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Annual River Sweep on Saturday nets more than 300 bags of trash

July 20, 2009|By Mike Wynn

Over the past 18 years, the annual Kentucky River Sweep has become something of a tradition in Clark County. But Solid Waste Coordinator Gary Epperson hopes to never do it again.

"It's 18 years in a row that we have had to pick up trash," he said. "Wouldn't it be nice if you didn't have to do things like that?"

Organizers staged the sweep on Saturday as part of a statewide effort to collect litter that accumulates along the banks and degrades the river's water quality and appearance. During the five-hour event, about 125 volunteers picked up more than 300 bags of trash.

"There was an awful lot this year," Epperson said. "We cleaned up a big mess. There was a ton of plastic bottles and those kind of objects. I've never seen anything like it."

The litter, comprised mostly buoyant items such as plastic bottles and cans which float down the river during high-water season. The trash collects below the dam across from the Fort Boonesborough State Park Beach, where currents create a natural trap. Volunteers walk the banks each year during the sweep to gather the trash for proper disposal.

According to the Kentucky River Authority, more that 900,000 Kentuckians rely on the river as a primary source for drinking water.

The authority began organizing the event with communities along the river in 1991.

This year, Epperson said the sweep benefited from a plethora of volunteers, the Boonesboro Boat Club and the Clark County Rescue Unit. Wal-Mart provided food.

"We had a great turnout," he said. "We just appreciate what everybody did."

Still, Epperson doubts the trash will disappear any time soon.

"Unfortunately, I don't think it's going to happen in the next year or two, so we will do it again next year," he said.

Contact Mike Wynn at mwynn@winchestersun.com.

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