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Wenatchee River clean-up effort on Aug. 5 calls for volunteers

Public invited to free community celebration at Riverside Park

Volunteers will float or walk a portion of the Wenatchee River shoreline on Saturday, Aug. 5, as part of a unique river clean-up effort.

The Wenatchee River Clean-Up Community Float invites people who are interested in playing a hands-on role in keeping the local river healthy to join in the efforts, which will include a free community celebration at Cashmere Riverside Park, 210 Riverside Drive. Volunteers will take to the river via guided rafts or walk the shoreline at Riverside Park.

“This event focuses on creating a cleaner and healthier river for everyone to enjoy,” said Mike Kaputa, director of Chelan County Natural Resources. “We hope it also teaches that anyone can have a positive influence on their community – and have fun while doing it.”

Hosted by Natural Resources and Parque Padrinos of Wenatchee, the community event will break volunteers down into rafters and walkers. Rafters will float the river in one of two rafts guided by local professional rafting companies Action Rafting Company of Cashmere and River Recreation Washington Whitewater Rafting Company of Monitor. The companies will provide guides and all safety equipment.

Both floating groups will meet at 9:30 a.m., gathering at put-in locations. One float will embark on a clean-up journey starting in Dryden (8040 Depot Road) and ending at Riverside Park. The other will start at Riverside Park and end at the Wenatchee River County Park in Monitor.

Space is limited on the rafts and people must pre-register. Be advised that the Cashmere-to-Monitor float is more family friendly. To participate in the cleanup via raft, people must be older than 12 years; participants 16 years old and younger must be accompanied by an adult. In addition, all participants must wear a personal floatation device, which will be provided.

If you prefer the shoreline cleanup group, volunteers will gather at 9:30 a.m. at Riverside Park. Shoreline volunteers do not have to pre-register. All volunteers will collect and remove debris while also identifying and documenting the location of any large or hazardous materials that they may find.

At the end of their cleanup efforts, all volunteers will come for a community appreciation celebration. The event includes refreshments and musical entertainment. Nine local nonprofits and agencies also will set up informational booths that provide outreach centered on the importance of protecting local rivers. The celebration is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“If you can’t make it on a float or participate along the shoreline cleanup, we encourage the public to join us in this family friendly celebration,” Kaputa said. “The public event is an opportunity for us to come together and engage as a community.”

The event is being paid for by a grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology. More details, including registration, are available online.

Last Updated: 07/27/2023 10:11 AM

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