The Bitter Root Water Forum is hoping to pull less trash than usual out of the River at their annual Bitterroot River Clean Up. Since April, they have distributed re-usable river cleanup bags throughout the valley, partnering with local businesses to place bag stands in places frequented by outdoor enthusiasts. “The idea is to give people a way to manage trash while they’re recreating on the river. If we can prevent trash from getting into the river in the first place, then ideally we’ll have less to remove during our annual river cleanup,” says Heather Barber, the Water Forum’s Executive Director.
The annual Bitterroot River Clean Up is on Saturday, August 11th. 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 Hamilton River Park where the Water Forum will have a large dumpster and a free BBQ for volunteers from 4 pm – 6 pm. “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 with the BBQ,” says Barber.
Since the Water Forum started hosting the event in 2012, nearly 2,000 pounds of trash has been removed from the River each year during the Clean Up, with last year’s total at 2,360 pounds. The Water Forum hopes that the Clean Up All Year campaign will reduce the amount of trash that is found in the river in 2018.
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 push lawn mower and other memorable finds include a dredge bucket, a car dashboard, and a Barcalounger.
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.
The Water Forum is also hosting a 5K Run/Walk the Run for the River on Friday, August 10th. This scenic course goes through two city parks as it makes its way along the River. “We have a new course this year,” said Water Forum Program Coordinator, Katie Vennie. “We wanted to have more of the run along the river so, the course is concentrated much more in River Park and Steve Powell Park. There will also be a section on the future Skalkaho Bend Park in the works by the Bitter Root Land Trust.”
Registration is $30 and will include a Spork-Tek t-shirt, a beer or ice cream sandwich at the finish line, and a chance to win great prizes. 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 short fun run for children ages 10 and under. The Dash is free and includes a t-shirt, while supplies last. Get signed up on Friday 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 5:30pm-7:30pm. The trailer is a live-action model of the Bitterroot River that demonstrates how water moves through the landscape and the power that it carries as it does.
A Pint Night at Higherground Brewery will kick off the events on Thursday, August 9th from 4:00-7:00pm. One dollar 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—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 at the events on Friday and Saturday.
BRWF is a community driven non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the traditions of agriculture, community and recreation by protecting, enhancing and restoring the Bitterroot watershed through on the ground projects and watershed education. It was established in 1993 to investigate and discuss water issues in the Bitterroot watershed, more specifically, water quality and water quantity.