Friends of Pool 9 schedule annual River Clean-Up Day for April 21


Results of their efforts ... Warren Coates surveys debris that had been dropped at the Brennan Landing in south Lansing during the 2017 Mississippi River Clean-Up. The debris was removed from the river corridor by volunteers, loaded by a tractor into dumpsters and hauled away by Allamakee County Waste Management. In 2017, 104 volunteers collected almost 10,000 pounds of trash. This year’s event is set for April 21. Submitted photo.

The annual Friends of Pool 9 (FOP9) River Clean-Up Day has been set and volunteers are needed. Saturday, April 21 marks the 14th year  this event has been scheduled. Last year alone, close to five tons of trash and debris were collected by 104 volunteers, making for a total of almost 140,000 pounds in the span of the previous 13 clean-up years. FOP9 River Clean-Up Day organizers are looking to try and better that volunteer number this year.

“Bring your outdoor friend or make it a family experience,” shared FOP9 Clean-Up Day organizers. “Help clean Pool 9 of the Mississippi River and take pride in the beauty of the great river valley.”

Boats and volunteers, young and old, are needed. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. at the VFW Building located on South Front Street in Lansing (across from the ball diamond). Some boats may also meet in New Albin and Heytman’s Landing and in Lynxville, Ferryville and Black Hawk Park in Wisconsin. Volunteers will be provided with gloves, water, trash bags, a FOP9 clean-up t-shirt and a complimentary sack lunch when finished (approximately 12 noon).

Volunteers can pre-register using the contact information below or can register the day of the event. Those under 18 years of age must have a parent’s signature on the registration form. All participants must register.

Duties will be assigned after registration. These can include parks along the river, boat landings and Hwy. 82 (the dike area between the Black Hawk Bridge and Hwy. 35 in Wisconsin). Those assigned to boats will be scouring beaches and backwater areas. Volunteers in boats must have a personal flotation device (life jacket). One will be provided if needed.

Interested volunteers can get more information and pre-register by contacting Bob Seeley (563-568-7713), Bruce ReVoir (563-568-7358), John Verdon (608-317-3777), Jerry Boardman (563-419-7968), Larry Quamme (920-948-2245) or Sue English (563-379-1129).