2020 Fall CLEANUP WILL TAKE PLACE SUNDAY, NOV 8 (raindate Saturday, Nov 14), from 2 to 4!!!
It's been an odd year, to say the least, and we haven't held any of our usual cleanups. Even the Fall In-River Cleanup didn't happen. (Though we did figure out that there's actually a sweet spot for the river cleanup of water being low but not TOO low! We like the river level to be between 1.5' and 2.5' for that cleanup. That allows us to wade and retrieve trash and debris, but it also provides a means of transporting those treasures by ferrying them back to shore on a variety of watercraft. The river is sooo low this year, at under 1' for the past month, that items we find get really challenging to get back to shore with over all the slippery and unstable footing in the exposed riverbed.) But even if we haven't been doing cleanups, people have been leaving us stuff to clean up. The increased emphasis on being outdoors and lack of alternative recreation opportunities has filled our parks and trails and public spaces with people. And those people have all too often left reminders of their presence. So, we're going to gear up to tackle that trash in November!
To keep things COVID-safe, we ask people to wear masks when you come to the cleanup HQ in Hufnagle. If you are working with lots of distance from others later on, you'll be able to stow it, but please wear the mask when gathering. Also remember distancing. And we will forgo the usual shared snacks this time.
We will meet at Kidsburg in Hufnagle Park. From there volunteers will spread out through public spaces in the Borough. This will include going along the creeks, the river bank, and the in-town section of rail trail. If it is merely drizzling, the clean up will continue as scheduled. Cancellation is only in the event of serious rain or lightning.
New as of last year we also include a non-trash-related component of the cleanup. Some people who are up for more exertion and less garbage will be tasked with helping to remove invasive and nuisance plant species from along Bull Run around the covered bridge. We have been doing some planting of live stakes and cut the herbicide use and so now there's all sorts of stuff growing. Prof. Chris Martine and his students helped us ID and tag the plants and then during the cleanup work sesssion, we'll be making room for the native riparian species we are trying to encourage.
This event will be part of the River Town Team effort and under the umbrella of the International Coastal Clean Up which encourages communities all across the globe to minimize the oceans' waste burden. This winds up being a good match for the River Town Team which focuses on the river and impacts to it -- while that coast and those oceans may seem distant, it's very immediate trash that we're sending into our friendly neighborhood waterways.
The areas we will be cleaning are tied to the river, either by being in the immediate watershed or being part of a connector to the river like the rail trail. It’s all connected to a functional and recreational network – or, given some of the gaps that exist, someday hopes to be connected.
During cleanups conducted in the community in past years, volunteers scoured the creeks, stream banks, and even the riverbed in Lewisburg. This fall outing will not involve wading like the In-River Cleanups. Instead we will take advantage on land of the window of opportunity between when the leaves fall and the snow begins. It will be the perfect time to extract litter that has lodged itself in the underbrush.
Community members of all ages (children under 12 should be accompanied by an adult) are invited to volunteer their time for the afternoon and help keep our town, our waterways, and our world clean. Participants will be provided with equipment and directions at the HQ table in Kidsburg at Hufnagle Park. The total area covered will depend on the number of volunteers available. In addition to wearing COVID-suitable face coverings participants should dress for the weather and the activity. Long pants and long sleeves will protect from thorns and rough underbrush. Avoid wearing knits which catch burrs and thorns. And consider pulling back or covering long hair to protect it as well. Sturdy footwear is recommended. We will have gloves, trash bags, buckets, and some trash grabbers, but participants are also welcome to bring their own.
An RSVP is helpful but not required. For more information, contact Lewisburg Neighborhoods at 570-523-0114 and news@LewisburgNeighborhoods.org, text 781-366-0726, or look for us on facebook at On the River -- Lewisburg.
