The Kenosha Sportfishing and Conservation Association is seeking volunteers for its annual Pike River Cleanup, to be held 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. this Saturday, Sept. 21.
This event, aimed at further improving the health of the Pike River, is supported by Kenosha County Parks and other partners. Volunteers will convene in Shelter No. 4 at Petrifying Springs Park, 5555 Seventh St., Somers.
Volunteers of all ages are needed to help remove trash and debris from the river, said Jim Zondlak, event organizer.
“Every year that we’ve done this, we’ve pulled 20 or more tires out of the river,” Zondlak said. “This is a great chance for people to give back to our community in a way that directly affects the environment around us.”
County Executive Jim Kreuser said the work that the cleanup’s volunteers do each year contributes greatly to the health of the Pike River, which is also the site of an ongoing restoration project led by Kenosha County Parks.
“I commend the volunteers who come out year after year and donate their time and energy for the sake of our environment,” Kreuser said. “Thanks also to the Kenosha Sportfishing and Conservation Association for making this happen.”
Since the annual Pike River cleanup began 12 years ago, volunteers have removed more than 240 tires and three walk-in Dumpster loads of trash equaling 1,990 yards from the stretch of the river between Petrifying Springs and Lake Michigan.
Volunteers are asked to bring work shoes or boots, work gloves, coveralls, hip boots or waders, reaching sticks or long steel rakes and, if possible, canoes, kayaks or flat-bottom boats.
Those interested in volunteering for the cleanup, or donating food or water for volunteers, are asked to contact Zondlak at pikeriver@kenoshasportfishing.com or 262-620-1680, or to reach out to the Sportfishing and Conservation Association on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/kenoshasportfishing/.
The cleanup event is sponsored by the Kenosha Sportfishing and Conservation Association in conjunction with Kenosha County Parks, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network and American Rivers.