River heroes care about water preservation and conservation
On Saturday, April 9, 2022, 156 devoted volunteers helped FOTO clean up the Occoquan River and Reservoir despite cold and windy weather and spring break for students.
Boy Scout Troops 505, 1373, 1396, Cub Scout Pack 1906 came in full force. Kirk Yeager & NOVAGO Kayakers had difficulty keeping afloat in the windy conditions. One kayak turned over, and a jonboat got stuck in the mud. Glenn Richman brought trash from a cove with his truck.
American Water, Fairfax Water, and SEVTech1 employees, church members, the Rotary Club of Gainesville, many families, and their children filled 36 recyclables and 98 bags of trash collectively. Several rusted pipes, soccer and tennis balls, trash cans, plastic trays and buckets, tires, and several wooden deck boards were pulled from the river. There are still a few trash-filled coves left that couldn’t be accessed due to the heavy winds.
A big “Thank you” goes out to all the volunteers, the station workers, the park managers and staff, and our sponsors.
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