Beautifying the Rio: National River Cleanup 2012

The 2012 National River Cleanup Event is scheduled for May 19th. Stay tuned for more details!

2011 Event Highlights

On behalf of the Open Space Division, we would like to thank all our voluneers and sponsors for contributing to the success of National River Cleanup 2011!  We couldn’t have done it without your help!

121 volunteers came out for the day, with an estimatedtotal of 124 bags of trash collected, weighing about 2,640 lbs, plus many large items including tires, plastic tarps, 5 shopping carts and car parts, to name a few.  About 20 illegal camp sites were cleaned up with the help of APD officers.  Theactive and motivated recycling crew separated-outitems including 5 full recycling bags of smashed #1 and #2 plastic, 2 full recycling bag of aluminum cans, two bags of un-broken and un-contaminated glass bottles, and one large bundle of broken-down and uncontaminated corrugated cardboard.

Additionally, Quiet Waters Paddling led three groups on different sections of the river, collecting an estimated ton of debris - numerous tires, including a tractor tire, several chairs, two huge swimming pool covers, plus lots of assorted trash.  The City of Rio Rancho, the Village of Corrales, and Therese Dorwart's Discovery class of 12 students from East Mountain High School also pitched in.

Events like the River Cleanup bring the entire community together to help protect our City’s precious natural resources.  Thank you again for your continued support!

See information on past years River Cleanups here!

Thank you to sponsors and partners:

PARTNERS:

• Kirtland Air force base Outdoor Recreation (breakfast food and rafting guides)
• APD (Lt. Gilhooly and Deputy Chief Paul Feist)
• The Crisis Outreach and Support Team and the Crisis Intervention Team of APD
• Albuquerque Fire Department
• City of Rio Rancho and the Village of Corrales
• Quiet Waters Paddling Adventures
• Ciudad Soil and Water
• Thank Open Space volunteers who came out to help with parking

SPONSORS:

• Bruce Davis and the Rotary Club of Albuquerque
• Pat and Barbara Baca of the West Central Alliance of Neighbors
• The Open Space Alliance
• REI
• Weston Corporation
• Stone Age Climbing Gym
• The Kickstand
• General Mills
• I Scream Ice Cream
• Nicodemus Wilderness Project
• 2 Wheel Drive

ABOUT NATIONAL RIVER CLEANUP: National River Cleanup was started in 1992 by America Outdoors, a national association of outfitters and guides, and American Rivers, a North American conservation organization, as a way to assist local communities to keep their rivers, watersheds and shorelines clean.

A NOTE ABOUT BOATING SAFETY:

It is legal to float down the Rio Grande in kayaks, canoes, rafts and other non-motorized water craft. Home-made craft do not qualify as legal water craft.  Volunteers who bring their own canoe, kayak or raft must also follow all New Mexico State Parks boating regulations, which include the following:

• Worn Wearable life jacket for each person on board
• One throwable device for each vessel.  (0n a self bailer a throw line is
• acceptable)
• Bow Painter (stout line) the length of the boat
• Spare paddle
• Bailing bucket one gallon in size or hand operated bilge pump
• Whistle or horn
• No alcohol!

Please call State Parks at 1-888-NMPARKS or see www.emnrd.state.nm.us for more information.

2011RIVER CLEANUP ACTIVITIES:

1. Community Bosque cleanup at the Central Avenue Bridge: Cleanup activities for all ages in the bosque along the Central Avenue Bridge including trash pickup and graffiti removal.

2. Organize your own Bosque Cleanup: Have a favorite area of the bosque? Consider hosting a cleanup of your own! The Open Space Division will supply trash bags and dispose of the collected trash. Those wishing to organize a cleanup must contact the Open Space Division at 452-5200 or email kswanson@cabq.gov.

3. Clean the River in a Guided Raft: On the day of the event, Kirtland Outdoor Recreation will provide a limited number of guided rafts that help remove trash from the river starting from Montaño Bridge and finishing at Central. Rafts are on a first come first serve basis and space is limited. Arrive early at the Central Avenue Bridge to reserve a space on the rafts. Children 7 years and older may ride on the rafts, but children under 18 must have a parent/guardian (at least one parent per 4 children) with them.

4. Clean the river in your own boat: People with their own rafts, kayaks, and canoes are encouraged to clean up the river on this day. You must provide your own transportation and shuttle for your boat. The Open Space Division will provide you with trash bags and will dispose of the collected trash. Call the Open Space Division at 452-5200 or email kswanson@cabq.gov for more information.

5. Quiet Waters Paddling Cleanup: Quiet Waters Paddling Adventures (QWPA) are looking for 24-26 volunteers to help clean additional sections of the river (To be determined). They are looking for people who are comfortable handling loaded canoes on moving water. If you’d like to involve your family and children, the minimum age requirement for this event is six years-old, with adult supervision. Please contact Michael Hayes at QWPA for reservations and more details. 771-1234 in the ABQ metro area, out-of-area can call toll free at (877) 45-FLOAT (877-453-5628), or email to mhayes@quietwaterspaddling.com.

For more information about this or other volunteer opportunities in Open Space, please contact Jim Sattler or Kent Swanson at 452-5200 or email kswanson@cabq.gov.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! National River Cleanup is sponsored in part by the City of Albuquerque Open Space Division, American Rivers, the West Central Alliance of Neighborhoods (WeCAN), REI , the Rotary Club of Albuquerque, Kirtland Air Force Base Outdoor Recreation, and the Open Space Alliance.

National River Cleanup is sponsored in part by the City of Albuquerque Open Space Division, American Rivers, the West Central Alliance of Neighborhoods (WeCAN), the Rotary Club of Albuquerque, Kirtland Air Force Base Outdoor Recreation, and the Open Space Alliance.