Stream and River Cleanup

You andyour groupwill help theenvironmentby removinggarbage froma stream orriver.

DESCRIPTION:

OBJECTIVESBy participating in this activity,your group will:

1. Improve the water qualityof a stream or river.

2. Work with other volun-teers within the commu-nity to clean up a sectionof a stream or river.

3. Record the amount ofgarbage removed fromthe waterway.

4. Work cooperativelywith city-works depart-ments to coordinategarbage pickup.

TIMEPlanning may take several weeks;the actual cleanup will take oneafternoon.

AGEVolunteers of any age can cleanup a stream or river. Youngvolunteers should be accompa-nied by an adult.

COSTMost of the supplies needed for astream cleanup can be found athome. You may have to purchaserefreshments or garbage bags,gloves, and other equipment.

YOU WILL NEED:

◆ Stream Walk Worksheet

◆ Topographic map of thearea

◆ Parent/guardian permis-sion slip

◆ First aid kit

◆ Orange cones at any trashcollection site along a road

◆ Life jackets for veryyoung volunteers(optional)

◆ Camera and film

◆ Work gloves

◆ Trash bags

◆ Rakes, shovels, and/orpitchforks

◆ Waders, high rubberboots, old shoes or otherfootwear

◆ Insect/tick repellent

◆ Refreshments

Note: Ask local grocery stores,soft drink distributors, or restau-rants to donate snacks, lunches ora picnic after the job is done.Local hardware stores, discountstores or other businesses may bewilling to donate items such asgloves and trash bags.

BACKGROUNDWhen you survey your streamor river site before the actualcleanup, you may notice twokinds of debris: human-made andnatural. Both kinds of debris canhave negative impacts on astream or river.

Human waste such as litter canbe especially harmful to aquaticanimals that may view this wasteas food or a suitable place to live.Natural debris such as logs,leaves, and soil can be good forwildlife but too much of a goodthing can restrict water flow.

Normally, natural debris such astrees or branches are not removedduring stream cleanups. Thisdebris may provide fish habitat,so you should consult your localDepartment of Natural Resourcesfish manager before removing it.

During a cleanup, it’s veryimportant to record the amountof garbage collected. You can usethis information to educatepeople in you community aboutthe amount of garbage found inlocal streams.

Many communities have streamand river cleanup campaignseach spring. Volunteers can eitherjoin an established cleanup effortor organize a new effort.

PLANNING A CLEANUPPROJECT

1. Pick a cleanup date.

2. Choose a stream orriver.

The site you choose foryour cleanup shouldreflect the size and abilitiesof your group. Smallgroups may want to focuson a stretch of stream in apark or neighborhood. Alarge group may want todevelop a major cleanupeffort.

Contact your local parksdepartment, area DNRoffice for informationabout existing stream andriver cleanup projects inthe area.

Organizers of large-scaleefforts need to plan atleast six months in advancefor fundraising, permits,safety concerns, andsolicitation of volunteers.Union approval from cityworkers may even benecessary.

3. Get Permission.

Before you begin to cleanup, get permission fromlandowners who livealong the stream bank.

4. Survey your site.

Use the worksheet in theStream Walk Survey unit tocollect information aboutthe stream or river you’vechosen. The survey willhelp to identify any areasthat need cleanup. It willalso help you identify anyareas along the stream orriver that are not safe forvolunteers.

Area topographic mapsthat include the stream orriver can be found at mapstores.

5. Organize teams.

If you have a large group,organize into severalteams with team or arealeaders (one for every 6-8volunteers). Each teamleader should know whatsection of the stream toclean and where the wastepickup sites are, and keeptrack of how much wasteis collected.

6. Remember safety.

Because volunteers will beworking near water andmay be carrying items,safety is an importantconsideration.

Clothing: advise yourvolunteers to wear heavygloves, thick pants, sturdyshoes and safety goggles(when appropriate). Onlyadults should pick uphazardous items such asbroken glass and syringes.

First aid: adequate firstaid kits should be avail-able at the cleanup siteand someone there shouldknow how to administerfirst aid.

Garbage sites along roads:if needed, contact thehighway department toprovide warning cones,signs or flags for sites wherevolunteers will be leavinggarbage for pickup.

7. Get permission fromadults.

Parents or guardians mayneed to give written per-mission for your volunteersto participate in a cleanupeffort. A permission slip

should include an emer-gency phone contact andpermission to seek medi-cal assistance. Contactyou group’s insuranceagent for information onliability insurance.

8. Arrange for garbageremoval.

Contact the city worksdepartment to arrange forgarbage removal or findout where the garbage canbe taken. Local govern-ment agency contacts ordevelopers may be willingto help with removal.Locate nearby recyclingcenters of the recyclableproducts.

9. Publicize the event.

Notify local newspapers,radio and televisionstations about your project.Point out your project’scontribution to improvingwater quality and toenhancing communitypride.

10. Double check your list.

Check your list of thingsto do one more time tomake sure everything hasbeen covered.

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THE CLEANUP DAY1. Keep records.

Group leaders shouldkeep track of how muchgarbage has been col-lected either measuringthe number of bagscollected or the weight ofthe garbage.

2. Take photographs.

Be sure to take photos ofyour volunteers in action!You can use “before” and“after” photographs toshow people what yourgroup has accomplished.

3. Final pickup.

Arrange for volunteersto help with returningborrowed materials anddisposing of garbage orrecyclables.

4. Celebrate!

Reward yourself andyour volunteers with apicnic or party.

AFTER THE CLEANUP1. Recognize your

volunteers.

Thank everyone whoparticipated, includingproperty owners, mer-chants, local governmentsstaff, elected officials andother people who con-tributed to the success ofyour project.

2. Inform and educate.

Tell your communityhow much garbage wascollected from localstreams and rivers.Encourage them to

“Make WAVes” throughpollution prevention.

3. Enjoy the results!

Thanks to your efforts,another Wisconsinwaterway will be moreenjoyable to view, safer toswim in and will providemore suitable habitat forwildlife.

RESOURCESAmerica OutdoorsNational River Clean UpP.O. Box 10847Knoxville, TN 379391-800-524-4814

Water Action Volunteers is acooperative program between theUniversity of Wisconsin–Extensionand the Wisconsin Department ofNatural Resources. For moreinformation, contact Kris Stepenuck,Water Action VolunteersCoordinator at 608-264-8948 or608-265-3887.

WAV materials revisedSummer, ©2001.