Volunteers needed for Turkey River cleanup
FAYETTE, Iowa (September 10, 2009) – Upper Iowa University professor Dr. Kata McCarville will lead a river cleanup project on Saturday, Sept. 12, beginning at 8 a.m. from the Elgin campgrounds. Volunteers are asked to pre-register by contacting McCarville 563-425-5233 or by e-mail at mccarvillek@uiu.edu.
A 10-mile stretch of the Turkey River will be targeted, with volunteers starting below the dam at Clermont and working downstream from there, paying special attention to the four miles from Clermont to Elgin. According to McCarville, “This is a very popular stretch of river with both locals and visitors to Northeast Iowa.”
McCarville says the success of river cleanup projects hinges on the hard work of volunteers. Responsibilities include the management of the river float, hauling and sorting river junk and recyclables, collecting and removing trash on shore, as well as floating the river and collecting trash from along and in the river. She added, “There are plenty of volunteer opportunities, many of which do not require boating or getting wet.”
“Previous river cleanup efforts in Fayette County have been extremely successful,” said McCarville. “In April, 2009 we did spring cleaning and pulled tires and other junk out of several springs in the county, as well as a successful cleanup on the Volga River during Upper Iowa’s Fayette Appreciation Day. These efforts build on the success of previous cleanups in the county.”
Disposal of river junk and trash will be paid for by a Community Leaders Enhancing Area Rivers (CLEAR) grant, funded by Iowa’s Resource Enhancement and Protection Act-Conservation Education Program (REAP-CEP). The grant is intended to support river cleanup efforts in Fayette County coordinated by McCarville.
Partners involved with the project include UIU students, faculty and staff, Fayette County Conservation Board, and local citizens. Support from local individuals, businesses and groups is also welcome, especially in-kind donations of food and beverages which cannot be purchased with grant funds.
Lunch and drinking water will be provided for registered volunteers on the day of the cleanup. Registered volunteers are eligible for free camping on Friday and Saturday nights, Sept. 11 and 12, with a potluck picnic being planned for Saturday evening in Elgin. On Sunday, volunteers will provide shuttle service for a “fun float” on a river in the area.
Contact:
Sheila Miller,
Director of Publications
Work -- 563-425-5326
Cell -- 319-610-7108
Fax -- 563-425-5701
millers@uiu.edu
www.uiu.edu