14th Annual
Connecticut River Watershed
Source to Sea Cleanup
Saturday October 2, 2010
(Even if you are not available October 2, you can still participate in the Cleanup. See below.)
On Saturday, October 2nd, the Connecticut River Watershed Council would love you to join our staff and hundreds of individuals, clubs, troops, students and businesses along the banks of the Connecticut River for our 14th Annual Source to Sea Cleanup. This one-day event is rewarding, makes a concrete impact and has become huge — last year, despite predictions for heavy rains and thunderstorms, 2,000 people showed up and removed 600 tires and 85 tons of trash. Volunteers give us the feedback that the one-day cleanup is hard work, a ton of fun and a chance to feel that they accomplished something real. Please join us and experience that great feeling for yourself this year!
Since the Connecticut River has such an awesome stretch—flowing from the base of the Canadian border through VT, NH, MA and CT—we plan events in all four states. Sign up has officially begun! We will help you get started and provide supplies if needed.
What should you do if you are not free on October 2 but still want to participate? Simply pick a date that does work for you or your group, either before or after the official event, and then be sure to get the information about your cleanup back to us so that your work can be acknowledged and the trash you collected can be added to the GRAND TOTAL.
Share Your Trash Here -
Council Seeks Your Particulars on Riverside Dumps
Ever walked a riverbank or streamside trail and found illegally dumped trash? Have you felt like you should do something about it? The problem is, the perpetrators are often long gone, and there is little recourse.
Well, there is recourse: the Source to Sea Cleanup site scouting webpage or site scouting form!
At CRWC we know the importance of keeping rivers and riverbanks clean. We’ve been working at it since 1952. Since the Source to Sea Cleanup began 14 years ago, we’ve diverted over 600 tons of waste from working its way into our waterways and Long Island Sound. But, we need your help and cooperation to root out the harder stuff! We want to know exactly what spots along our beautiful riverbanks are still polluted and burdened by trash.
Please help us identify those sites that really need attention so this year’s Source to Sea Cleanup can have an even more powerful impact. A great way to do this is to get out on the river on a kayak, canoe or on foot along the riverbanks, and report any considerable areas of accumulated trash you see. You can also identify sites by calling your local officials and asking them where local cleanup volunteers are most needed.
Please fill in the site scouting webpage or form to let us know who you are and where, exactly, the riverside dumpsite you’ve discovered is. Tell us how we can reach you with questions. This will be a big help as we make decisions as to what sites will be tackled during the Cleanup.
As always, we will try to get as much done as possible with the volunteer crews we have, in the time frame we have. Just knowing what’s out there is a huge help toward getting to the root of these problems, and we really appreciate hearing from people who use and love the river.
Remember, all illegal dumping is a community issue. As always, if you see illegal dumping “in-the-making”, please contact local police and town authorities immediately.
Thank you for keeping an eye out and for caring about the Connecticut River and all its creatures!
Questions? Contact Jacqueline Talbot, Cleanup Coordinator, at: cleanup@ctriver.org; or (860) 704-0057.
Join Us for the 1st Time or the 14th!
What You Need to Know Before the S2S Cleanup
Timeline: Now until October 2, 2010
Step 1: Registration
Please register by September 2, 2010 using the online registration form in English or en espanol. If you want to register but do not have an email address or regular access to a computer, please call 860.704.0057.
We do accept later registrations, but advance registration gives us time to help link interested individuals with groups and ensure that adequate supplies are available for those who need them.
Step 2: Site Scouting
Over the past 13 years CRWC Source to Sea Cleanup volunteers have removed over 606 tons from our waterways! Some sites need cleaning every year, but other sites are looking pretty good. This year we need your help to scout out the sites that aren’t looking so good.
Please call your local officials and tell them you are interested in knowing what specific sites need help. If you hear of or know of a site that really needs cleaning up, let us know about it either on our Site Scouting webpage or mailing us a Site Scouting Report Form. We can then tell registered groups who need a site where their efforts would go the distance.
Step 3: Organize Volunteers and Arrange for Recycling and Trash Pickup
We would really like to encourage groups who feel willing and able to separate out and then recycle the recyclable items they find. Once your group chooses a site, find a nearby transfer station that will allow you to bring trash (and hopefully, recyclables) there. Having a plan for what to do with the trash you find will save time and energy on the day of your cleanup.
What You Need to Know During and After the Cleanup
Timeline: October 2, 2010 (or the date of your cleanup)-October 14, 2010
Step 4: Participate in the Cleanup on October 2nd or the date your group has chosen
Most Important - Have fun and know how appreciated your help is!
Second Most Important - Make sure your group knows where and when to meet, has the equipment everyone needs, knows not to handle but how to report any hazardous materials you might find, where you will bring what you collect and how you plan to submit your Trash Tally.
Step 5: Submit Your Trash Tally-Doing this the day of your cleanup is easiest!
Submitting your trash tally is one of the important parts of the Cleanup because we all want to know what has come out of our river. So…choose a person from your group as the reporter and tell us what you found! This year you can do this electronically (via computer or iPhone), by telephone or by postal mail.
To Help You Feel Prepared
We’ve put together materials for download (below) to help you organize your cleanup. All Cleanup forms and materials are available in English or Spanish. If you have limited computer access or any difficulty downloading these materials, let us know and we can make sure you receive the forms you need.
You can participate in the Cleanup in the way that is comfortable and convenient for you.
You can: organize your own group by asking members of your school, group or community to join you on October 2 (or a more convenient day) or join a group by downloading the list of groups that have registered so far or clean up trash on your own or with family and friends.
Any way you choose is a great help! To participate just follow the directions above to register and use the trash tally sheet to record your trash haul, then submit it to us when you’re done.
If this is the first time you are joining us, you are in good company. For a report on last year's cleanup (including the Trash Tally and list of participating groups), download the 2009 Cleanup Chronicle (PDF 1.3MB).
If you have further questions about the Cleanup, how to get involved, or how to become a Source to Sea sponsor, give CRWC a call at 860.704.0057 or email us at cleanup@ctriver.org.
Cleanup Sponsors
Healthy, beautiful rivers support sustainable, thriving communities. Every year, thousands of dedicated volunteers come out, rain or shine, to make our waterways cleaner, safer and more welcoming.
Please support these volunteers and your community by becoming a Source to Sea Cleanup sponsor. Find out how to become a sponsor and the benefits of sponsorship.
Documents available to download:
Cleanup Guide (PDF 900KB)
Cleanup flyer in color (PDF 130KB) or black and white (PDF 170KB)
Sample press release(PDF 30KB)
Trash Tally Sheet (PDF 50KB)
Volunteer sign-in and waiver (PDF 40KB)
Child volunteer waiver form as Word Doc (28KB) or PDF (70KB)
Hazardous Materials Report Form (PDF 100KB)
Site Scouting Sheet (DOC 30KB)
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Photo credit (above): Sheryl Becker, Rich Tanguay, Steve Aikenhead, Richard Ewald, CRWC Staff
Image Credits at Right - Illustrations: Bill Singleton; Photos: Elisabeth Cianciola, David Deen, ©Chris Hardie, ©Al Braden www.albradenphoto.com, River Music drawn by Tom Dudley - Greenfield Recorder, CRWC Staff.
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