ST. GEORGE – A group of 10 volunteers gathered Saturday morning along the Virgin River just below the diversion dam, located at 290 S. 2670 E. These volunteers participated in the first annual Virgin River Cleanup, a community event aimed at removing trash that litters the banks of the Virgin River and adjacent trails. The cleanup targeted five separate locations along the Virgin River, including the Bloomington Park, the Confluence Trailhead, the Riverside Trailhead, the Diversion Dam and the Sullivan Soccer Fields. Each location attracted about 10 volunteers.
Volunteers represented a diverse cross section of the St. George community, ranging from older couples to young families with children, to young adults. These volunteers combed the banks of the river and trail, picking up plastic bottles, aluminum cans, miscellaneous trash and even a tire.
Some 50 volunteers removed hundreds of pounds of trash and gathered up dozens of bags of recycling. “The crew at the diversion dam probably picked up 280 pounds of garbage,” event organizer Jeanette Langston, said.
Langston was pleased with the turnout, she said, and hopes that the event will continue to grow each year.
As the volunteers were at work cleaning up, which took place from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., many cyclists and hikers expressed gratitude towards the volunteers, thanking them for taking the time to clean up. A few of the hikers even grabbed trash bags, which were provided by the Virgin River Clean-up, in order to pick up trash as they strolled along the trail.
Many locals such as Paul and Linda Hoernke, who have frequented the trails along the Virgin River for 10 years, noticed the trash problem progressively getting worse over the years. “I have seen everything from tires to broken skim boards along the river,” Linda Hoernke said. “I have been complaining about the trash for a couple of years but nothing ever got done.”
Recognizing this buildup of trash, Langston organized the Virgin River Clean-Up as a way to get the community involved in taking care of the Virgin River. The Clean-up received support from the Bureau of Land Management, American Rivers, the City of St. George and many other organizations and business.
Before moving to St. George two years ago, Langston worked for the United States Forest Service in Jackson, Wyoming, and helped manage the Snake River. She feels passionate about American’s rivers and she wanted to help make a difference in her local community by helping clean up the Virgin River.
However the Clean-up wasn’t all good news. “With the recent flooding, much of the trash along the Virgin River was carried downriver before volunteers were able to pick it up,” Langston said. “This trash should still be the responsibility of St George citizens.”
Langston plans to continue raising awareness and encouraging the citizens of St. George to promote healthy and clean rivers by taking care of the Virgin River. She said she wants to work with high school students in the spring and then continue the Virgin River Clean-up next fall. She encourages everyone to show up next year and help clean up the community.
Click on photo to enlarge it, then use your left-right arrow keys to cycle through the gallery.
Right: Jeanette Langston prepares volunteers for The Virgin River Clean-Up early Saturday morning near the diversion dam, St. George, Utah, Sept. 21, 2013 | Photo by Zach Windsor, St. George News
Jeanette Langston gives volunteers a safety talk before kicking off The Virgin River Clean-Up, St. George, Utah, Sept. 21, 2013 | Photo by Zach Windsor, St. George News
Parents and children alike participated in the first annual The Virgin River Clean-Up , St. George, Utah, Sept. 21, 2013 | Photo by Zach Windsor, St. George News
A volunteer carries a bag filled with trash, St. George, Utah, Sept. 21, 2013 | Photo by Zach Windsor, St. George News
Volunteers clean up the Virgin River Trail, St. George, Utah, Sept. 21, 2013 | Photo by Zach Windsor, St. George News
A volunteer stoops to pick up a pick of trash beside the Virgin River Trail, St. George, Utah, Sept. 21, 2013 | Photo by Zach Windsor, St. George News
Paul Hoernke carries a large load of trash at the VRC, St. George, Utah, Sept. 21, 2013 | Photo by Zach Windsor, St. George News
A volunteer triumphantly displays a tire he found alongside the trail, St. George, Utah, Sept. 21, 2013 | Photo by Zach Windsor, St. George News
Trash lines the banks of the Virgin River, St. George, Utah, Sept. 21, 2013 | Photo by Zach Windsor, St. George News
Linda Hoernke snatches a pick of trash from the sand long the Virgin River, St. George, Utah, Sept. 21, 2013 | Photo by Zach Windsor, St. George News
A VIPS (Volunteers in Public Safety) hands out water to VRC volunteers Paul and Linda Hoernke, St. George, Utah, Sept. 21, 2013 | Photo by Zach Windsor, St. George News
L to R: Linda Hoernke, Paul Horenke and Jeanette Langston stand next to the pile of trash collected near the diversion dam, St. George, Utah, Sept. 21, 2013 | Photo by Zach Windsor, St. George News
VRC volunteers passed out information and snacks to participants of the VRC, St. George, Utah, Sept. 21, 2013 | Photo by Zach Windsor, St. George News
Jeanette Langston piles up the garbage collected in Saturdays VRC, St. George, Utah, Sept. 21, 2013 | Photo by Zach Windsor, St. George News
Resources
Facebook: Virgin River Clean-Up
Email them at [email protected]
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The mayor and some council members who frequently seek volunteers for their pet projects could have volunteered their time and efforts to help with this clean-up.
Thank you for coming out and participating and for writing this fabulous article Zach!!! You are awesome and all of the volunteers were amazing! This is what it’s all about – coming together in the common cause of taking care of such an amazing resource running right through our community. Thank you for all of your help!