RICHMOND —
Armed with gloves, plastic trash bags and a determination to make the local treasure that is the Kentucky River a little bit cleaner, volunteers from as far away as Tennessee pitched in to clean up trash from the banks of the river during Saturday’s annual Kentucky Basin River Sweep on Saturday.
The cleanup attracted more than 100 volunteers, who filled up two garbage trucks with the trash they collected.
The group launched their efforts at Fort Boonesborough Beach, but many got into boats to scour both sides of the river to pick up caches of trash that ranged from old soda cans and cigarette butts to disposable diapers and bobbers tangled in trees by erstwhile fishermen.
The Madison County group concentrated their efforts along the riverbank from the beach to the Valley View Ferry, while similar groups in neighboring counties pitched in to do their part.
This marked the 20th year the effort has been coordinated by the Kentucky River Authority, said Sue Elliston, a representative of the agency. She said all 32 counties along the river participated.
Volunteers received T-shirts and a pizza lunch for participating in the event.
Janny Bett, of Tellico Plains, Tenn., said he and a group of relatives, including his daughter, Jo Ann Gryder, have come to the event every year for about five years, part of their annual visit to relatives who live in the area.
Harry Branham, judge-executive of neighboring Clark County, was on hand to pitch in the effort to clean up the river banks to make the river better for everyone. He said he’s been participating for about six years.
For Jacob King, of Lexington, and Emily Rohr, of Richmond, this was their first year of volunteering in the effort.
“It’s kind of hard to enjoy it (the river) if it’s not clean,” said King, as the couple beat the bushes on the banks to fill their garbage bag with trash.
“I’m a sportsman – a hunter and fisherman and it’s our charter to keep our environment clean,” said area resident George Golliday, who, with his black Labrador retriever, Leia, has participated in the annual cleanup for about three years.
“You’d be amazed at the stuff you find, including medical supplies, like needles and ID bracelets. That’s about the worst of it,” said Golliday.
“Leia hasn’t figured out how to pick up trash, but she does bring me my newspaper,” said Golliday, as the black Lab trotted happily along the riverbank, cooling her paws in the water, while her master filled his trash bag.
Others told of finding such diverse objects as footballs and basketballs along the banks in their cleanup efforts.
The effort was supported by local groups, including the Boonesborough Boat Club, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife and others who supplied boats as transportation for those seeking to get across the river and farther up or down the banks.
Unlike last year’s effort, which was cut short by inclement weather, this year’s River Sweep was conducted during the area’s unseasonable mid-June heat and humidity, which failed to stem the enthusiasm of the army of volunteers.
Pat Banks, of Kentucky Riverkeeper, a citizen’s organization whose mission is to restore and protect the Kentucky River and the communities that depend upon it, said it is imperative to teach children about the importance of stewardship of the river. Many children, accompanied by adults, were in evidence at this year’s event.
The organization provides support for the annual Kentucky River Sweep as part of its advocacy efforts.
Banks recently issued an open letter to the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), stating that Riverkeeper and other organizations and individuals have uncovered abuses of the Clean Water Act in Kentucky and urged it to use its regulatory powers to enforce the Act.
“We’re making a difference,” Banks said Saturday, gazing at the river, “but we’ve got a long way to go.”
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