Volunteers needed for Colorado River cleanup
In an effort to help beautify state lands, the Bureau of Land Management Yuma Field Office and the Amigos del Rio are looking for volunteers to cruise down the Colorado River in their boats to participate in the 24th Annual Reverse River Run.
The event is a two-day cleanup of the Colorado River shoreline between Yuma and Blythe.
The staging point for the event will be at 7 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, at Fisher's Landing for a pre-trip sign up and briefing before departing at 8 a.m. From there volunteers will begin cleaning the shoreline as they cruise approximately 70 miles to the north. A traditional halfway point is Walters Camp, where gasoline can be purchased and a lunch break can be taken.
Participants may camp overnight at the KOA in Blythe on Saturday night for $6 per person, and a barbecue consisting of hamburgers and hot dogs will be held that evening. The cost of the barbecue is $4 per person.
On Sunday morning, participants can begin their return to Fisher's Landing at their own leisure.
“This is a really good opportunity for the public. First of all, it should be beautiful weather that weekend... People can get out into the outdoors, they can get on the river and enjoy themselves with their families and also in the process also help make our rivers and lakes and public lands more beautiful by cleaning up and helping get rid of some of the trash that is along the shorelines,” said Lori Cook, spokeswoman for the BLM field office in Yuma.
She added that people are not required to participate both days but can just stay until the halfway point and turn back, noting that any amount of help is appreciated.
“Come on out and meet some new people, and do some good while you're out there,” Cook said.
Safety is a primary concern and participants are asked to come prepared for overnight camping and weather extremes typical for this time of year.
Participants must have life vests and should also bring hats, sturdy gloves, sunscreen, insect repellent and plenty of water. Volunteers are responsible for bringing their own food and beverages for the weekend.
Cook recommended that people also bring garbage pickers to help them reach trash that sometimes gets caught in the vegetation along the shorelines.
T-shirts will also be for sale for $5. Trash bags will be provided.
For more information, contact Amigos del Rio member Smokey Knowlton at 783-6353 or Yuma River Tours at 783-4400.
Sarah Womer can be reached at swomer@yumasun.com or 539-6858. Find her on Facebook at Facebook.com/YSSarahWomer or on Twitter at @YSSarahWomer.
