Fort Defiance Boat and Ski club along with the Environmental Services of Defiance County and the Independence State park will be holding the annual River Sweep Saturday June 16, at the Independence Marina of the State park. Breakfast is being presented by Kissners Restaurant of Downtown Defiance at 8:00am free of charge to all volunteers.

Boats supplied by the Fort Defiance Boat and Ski Club will pick up volunteers at approxmently 8:30am. The boat captain will take the participants to an assigned section of the river bank and work with them along the shore line to collect man-made litter and debris. Some natural-water hazards, such as fallen trees, or logs, may be attempted to be removed if they are causing a possible navigation hazard for watercraft. According to Jamie Bank, who has been involved with the Ski Club and River Sweep from it's inception, the original Idea of the weekend river cleanup was to get the shore line ready for the large crowds that gather on the river for the fourth of July weekend.

"By helping beatify the waters of the Maumee and Auglaize rivers it was felt that boaters would take pride in the rivers appearance when made aware of the efforts of our volunteers before the big weekend on the water. We would hope there is more respect for the environment and less litter would be tossed from boaters and shoreline spectators during the fireworks weekend."

The River Sweep seems to be working said Blank, in most recent years there have been very few large items collected.

"We used to pick up rusty 55 gallon barrels from the shoreline, and old refrigerators. Some of the more interesting items ever collected was a chrome bumper from a Chevy pickup truck with the license plate still attached! No truck was found just the bumper and plate! The owner was notified about the bumper recovery through local law enforcement. Boy was he surprised!

Over the years numerous tires and old appliances have been collected along with an endless supply of used beverage containers, foam cups as well as other automobile parts.

"This is a great way to spend a morning with friends and family helping our environment and waterways. If you have never been on the river in a boat, you are missing one of the best sights of the Defiance area." Said Rick Straka, this year's president of the Fort Defiance Boat and Ski Club. "The 3 rivers that meet in downtown Defiance (Maumee Auglaize, and Tiffin River approximately 1 mile west of downtown,) form the largest river in the entire Great lakes watershed! Over 5000 square miles of land are drained by the mighty Maumee and its tributaries". Said Straka.

"If you want to bring the family out for an event that allows you to share time together and have fun we suggest that you ware old cloths that can get muddy! Especially old shoes that you would not mind loosing if one would happen to get stuck in the mud. You don't have to have a boat, pontoon, or a canoe, but if you do have one you are more than welcome to put together your own team and launch at the marina. We would like you to check in at the Rangers station and return by Noon so we can make sure that everyone has made it back safely and then we can feed you hamburgers and hot dogs." Said Tim Houch of the Defiance County Environmental services. "We want to say thank you to all the workers so we provide a hearty breakfast as well as a lunch prepared by the Volunteers of the Ski Club the staff of Independence State Park, and Kissners."

For more information and how you can help go to the Defiance enviro web site to see photos of last year's event! www.defiance-county.com Click on environmental tab, then Events & Programs. Click on 2006 river sweep and the photo album at the end of the article.

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