What is a River Guardian?
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| Lassiter Mill and Blue Ridge are not yet clean-up stations; they are future goals. Both of these sections are located in Crabtree Creek a tributary of the Neuse. Please consider becoming a River Guardian and help establish a clean-up station at Lassiter Miller or Blue Ridge. |
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A Neuse River Guardian is a community group, civic organization or business
that “adopts” a section of the Neuse River and makes a commitment
to participate in the Annual Neuse River Spring Clean-up
The annual Neuse River Clean-up began 5 years ago when Upper Neuse Riverkeeper Dean Naujoks joined the Neuse River Foundation. At the time there were several small river clean-ups sponsored by various community groups in Raleigh. Dean’s idea was to merge these small local clean-ups into one big annual event coordinated by NRF. In doing so, Dean was also able to get the City of Raleigh to provide extra trash pick-ups and the Wake County Commissioners agreed to waive the landfill fees. The first year was a smashing success; 70 volunteers covered 20 miles of the Neuse River and hauled out more than 7,000 pounds of trash.
Four years later, the river clean-up had grown to include 50 miles of river from Falls Dam in North Raleigh to Smithfield. In addition, Larry Baldwin, Lower Neuse Riverkeeper organized a clean-up in downtown Kinston. In total, last years clean-up covered 62 miles of the Neuse River and netted 21,000 pounds of trash with 300 volunteers!
The real clean-up hero’s are our River Guardians & Volunteers!
Of course, the real success would be a river with no trash. But, don’t let the numbers discourage you; the previously cleaned sections are staying cleaner. The 2006 figures included removing two rusting cars from Crabtree Creek—a project we had never before attempted!
Our hero's are the River Guardians! Without the church groups, the Boy Scouts, Paddling Clubs, REI and Paddle Creek the clean-up would not be as successful. Each year, these groups help help out in two ways:
1. They help publicize the event by posting flyers, sending emails and including the clean-up information in their newsletters.
2. The group leader coordinates with Neuse River Foundation before the event and pulls together a group of interested folks to help clean their section of the river.
LOOKING AHEAD: We are looking to expand the clean-up further into Crabtree Creek. We hope to establish clean-up stations at Lassiter Mill and Blue Ridge. If you would like to learn more about these two future stations or would simply like to learn more about the Neuse River Gurardians, call the Neuse Riverkeepers at 919-856-1180 or 252-637-7972
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