Paddle Without Pollution will lead a river cleanup on June 1, along the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers as part of River Rally May 30 to June 1 in Pittsburgh.  River Rally is an annual event organized nationally by River Network that brings more than 750 advocates for healthy rivers and watersheds together from across the world.

These visiting advocates will partner with local groups to remove trash and debris from the areas surrounding Point State Park, providing a cleaner, healthier, and more beautiful start to Pittsburgh’s spring and summer activities on the Three Rivers.

Paddle Without Pollution is a non-profit organization whose mission is to restore and protect the health of rivers, streams, lakes, and wetlands through hands-on stewardship and education, thereby benefiting the region’s communities, economy, and quality of life.

PWP operates with very little or no negative impact to the environment, using volunteers in kayaks and canoes to get into ecologically sensitive, shallow, and inaccessible areas that land-based cleanup crews cannot reach.

In 2013, PWP volunteer crews removed 16.6 tons of illegally dumped debris and litter from waterways in Western Pennsylvania, exceeding 2012’s total of 15.3 tons. PWP was recently awarded a Western Pennsylvania Environmental Award from Pennsylvania Environmental Council.

Torqeedo will be providing support vessels powered by clean, environmentally friendly electric outboards from 4HP up to their award-winning 40HP Deep Blue system. Paddle Without Pollution, Northeast Paddleboard Company, and Exkursion Outfitters will supply kayaks and canoes for volunteers.

“We’re proud to be able to share our beautiful city with watershed advocates from across the world,” said David Rohm, Executive Director of Special Operations of PWP. “The stewardship event will give visitors a chance to see the city from a different perspective and to make an immediate difference in the health of our rivers.”

River Network’s mission is to empower and unite people and communities to protect and restore rivers and other waters that sustain the health of our country.

For more information about how to get involved, visit the Paddle Without Pollution website.

6/2/2014