River Rescue Event Hauls Trash Out Of The James River
Jesse Young, of Springfield, found a crushed refrigerator along the banks of the James River this weekend. As part of the James River Basin Partnership River Rescue event, Young was able to get the appliance onto a canoe and haul it out of the river. The River Rescue event was Saturday, July 13, and ended at the Y-Bridge in Galena.
July 18, 2019
Isaac Estes-Jones
The James River Basin Partnership held their annual River Rescue float and clean-up on Saturday, July 13. About 65 volunteers floated the five mile stretch from the HL Kerr Access to the Cox Memorial Access at the Y-Bridge in Galena and helped pull trash, recyclable metal and lots of tires out of the water.
Brent Stock, Project Manager for the James River Basin Partnership, was impressed with the impact, despite rains leading to the event being rescheduled.
“We had about 65 total volunteers, including everyone on the water and those helping pull the trash off the boats,” Stock said. “Most years, we have around 100 volunteers. This year we were shooting for a June 8 River Rescue, but the wet spring made us reschedule. We always lose some volunteers when we have to change the date of these events.”
Despite the smaller turnout, volunteers still made a big impact on this stretch of the James River in Stone County. “I don’t have an exact weight, but all of the trash and scrap metal together was probably close to 1,500 pounds removed from the stream,” Stock said. That total does not include the 30 plus tires pulled from the water during Saturday’s event.
“All of the scrap metal and tires we collect are recycled,” Stock said. Mitchum Tire in Springfield recycles all of the tires that are collected in the annual River Rescue and other clean ups hosted by the partnership.
One notable item pulled from the stream was an older, broken refrigerator. “That was pretty impressive,” said Stock.
Every year, Republic Services donates the big roll-away dumpsters, which helps save the non-profit money.
“The volunteers all did a great job. We had beautiful weather and the water level was great. Overall, it was a wonderful event,” said Stock.
This particular stretch of the river was selected for a few reasons, Stock said. “One of our volunteers pulled around 60 tires out of the stream along this same stretch about a year and a half ago, so that totals around 90 tires removed from the river and recycled.
“This stretch also gets so much outfitter traffic. It is served by several businesses. So, we were able to be out on the water and be seen by some of these floaters and hopefully inspire them to help out in whatever way they can to keep the river clean and healthy,” Stock said.
These clean ups are not only about the health and cleanliness of the river. “We also do these things to improve the appearance of the stream and hopefully pull some items out that could be dangerous to floaters,” he said.
“I want to thank everyone who helped out on Saturday, especially all of our partners that help make what we do as a whole,” said Stock. Some of these partners include Missouri Department of Conservation, Ozark Mountain Paddlers and Bass Pro Shops, among many others.
The James River Basin Partnership formed in 1997 to preserve and protect the water quality in and around the James River.
In addition to the River Rescue, the organization hosts earth day clean ups and other public events. They are also a membership organization, with many members-only events, including an October members float on the James River.
To find out more about the James River Basin Partnership, visit them online at https://www.jamesriverbasin.com or on social media.
“There is a volunteer inquiry form online and people can learn about our other projects,” said Stock.
Isaac Estes-Jones
The James River Basin Partnership held their annual River Rescue float and clean-up on Saturday, July 13. About 65 volunteers floated the five mile stretch from the HL Kerr Access to the Cox Memorial Access at the Y-Bridge in Galena and helped pull trash, recyclable metal and lots of tires out of the water.
Brent Stock, Project Manager for the James River Basin Partnership, was impressed with the impact, despite rains leading to the event being rescheduled.
“We had about 65 total volunteers, including everyone on the water and those helping pull the trash off the boats,” Stock said. “Most years, we have around 100 volunteers. This year we were shooting for a June 8 River Rescue, but the wet spring made us reschedule. We always lose some volunteers when we have to change the date of these events.”
Despite the smaller turnout, volunteers still made a big impact on this stretch of the James River in Stone County. “I don’t have an exact weight, but all of the trash and scrap metal together was probably close to 1,500 pounds removed from the stream,” Stock said. That total does not include the 30 plus tires pulled from the water during Saturday’s event.
“All of the scrap metal and tires we collect are recycled,” Stock said. Mitchum Tire in Springfield recycles all of the tires that are collected in the annual River Rescue and other clean ups hosted by the partnership.
One notable item pulled from the stream was an older, broken refrigerator. “That was pretty impressive,” said Stock.
Every year, Republic Services donates the big roll-away dumpsters, which helps save the non-profit money.
“The volunteers all did a great job. We had beautiful weather and the water level was great. Overall, it was a wonderful event,” said Stock.
This particular stretch of the river was selected for a few reasons, Stock said. “One of our volunteers pulled around 60 tires out of the stream along this same stretch about a year and a half ago, so that totals around 90 tires removed from the river and recycled.
“This stretch also gets so much outfitter traffic. It is served by several businesses. So, we were able to be out on the water and be seen by some of these floaters and hopefully inspire them to help out in whatever way they can to keep the river clean and healthy,” Stock said.
These clean ups are not only about the health and cleanliness of the river. “We also do these things to improve the appearance of the stream and hopefully pull some items out that could be dangerous to floaters,” he said.
“I want to thank everyone who helped out on Saturday, especially all of our partners that help make what we do as a whole,” said Stock. Some of these partners include Missouri Department of Conservation, Ozark Mountain Paddlers and Bass Pro Shops, among many others.
The James River Basin Partnership formed in 1997 to preserve and protect the water quality in and around the James River.
In addition to the River Rescue, the organization hosts earth day clean ups and other public events. They are also a membership organization, with many members-only events, including an October members float on the James River.
To find out more about the James River Basin Partnership, visit them online at https://www.jamesriverbasin.com or on social media.
“There is a volunteer inquiry form online and people can learn about our other projects,” said Stock.