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Elk River Alliance hosting clean-up September 22
This summer has been full of floating, fishing, and fun by the river. Unfortunately, outdoor recreation is often accompanied by leftover trash. The Elk River Alliance (ERA)–a local environmental charity–is asking the Elk Valley community to come together and help ensure a clean river for generations to come.
The event will be held on Sunday, September 22 in honour of World Rivers Day from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Stations will be based in Fernie (Dogwood Park boat launch), Sparwood (entrance to Elk River Trail, across from Sparwood Secondary School), and Elkford (Elkford Bridge, by the ESSO).
While those are the meeting locations, the Elk River Alliance encourages more adventurous participants to go to out-of-town boat launches, recreational areas, and along roads and highways. Garbage bags, gloves, and snacks will be provided at meeting locations.
Additionally, local organizations donated awesome prizes that will be awarded to participants for the most garbage collected, best photos taken, and ERA choice award, and three random draws.
Last year the clean-up brought out 580 volunteers who extracted over 7,500 pieces of garbage from the shorelines. Cigarette butts, food wrappers, and various pieces of plastic were some of the most frequent items of trash. This year, ERA hopes the turn out will be even bigger.
“It’s always such a joy to see the community come together for the Elk River,” said Evgeni Matveev, ERA Communications Manager. “It shows how many people truly care about our watershed, and want to see it stay clean and beautiful.”
The Elk River Alliance is very grateful to prize donors (Guide’s Hut, Gearhub, Elk River Guiding, Kootenay Flyshop, Canadian Tire, Edge of the World, Fernie Distillers, and Big Bang Bagels), and to Big Bang Bagels, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, and Outdoor Recreation Council of BC for sponsoring this event.
For event details and to learn more go to elkriveralliance.ca
Lead image: The 2023 Elk River Shoreline Cleanup Event. Elk River Alliance photo
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