Thank you to all of the volunteers that participated in the 2020 “Summer” Litter Clean-Up (SLC)! This year’s event was a virtual, ‘Do-It-Yourself’ event during the month of July. Volunteers were encouraged to find nearby areas, streams and parks in need of litter removal. Over 115 people registered to participate this year. Every little bit of trash collected makes a big difference! Roadways and streams are the areas most plagued with trash and debris.
According to Keep Ohio Beautiful, the yearly estimates for roadside litter in Ohio is over 12 tons (or, 51.2 billion pieces of trash), with cigarettes being the most problematic. Much of this trash originates from motorists and ends up washing into storm drains and streams. Unfortunately it’s not uncommon to find dumping areas near streams and lakes, where items such as old appliances or car parts are irresponsibly discarded. Events like the SLC and the upcoming Ohio River Sweep are so important for communities to take action to clean up unsightly trash and work towards litter prevention.
Clermont SWCD and the Valley View Foundation would like to extend a special thank you to the event sponsors: Duke Energy Foundation, Southern Ohio Association of Realtors and the Clermont County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. Thank you also to the local businesses that donated prizes for the volunteers who reported their activities: Lykins Energy Solutions, Chick-fil-A (Milford), Chipotle, AMC Movies, Shell Gas, Cincinnati Nature Center and the Clermont County Park District. We’re looking forward to SLC 2021!
P.S. Check out some of fun pictures sent in by our volunteers! https://www.springlittercleanup.com/
Hello everyone! My name is Christina Gates and I am the new District Conservationist for Clermont and Brown Counties. I have just made the move to Ohio NRCS after working with Indiana NRCS for the last 3 ½ years and spent 2 ½ years prior to that with Shelby County Soil and Water Conservation District.
I am a Purdue University-Ag Economics alumnus and after being in the ag industry post-graduation, decided that I would like to have a career in conservation. At Shelby County SWCD I was the Natural Resource Specialist and wrote a Watershed Management Plan for The Lower Big Blue River (HUC-10) under the EPA Section 319 Grant. In 2016 I started as a Soil Conservationist with NRCS in Greencastle, Indiana and in 2019 became a District Conservationist in Greene County, Indiana.
Outside of work I enjoy the outdoors—boating, fishing, racing, hiking, concerts, and most recently shopping at Lowe’s for new homeowner DIY projects. I am very excited to have the opportunity to join Ohio NRCS—to grow, learn, become involved, and share my knowledge of conservation!
Due to the pandemic, safety concerns for the coordinators and volunteers prohibit the large groups of volunteers that ORSANCO’s Ohio River Sweep typically hosts. Despite these challenges, individuals, families and small groups may volunteer to do their own “mini-River Sweep” cleanups. These groups of 10 people or fewer can contact Penny Greenler, Clermont County’s River Sweep Coordinator, to sign-up for this event.
If you want to conduct your own river sweep, you will be supplied with a t-shirt and gloves (as long as supplies last) and lots of garbage bags.
Just follow these steps!!
We hope that this year’s Sweep can be conducted and fulfill its mission in this creative way, and continue engaging citizens in the importance of cleaning and protecting the Ohio River which is a valuable natural resource.
