Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway’s 16th 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 23.
Online volunteer pre-registration takes place through Tuesday, April 19, at www.upperbaytrails.com or by emailing info@upperbaytrails.com.
On April 23, 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 300 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, 55 gallon drums, a shopping cart, and a bicycle. Over the past 15 years, River Sweep volunteers have removed approximately 87 tons of trash from area roads and waterways.
Sponsors of the 2016 River Sweep include Exelon Generation and Maryland Heritage Area Authority.
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.
