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Ohio River Sweep on the Hocking Looking for Volunteers


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The Ohio River Sweep 2016 is scheduled for Saturday, June 18, along the shoreline of the Ohio River and many of its tributaries. Volunteers are needed for this massive event.

The Ohio River Sweep is a riverbank cleanup that extends the entire length of the Ohio River and beyond. More than 3,000 miles of shoreline will be combed for trash and debris. This is the largest environmental event of its kind and encompasses six states.

This year, the Athens Soil and Water Conservation District is joining ORSANCO and will be coordinating a local effort in this event. At a length of nearly 100 miles, the Hocking River is a major tributary of the Ohio River. The local effort will cover about 4 miles of the Hocking River between the West Union Street Bridge and just behind the Lowes Home Improvement Store. Check-in is 9:00am to 9:30 a.m. and trash pick-up 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. All those interested in volunteering for this event can visit the website www.athensswcd.org to register. Youth are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult.

The first 100 to volunteer for the Hocking River pick-up will receive a 2016 River Sweep T-Shirt. Thanks to our local sponsors all participants will be served lunch after the pick-up. Trash bags are provided and gloves will be issued to each volunteer. Volunteers may also call (740) 797-9686 for more information.

The Ohio River Sweep is sponsored by the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) and other state and environmental agencies from Pennsylvania to Illinois. ORSANCO is the water pollution control agency for the Ohio River. Visit the website www.OhioRiverSweep.org to find a list of pick-up locations.