RiverSweep targets post-Irene debris in Black River

The annual Springfield-Ludlow RiverSweep event is more than a decade old and this year’s cleanup brings with it memories of last year’s flood disaster.
http://www.gmoutlook.com/news/2012/aug/21/riversweep-targets-post-irene-debris-black-river/

The Green Mountain Outlook RiverSweep targets post-Irene debris in Black River Springfield-Ludlow area volunteer project BRAT volunteer Mike Smyth of Springfield locates a shopping cart in the Black River left over from Tropical Storm Irene flooding. The cart will be removed by volunteers Sept. 8. The river is still depositing Irene debris along its banks. By Louis Varricchio As of Tuesday, August 21, 2012 -8:47 a.m. Springfield — A year after flooding due to Tropical Storm Irene, Vermont rivers and streams are still bearing debris from the event. While this year’s edition of the Springfield-Ludlow RiverSweep event, scheduled for Sept. 8, is more than a decade old, this year’s cleanup brings with it memories of last year’s disaster, according to BRAT, Black River Action Team, Director Kelly Stettner. During the past year, the Black River and its tributaries have been carrying flotsam left over from the 2011 flood. Heavy rains this summer brought more debris into the river and some of the detritus was deposited along the river shore. “Our thirteenth annual RiverSweep is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 8,” Stettner said. “It begins at 8 a.m. and lasts until noon. The BRAT volunteers will cleans trash from the bed and banks of the Black River.” Stettner said this year’s cleanup command post will be located in Springfield at the Citizens Bank drive up near the footbridge in the Shopping Plaza. In Ludlow, volunteers will report to the gazebo on the green in Ludlow Veterans Park, near the public library on Main Street. “Supplies will once again be provided,” Stettner noted. “We ask volunteers to check in at the closest HQ table—in Springfield or Ludlow—to pick up gloves and trash bags, then head out to a site to collect junk.” In addition to cleaning up post Irene debris, this community wide effort requires feeding the troops, too, according to Stettner. “Lunch and refreshments will also be provided, so we ask folks to fill up your water bottle with us and then come on back to HQ with your ‘treasure’, wash your hands and have a bite, courtesy of local donors and supporting eateries.” For this year’s cleanup volunteers, Stettner said, a free “thank you” t-shirt with graphics will be provided. For those unable to help in the physical work, BRAT is asking for donated items—baked goods or fruit for the volunteers the day of the effort. In addition, Stettner said, cash donations help offset the costs involved in RiverSweep and BRAT’s other environmental programs; checks may be mailed directly to the Black River Action Team at 101 Perley Gordon Rd., Springfield, Vt. 05156. Contact BRAT Director Kelly Stettner at blackrivercleanup@yahoo.com or 885-1533 for more information.