National
River Cleanup Week (June 2-10, 2007) was founded in 1992
by America Outdoors, the largest association of America's
outfitters and guides, to assist local groups in keeping America's
waterways clean. This year American Rivers, the nation's leading advocate
for healthy rivers since 1973 will organize the nationwide clean-up.
For years, rivers and watersheds have been
used as dumps for old appliances, shopping carts and other
refuse. Litter, such as foam cups, plastic bottles and food
wrappers, float into waterways, build up along the shoreline
and stay there for years. For the past fifteen years, the efforts
of NRCW and its nationwide network of organizations has helped
eliminate litter and raise awareness of the problem in local
communities. With landfill space at a premium, recycling efforts
stymied by a lack of plant capacity, and toxic waste difficult
and expensive to control, a grassroots effort like NRCW can
help maintain a constituency for preserving and protecting
America's waterways.
Cleanups educate participants about
the values of watersheds for recreation and fish and wildlife
habitat.
Cleanups develop constituencies for
restoration of compromised resources.
Cleanups remove trash and litter while
increasing community pride.
Cleanups identify negative resource
impacts.
Raft Maine along with The Friends of
The Presumpscot, and local schools have cleaned up sections of the Presumpscot River for the past
six years. The Presumpscot River Clean-up won third place in the National Publicity Contest this year for
publicizing clean up of the Presumpscot from Great Falls Dam to Dundee Pond with students form the sixth Grade Class of King
Middle School in Portland, Maine. Great job all..
