Chilliwack Progress
Spring cleaning for local rivers
Text By Jennifer Feinberg - Chilliwack Progress
Published: April 03, 2009 11:00 AM
It also marks the time of year local stewardship groups organize riverside cleanups, and there are at least two coming up.
The Chilliwack-Vedder River Cleanup Coalition is holding its first cleanup on Saturday, April 4, says director Terry Bodman.
“We are making a positive difference in this important recreational area and our aim is to ensure that this area is well looked after,” he said.
The group consistently removes truckfuls of garbage and debris from about a 60-km stretch of the Chilliwack-Vedder River system, and has held about 24 events since 2002.
Last year they removed seven tonnes of potentially deleterious waste out of the bush.
“We look forward to everyone’s continued support,” said Bodman.
Registration is at the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve this Saturday, April 4 between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m. and the cleanup runs until noon. More at
www.cleanrivers.ca.
If you can’t make that one, here’s another.
It’s the second kick at the can for Woodtone and Fraser Riverkeeper, with their second Fraser River Cleanup at Peg Leg Bar in Chilliwack, on Sunday, April 19, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The event will be focused on beautifying and restoring the riverbed at Pegleg Bar, while increasing participation in environmental stewardship and awareness of the significance of these gravel bars to local flora and fauna, as well to local residents and community groups who appreciate their value. Last year they removed about four tonnes of waste.
Water, snacks, and all equipment, including gloves and sanitizer, will be provided at the staging areas located at Peg Leg Bar. Volunteers should come prepared for the weather and terrain.
Fraser Riverkeeper is a spokesperson for the Fraser River and its tributaries, building a voice for river restoration, monitoring the river and holding polluters accountable when necessary. “People are frustrated by the inactivity, by the negligence, by the indifference,” said Doug Chapman, who patrols the Fraser River as one of the 9 Waterkeepers now active in Canada. “These waters belong to all of us. It’s about quality of life. About doing something positive.”
To join the Peg Leg cleanup, contact Mary Woodbury at Fraser Riverkeeper via email at
mary@fraserriverkeeper.ca or phone 778-737-4422.
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Topic: River Cleanup On The Vedder And The Fishings Hot (Read 5364 times)