17th Annual East Fork River Sweep a "Sweeping Success"
On Saturday, April 25, 2009 over 200 volunteers worked together to give the East Fork Little Miami River a proper spring cleaning. Volunteers enjoyed the warm and sunny weather as they cleaned 16 miles of riverbank and shoreline at Valley View in Milford, East Fork State Park, Stonelick State Park and downtown Batavia.
The hard working River Sweepers collected 170 bags of trash (60 gallon trash bags), along with 38 tires, 6 propane tanks, and 2 barrels (55-gallon). Some other, more interesting items included a mailbox, a mattress, 6 lawn chairs, an industrial fan, and a go-cart frame. The River Sweep has been held at the same 4 sites for the last few years and overall, the riverbanks and shorelines were in good condition—volunteers have definitely made a positive impact at these sites over the years.
Many local organizations and businesses participated and provided support for the event. We would like to thank the Clermont County Office of Environmental Quality, Clermont County Water and Sewer District, Valley View Foundation, ODNR State Parks, Clermont Park District, East Fork and Stonelick State Parks, the Harsha Lake Army Corps of Engineers, ODNR-Scenic Rivers Program, the Cincinnati Nature Center, Buckeye United Fly Fishers, the Grassy Run Historical Society, Stantec Engineers Inc., Meijer, Milford Tech Park, Riverside Coffee Mill, Kroger, and the Clermont Soil and Water Conservation District. The event was partially funded by a grant received from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Recycling and Litter Prevention. Special thanks also go to Mark Birkle for donating his time and skills to photograph the event. Mark your calendars in advance — River Sweep 2010 will be held on Saturday, April 24!
For more information contact:
Becky McClatchey
East Fork Watershed Coordinator
Rain Barrels: Reduce Runoff and Conserve Water
The Clermont SWCD has several 60 gallon plastic rain barrel kits in stock for the amazing wholesale price of $80 (actual retail price is $120)! The terra cotta colored barrels are very high quality and come with spigot and nylon plugs required for simple operation.
Rain barrels are great for storing rainwater runoff to irrigate your home garden or landscaping. They also lessen the stress put on local rivers and streams by capturing rooftop runoff. You can purchase yours today by calling (513) 732-7075.