BUCKHANNON — On Saturday, September 16, 2023, eight volunteers gathered for a trash clean up along the Buckhannon River. They collected trash that had been dumped along River Road and at the public stream access site. They also used canoes to remove trash from the stream.
The volunteers removed numerous tires, three toilets, a car seat, and many other miscellaneous items. In total, they gathered 1,580 pounds of trash during a two hour period.
Trash and pollution in our river hurts the animals that live there. The Buckhannon River supports numerous types of birds, mammals, and fish. Both blue and green herons are commonly seen while paddling, as well as river otters. However, it’s not just about the wildlife. The river is our livelihood, providing clean water that sustains our community.
Bryan, a volunteer that assisted with the clean-up, says, “The waterways of West Virginia are beautiful natural resources that everyone should be able to enjoy. Trash not only takes away from the natural beauty of the river but pollutes an important resource. I want to be part of improving these resources so more people are aware of and able to utilize them.”
A special thank you to the volunteers for dedicating their time to improving the Buckhannon River. The WV Department of Environmental Protection Rehabilitation Environmental Action Plan (REAP) program supplied the trash bags, trash removal service and canoes.
The event was organized by the Buckhannon River Paddlers, a community group supported by the Buckhannon River Watershed Association and Try This WV. The Buckhannon River Watershed Association has worked to improve water quality for over two decades, while Try This WV aims to improve access to healthy recreation. The new partnership between the two organizations combines conservation with recreation. We can’t have healthy recreation options if we don’t have clean water. Likewise, we restore the river so we can enjoy the river for fishing, paddling, and swimming.
Follow the Buckhannon River Paddlers on Facebook for more events.
