Community Pitches in to Pick it Up

Water is the world’s greatest chemist. Most natural processes require some amount of this precious, elegant substance to function, and it can pack such a punch that even granite ultimately yields. But introduce things like plastic bottles, aluminum cans, and general garbage mish-mash into the equation, and our precious bodies of water are seriously weakened. For nearly the last decade, the Spokane-area community has focused its attention on the Spokane River by simply removing things that don’t belong below its surface and along its banks. In its 8th year, the Spokane River Clean-Up returns, Sept. 25, and once again brings the community together with free coffee, pizza, live music and plenty of fun in exchange for pitching in to clean up this beautiful centerpiece. The event runs 9 a.m.-3 p.m., starting at High Bridge Park or the University District (Gonzaga University). “It’s a fun event that so many people take part in; it’s like their annual entry into fall,” says Shawna Sampson, Spokane River Clean-up 2010 event coordinator. “It’s really a passionate group of people doing a great thing for our environment and our community.” Coordinated by Friends of the Falls, a non-profit organization since 1997 that has worked to protect and improve access to the historic Spokane Falls and river gorge, the annual River Clean-up has grown to 750-plus volunteers, including three dozen team leaders, on-site volunteer medics and incident commanders, a large steering committee, sponsors and community members. The coverage area has also grown to include the majority of the river from the University District to Riverside State Park, with plans in the works to coordinate with a Spokane Valley river clean-up group next year. With an increase in the number of volunteers coming out each year, the amount of trash collected has also grown. In 2009, that amount was up by 4,427 pounds to a total of 16,447 pounds of garbage collected, 5,207 pounds of which was recyclable. Ross Nobbs, owner of Rings ‘n Things, has been sorting the recyclables for the event since 2005. “My favorite thing and my least favorite about this event are the same,” said Nobbs. “What a great effort that we can pick up this much trash, but the sad part is that it’s there to pick up.” Earthworks Recycling collects all of the recyclables once they are sorted and hauls them away at no charge. Although pre-registration is encouraged via www.friendsofthefalls.org, you may register the day of the event at either High Bridge Park or the University District, starting at 9.a.m. All volunteers must check-in to receive their “goodie bag” which will include a map, team leader information, and coupons to use after the event. At 10 a.m. clean-up will begin, with buses transporting teams to their specific clean-up area. There will also be a “boat brigade” in the River Gorge area, where boating experts, including Bart Mihailovich, the river’s newly appointed Riverkeeper—an environmental non-profit organization, dedicated to the protection of our river, Aquifer and watersheds—will be extracting items from the water. By 12:30 p.m., teams will be brought back to the registration area where Sampson said they can listen to music, drink Thomas Hammer coffee served up by the Lilac City Roller Girls, hang out, and eat David’s Pizza. Drinking water will be on site via the City of Spokane and Zip 2 water trucks; however volunteers are encouraged to bring their own water bottles so as not to add to the trash. Mihailovich said he especially loves the clean-up’s ratio of success. “It’s an easily-defined objective that yields incredible results. And it’s a lot of fun.,” he said.