Buckhannon, West Virginia (WBOY) — On Saturday, volunteers from the Buckhannon River Watershed Association (BRWA) cleaned up more than a ton of trash from the Buckhannon River.
According to a BRWA press release, 19 community members gathered for the cleanup initiative at the River Road Access Site along the Buckhannon River, armed with gloves, garbage bags, and determination. They managed to remove 3,000 pounds of trash from the water.
Jessica Bryzek, an AmeriCorps VISTA with the BRWA, discussed how important it is to keep the water clean.
“While we aspire to create a paddlers’ paradise along the Water Trail, we are more than just a group of paddlers. Our volunteers are river stewards, and we are here to ensure that the people who use the river take care of it,” Bryzek stated in the release.
“A few weeks ago, while scouting for a trash cleanup location, we came across a Great Blue Heron wading through piles of trash along the riverbanks. Thanks to these volunteers, our heron friend will be healthier and happier now that the trash has been removed.”
The Make It Shine Clean Up was sponsored by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s REAP program. You can find out more about upcoming cleanups and volunteer opportunities on the Buckhannon River Watershed Association’s website and Facebook page.
