Public Invited to River Clean-Up This Saturday

When it comes to what defines Lowell, the Flat and Grand Rivers rank among the community’s most prominent features. Not only do they meet in the city, but they are also a favorite spot for residents and visitors alike who want to boat, kayak, canoe, fish or picnic.

To keep the rivers looking pristine, several outdoor recreation organizations and businesses have joined forces to organize a river clean-up. The event will occur this Saturday, July 21, with participants asked to gather at the public boat launch in Recreation Park near the fairgrounds at 11am.

Everyone is welcomed to attend, but since lunch will be provided, organizers are hoping people will RSVP via the event’s Facebook page to ensure enough food is available.

Effort Brings Together Many Organizations

This is the second year for the river clean-up. Last year, it was an informal event initiated by Landon DeKeyser, a Greenville resident and owner of outdoor apparel company Lifestyle Lost.

DeKeyser credits his cousin with spurring the idea. “We do a lot of fishing, and we do a lot of picking up trash while we’re fishing,” he says. However, it can be hard to haul out trash while also managing fishing gear so a dedicated clean-up day made sense. About 20 people showed up last year, and DeKeyser is hoping for double that number this year.

The effort is getting added support from a number of other businesses and conversation groups. The Flat River Watershed Council and the local chapter of the non-profit Backcountry Hunters & Anglers are partnering for the effort. Bob Busch of Buckley’s Mountainside Canoes in Mount Pleasant will be bringing a few canoes for those who want to reach trash out on the water. And Eric Eliason, owner of Reel Therapy Guide Service in Saranac, has also been helping to scout clean-up locations and is expected to be on a jet boat, along with his wife, during the Saturday event to assist in clearing out trash on the river.

After the clean-up is completed, participants are invited to return to Recreation Park for a cookout featuring brats donated by Pinckney Hill Meat Company in Saranac. Then, the group will move to Big Boiler Brewing for a pint night and a silent auction to benefit the Flat River Watershed Council and Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. Big Boiler Brewing is donating the space, and the auction will include donated items such as a fly rod, sunglasses and two guided fishing trips.

What to Expect if You Go

Organizers are hoping participants will arrive by 11am to provide plenty of time to assign groups to different portions of the river. A pop-up tent by the river and near the fairgrounds will mark the meeting spot.

Participants are asked to be prepared for poison ivy and bugs and dress appropriately in pants and boots. Rubber gloves and trash bags will be provided, but those attending should bring their own bug spray and sunscreen. Most the clean-up can be done along the shore, but those with waders may want to bring them reach any trash found in the water.

“Last year, we hit a bunch of different spots with public access between Saranac and Grand Rapids,” DeKeyser says. This year will include sections of the Flat River as well. It’s also an all-ages event, and families are welcome to attend with younger children. “There are definitely some areas we can send people if they have little kids,” DeKeyser explains.

Each group will be given a map to their designated clean-up spot, and DeKeyser says people should plan on three hours to get to their assigned section of river, clean it and then return to the park. The brats will start cooking at 3pm, and at 4pm, organizers expect to start wrapping up at the park and move to Big Boiler Brewing.

If you’d like to attend, you can RSVP on the event’s Facebook page. More information is also available on the Lifestyle Lost website.

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