More than 150 volunteers worked along and in the Mokelumne River from Pioneer to Lockeford in the Sept. 17 Mokelumne River Cleanup. Enthusiastic cleanup volunteers picked up more than a ton of trash and recyclables on about 26 miles of river and reservoir shoreline, making the Mokelumne and Pardee and Camanche reservoirs healthier, more attractive places for people, wildlife and fish.
The cleanup was part of the annual Great Sierra River Cleanup and California Coastal Cleanup Day.
“Our two sites were definitely cleaner this year,” said Foothill Conservancy Executive Director Chris Wright. “That made things go a lot faster than at some times in the past. We’d like to thank the many high school students who came, their parents and their teachers and advisers, as well as everyone else who gave their Saturday morning working on our beautiful Mokelumne River.”
“EBMUD is pleased to work side by side with Foothill Conservancy to help make this river cleanup event a success every year,” said Kent Lambert, manager of Mokelumne Watershed and Recreation for the East Bay Municipal Utility District. “My congratulations go to the folks at Foothill Conservancy for 20 years of this good work. The heart and soul of the event are the many volunteers who so joyfully and freely give their time to make the Mokelumne River cleaner and healthier. My thanks go out to all the folks involved.”
Site results were as follows:
Electra Road and North Fork/Highway 26 areas: 400 pounds of trash, 80 pounds of recyclables, 64 volunteers, including many Amador and Argonaut High School students.
Middle Bar Takeout, Mokelumne Day Use Area to Stillman Magee Park, Pardee Reservoir and Camanche Reservoir: 1,650 pounds of trash, 390 pounds of recyclables, 92 volunteers ages 6 to 74.
“We really appreciate the community support for the annual Mokelumne River Cleanup,” said Conservancy Cleanup Coordinator Randy Berg. “It’s great to see students, school groups and businesses come together with local residents and organizations every year. We hope everyone will take the next step now and join the more than 7,700 individuals and businesses who support permanent protection of the river through National Wild and Scenic River designation.”
The Foothill Conservancy has been holding Mokelumne River cleanups since 1991. This year’s cleanup sponsors included the East Bay Municipal Utility District, Mokelumne River Outfitters and Camanche Recreation Company. Business sponsors includes ACES Waste Services, California Waste Recovery Systems, New York Fitness, Martell Safeway, Martell Starbucks, Jackson Rancheria, Munnerlyn’s Ice Creamery and Star Doughnuts of Pine Grove. The Great Sierra River Cleanup is sponsored by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy and a number of businesses and organizations.
For more information contact Randy Berg at 295-4900 or randy@foothillconservancy.org, or visit foothillconservancy.org.
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