Volunteers needed for DuPage River Sweep

The Naperville-based Conservation Foundation and its partners are seeking volunteers to help “sweep” the east and west branches of the DuPage River and Salt Creek by picking up trash along the shore or in the water.

The 22nd annual DuPage River Sweep runs 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 18, at sites throughout the county. Organizers are hoping for record participation this year to make a bigger impact on regional water quality.

Volunteers ages 8 and older may pick up trash on land or in the water. Those who wish to work in the water are encouraged to bring their own kayak or canoe. Community liaisons will provide garbage bags, work gloves and trash pokers as well as water and snacks for volunteers.

Volunteers also may help restore natural areas by removing invasive species. Stewards will be at select sites to lead restoration participants.

To participate, visit theconservationfoundation.org/sweep for a complete list of cleanup and restoration sites and to register.

The purpose of the sweep is for volunteers to help pick up debris in and along their local waterways and to restore nearby land to its natural state. Since the inception of the countywide campaign in 1991, more than 8,800 volunteers have removed nearly 220 tons of garbage from DuPage County streams.

Since restoration activities were added to the sweep in 2009, volunteers have removed invasive species such as buckthorn, garlic mustard, honeysuckle and multiflora rose on more than four acres of land near waterways.

Overall, the sweep covered 29 miles of shoreline in 2012. More than 9 tons of trash was removed by 620 volunteers.

The DuPage River Sweep is sponsored by the DuPage County Stormwater Management Division, the Conservation Foundation, the DuPage County Forest Preserve District and Waste Management Inc. The sweep also is supported by an Illinois Environmental Protection Agency grant and by American Rivers.