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Volunteers pitch in, pull out river trash
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Photo provided Chad Graves, right, and Interact Club members remove a tire from the Collins River Saturday morning.
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Photo provided Volunteers float down the Baren Fork River, taking out trash along their way Saturday morning.

This year’s Annual River Ride and Cleanup was a rapid success, as volunteer clean-up crews swept across Warren County’s waterways. 

At 7:30 a.m. last Saturday, 220 volunteers were divided into 23 teams which met at Pepper Branch Park before splitting up into multiple waterways across Warren County. The teams successfully cleaned a total of 42 miles across the many waterways and removed a wide variety of items. 

This year’s event expanded the cleaning efforts made by volunteers, with Charles Creek being included for the first time. Volunteers also placed over 100 signs at the sides of waterways to provide the public an easier way to describe their location in case of an emergency. 

In total 10,000 pounds of trash has been removed with 235 trash bags provided by TWRA being used. The waterway cleaning was much needed as one team of volunteers found their hands and trash bags filled between Pepper Branch Park and Rocket Park. Within three miles of the event’s start, the crew not only collected enough bottles and cans to fill 35 trash bags, but also pulled 25 tires and the frame of a Ford Model-T truck out of the water. 

The event, which is spearheaded by the McMinnville Rotary Club, is funded through sponsorships and it was hoped that donations would reach $12,000. However, this year’s event received $6,000 in sponsorships out of the $10,000 that is expected to fund a project of its scale. Donations went beyond money as Rotary provided 31 kayaks and the Warren County Rescue Squad donated its time to ensure all participants were safe while cleaning the water. All donations made went to good use as they were used to provide food for volunteers, $10 gift cards for the first 100 volunteers, identifier signs, banners for Pepper Branch Park and 202 shirts.

Boats were provided by the event and by volunteers with 172 kayaks and canoes taking to the water.

The event concluded with the cleanup teams meeting at Smooth Rapids for a well-earned lunch. The removal of trash and other items not only ensures that the water is clean for residents, but also helps prevent injuries while enjoying swimming, fishing, kayaking and other water sports.