River Sweep Volunteers Needed June 16 To Cleanup Waterways In Western PA

Volunteers are needed for the 28th Annual River Sweep Saturday, June 16, from 8 a.m. to noon to help clean up stream and riverbanks in Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver and Westmoreland Counties.

The River Sweep, an annual six-state effort to clean up litter and debris in the Ohio River watershed, is the largest organized volunteer river cleanup effort in the country. The event winds through Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Indiana, West Virginia and Illinois, covering more than 2,400 miles of shoreline.

“The River Sweep is a community effort that teaches the value of our waterways, teamwork and stewardship,” said Betsy Mallison, Pennsylvania River Sweep Coordinator. “Bring dad and the rest of the family and spend a few hours along our rivers and streams and help make a difference in our waterways.”

Volunteers are asked to wear sturdy shoes and long pants, and to bring work gloves, if available. Volunteers must sign a waiver and will receive a free River Sweep t-shirt for participating.

In Pennsylvania, the River Sweep is sponsored by the Department of Environmental Protection, the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) and a number of Pennsylvania corporate sponsors including Duquesne Light, EQT, and the Neville Chemical Company.

There are more than 10 cleanup points in Pennsylvania.  Residents can find out more about River Sweep cleanup locations, by checking the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission’s River Sweep webpage.

(Photo: Grand Prize Winner Ohio River Sweep Poster Contest, Hannah Jones, Mr. Lebanon High School, Pittsburgh.)