The Bitter Root Water Forum invites you to help clean up the Bitterroot River on Saturday, August 14th at their annual Bitterroot River Clean-Up. Volunteers can sign up for walking sites and floating stretches along the Bitterroot from Sula and Painted Rocks to Missoula. Participants are encouraged to bring the trash they find to the Kiwanis River Park where the Water Forum will have a large dumpster and the Riverfest celebration from 5:00pm-8:00pm.
“Since the goal is to clean up the full length of the river, it works best to have people sign up in advance, clean up on their own timeline, and then meet up at a centralized location to drop off trash and celebrate,” says Katie Vennie, Bitter Root Water Forum Communications & Outreach Manager.
The Water Forum started hosting the event in 2012 and volunteers typically pull around 2,000 pounds of trash from the River each year during the Clean-Up, with 2020’s total at 2,152 pounds. The Bitterroot River Clean-Up never fails to produce strange finds for volunteers, and there will be a trophy for the “Best Trash”. Last year’s winners found a bathtub, and past notable finds have been recliners, wagon wheels and even a car dashboard. There will also be a photo contest and a chance to win fun prizes. You can sign up to help by visiting the Bitter Root Water Forum webpage at www.brwaterforum.org, calling the office at 406-375-2272, or stopping in at 178 S 2nd St in Hamilton.
Even if you are unable to help clean up you can still join for the Riverfest celebration from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm at Hamilton’s River Park. The evening will feature live music from local bluegrass band, Pinegrass, beer from the Bitter Root Brewery, and German fare from the Alpens Guten Eaten food truck.
The Water Forum is also hosting a 5K Run/Walk for the River on Friday, August 13th. This scenic course begins and ends in River park and makes its way along the River. Registration is $40 and will include a Bitter Root Water Forum Hydro Flask. You can register online through the Water Forum webpage, at their office, or at River Park starting at 6:00 pm the day of the race.
The run includes fun activities for kids too. The Splish Splash DASH is a free short run for children ages 10 and under. You can get signed up on Friday August 13th beginning at 6:00pm at River Park. The Dash starts at 6:45pm. The Watershed Trailer from the Bitterroot Conservation District will be up and running from 6:00pm-7:30pm. The trailer is a live-action model of the Bitterroot River that demonstrates how water moves through the landscape.
A pre-event Pint Night at Higherground Brewery will kick off the festivities on Thursday, August 12th from 4:00-7:00pm. A portion of every beer sold will benefit the Water Forum in bringing the community together to protect, enhance, and restore the watershed we all rely on. Raffle tickets will be available to win great prizes, with the grand prize of a rod and reel combo from Freestone Fly Shop. The prize drawing will be Saturday at the cleanup and you need not be present to win.
Proceeds from all events will help to protect, enhance, and restore the Bitterroot watershed. To get involved, please visit the Water Forum website or call (406) 375-2272 to learn about volunteer opportunities for the events on Friday and Saturday.
The Bitter Root Water Forum would like to thank the event sponsors: Bitterroot Conservation District, Fly Fishers of the Bitterroot, Ravalli County Fish and Wildlife Association, Bitterroot Drug, Main Street Toys, Bitter Root Brewing, Rapp Family Foundation, Westslope Distillery, the Loose Caboose, Bitterroot Disposal, Edward Jones – Debbie Gantz, Evans Ace Hardware, A2Z Personnel, Water Master, Triple Creek Ranch, PayneWest Insurance, Clearwater Credit Union, Fishs Eddy O Outfitters, First Security Bank, TrailWest Bank, Bitterroot Trout Unlimited, Higherground Brewing Company, Runner’s Edge, Iron Horse Athletic Club, Freestone Flyshop, Tire Rama, Dairy Queen, Pigman Builders, and Clearwater Systems.
Schedule of Events
Thursday, August 12th
Pint Night at Higherground Brewery: 4:00-7:00pm
Friday, August 13th
Splish Splash DASH: 6:45pm; Registration 6:00-6:45pm (Hamilton River Park)
Run for the River 5K: 7:00pm; Registration 6:00-7:00pm (Hamilton River Park)
Watershed Trailer: 6:00-7:30pm
Saturday, August 14th
Bitterroot River Clean-Up: All Day (Volunteers choose when to clean-up)
Riverfest and Trash Drop-Off: 5:00-8:00pm (Hamilton River Park)
Pinegrass perform: 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Prizes announced: 7:30 pm