Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway Holds 15th River Sweep in Honor of Earth Day

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Last year, more than 1,000 volunteers donated their time during River Sweep.
Last year, more than 1,000 volunteers donated their time during River Sweep.

 

Darlington, Md., March 24, 2015 – Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway’s 15th annual River Sweep, a volunteer shoreline and roadside clean-up in honor of Earth Day, will take place in Havre de Grace, Conowingo, Perryville and Port Deposit plus Garrett Island on Saturday, April 18.

Online volunteer pre-registration takes place through Tuesday, April 14, at www.upperbaytrails.com or by emailing [email protected].

On April 18, volunteers are asked to check in at 8:30 a.m., with the clean-up from 9 a.m. to noon, rain or shine. Meeting locations are:

Harford County:

  • Tydings Park, Havre de Grace: Commerce Street

Cecil County:

  • Conowingo Creek (Boat Lunch), Conowingo: 2 Mt. Zoar Road (Mt. Zoar Road and the water)
  • Octoraro Creek (Conowingo Community Park), Conowingo: 1720 Susquehanna River Road
  • Marina Park, Port Deposit: 190 South Main Street
  • Perryville Boat Launch and Garrett Island, Perryville: 501 Roundhouse Drive
  • Perryville Community Park, Perryville: Marion Tapp Parkway.

Those interested in volunteering on Garrett Island should bring their kayaks and canoes and meet at the Boat Launch in Perryville. Boaters are also welcome.

River Sweep participants will fan out to spend the morning removing trash and other debris from the Upper Bay region, including the Chesapeake Bay, Susquehanna River and tributaries that feed into the Susquehanna River.

River Sweep volunteers are encouraged to wear old clothes and to bring work gloves. Volunteers who sign up in advance will receive lunch.

Last year, more than 1,000 volunteers donated their time during River Sweep. Volunteers, including individuals, families and youth groups, removed several tons of trash including plastic bags, tires, propane tanks, large metal cylinders reminiscent of airplane parts, a shopping cart and car batteries. Over the past 14 years, River Sweep volunteers have removed approximately 80 tons of trash from area roads and waterways.

Sponsors of the 2015 River Sweep include Maryland Heritage Areas Authority and Exelon.

Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway is a nonprofit organization based in Darlington whose mission is to advocate for local economic development by creating a linkage to natural, historic and cultural resources through land and water recreational trails. To date, 22 miles of continuous public recreation trails connecting Harford and Cecil counties have been constructed. The trail system also has been designated a priority segment of both the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail and the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail. For more information about Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway, visit www.upperbaytrails.com.

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