Volunteers needed for 23rd annual Christina River Cleanup on April 12

Volunteers still needed for 23rd annual Christina River Cleanup on April 12

NEW CASTLE COUNTY (March 26, 2014) – DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara encourages volunteers to join the Christina River Watershed Cleanup along the river and several of its tributaries on Saturday, April 12 from 8 a.m. until noon at 12 sites throughout northern New Castle County. Due to other activities that day, the City of Newark will hold its cleanup from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m.

“Helping to beautify our waterways is the perfect way to spend a few hours on a Saturday morning,” said Secretary O’Mara. “Clearing debris from the Christina watershed not only improves the landscape for residents and visitors to enjoy, it improves the health and water quality of the river and its tributaries, the primary sources of public water supply for New Castle County.”

The annual cleanup, now in its 23^rd year, will be held rain or shine. Since the cleanup began in 1992, more than 330 tons of tires, appliances, household items, and plastic and styrofoam have been cleared from the Christina River, White Clay Creek and other tributaries. More than 12,000 volunteers have filled trash bags along Churchmans Marsh, White Clay Creek State Park, the City of Wilmington, and various other locations.

DNREC has been a sponsor and an integral part of the Christina River Watershed Cleanup since its inception, providing funding and other support. Specifically, DNREC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife provides staff, boats, and specialized equipment to transport volunteers and discard trash from remote locations. The cleanup of the river within the city of Wilmington benefits DNREC’s ongoing marsh restoration work at the Russell W. Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge.

For a list of cleanup sites with directions and to register, visit www.ChristinaRiverCleanup.org or call 302-838-1897. Volunteers are encouraged to register for one of the 12 sites before Friday, April 4 so adequate supplies can be provided to each site captain. Due to insurance requirements, volunteers under the age of 16 must have adult supervision.

Participants are encouraged to wear brightly-colored clothing, long sleeves and pants, boots or water-resistant shoes, hats and heavy-duty gloves and to use insect repellent and sunscreen. Waders or hip boots are also helpful for the City of Wilmington and Churchman’s Marsh-Christiana and Newport sites. Additional jon-boat-type work boats are still needed for Wilmington’s Riverfront and the Churchman’s Marsh-Newport area. All participants must wear a life jacket while on board any boat.

All volunteers will receive a 2014 Christina River Watershed Cleanup t-shirt designed by Matt Iovannone, a senior at Salesianum School, the winner of the 9th annual Christina River Watershed Cleanup T-shirt Design Contest.

More than 50 organizations and businesses sponsor the cleanup each year. Primary sponsors besides DNREC include: Christina Conservancy, Dow Chemical, Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, Kenny Family Foundation, ShopRite, Artesian Water Company, GE Aviation, Noramco Inc., United Water Delaware, BASF – The Chemical Company, Veolia Water, and Delaware City Refinery.