon will join with local Scout groups and participants in Greenup County’s Drug Court program for this year’s River Sweep. All volunteers will receive a T-shirt for their participation.

The Ohio River is a source of drinking water for more than three million people and nearly 10 percent of the nation’s population live in the Ohio River basin. The Ohio River flows through or borders six states — Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia and is used to transport more than 230 million tons of cargo each year, with coal and other energy products representing 70 percent of barge commerce.

For more information, call the SWEEP Hotline at (800) 359-3977.

TIM PRESTON can be reached at tpreston@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2651.