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 nine 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 NRW 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 is working with The Friends of The Presumpscot to clean up a stretch of the Presumpscot between Windham and Portland on May 15th. Outfitters will be working with Telstar High School students in Bethel to clean up a section of the Androscoggin River and with Livermore Falls Middle School to clean up a section of the lower Androscoggin between Jay and Livermore. All Rights Reserved.