Volunteers tackle Des Plaines River cleanup project

Two groups of ecologically minded volunteers will tackle a cleanup project along the Des Plaines River in Lake County this month - and you can help.

The Water TrailKeepers and the Lake County Forest Preserve District stewards will get together Aug. 28 and focus their efforts on a section of the river and its namesake trail in the Ryerson Conservation Area near Riverwoods.

They'll remove trash, nonnative invasive plants and debris from the water and riverbanks.

Old tires and cans are among the discarded items often found during these projects, said Chuck Myers, assistant superintendent of natural resource operations for the forest district.

"There are all kinds of things that we find in there," Myers said.

The crews also will clear logjams that have formed on the river. Logjams can cause water-flow problems and make conditions on the river unsafe for canoeists, Myers said.

"We want to keep (the river) safe and clean," he said.

Anyone 13 or older can join the effort. Public volunteers should be at the Ryerson welcome center's parking lot by 8:45 a.m. and be prepared to work until about noon.

Volunteers should bring protective clothing, boots, gloves, bug spray, sack lunches, water and snacks. Garbage bags will be provided.

The entrance to the Ryerson Conservation Area is on Riverwoods Road south of Westwood Lane.

The forest district hosts volunteer-driven cleanup efforts, called restoration workdays, throughout the year at preserves across the county. A schedule can be found at lcfpd.org.

For more information or to join the Des Plaines River effort, call Myers at (847) 968-3427 or go to lcfpd.org.