Each year, the ClearWater Conservancy participates in the world-wide recognition of Earth Day by organizing a Watershed Cleanup Day to eliminate the excess waste plaguing Centre County’s watersheds. This year the Cleanup will be held April 21.

Volunteers gather (rain or shine) to remove harmful material from sinkholes, roadsides, illegal dumpsites, and stream banks. Removing such material helps rid groundwater of dangerous pollutants, strengthening the surrounding environment and reducing the need for local governments to spend unnecessary tax dollars on cleanup that can easily be taken care of by Centre County residents.

Last year nearly 300 volunteers who answered the call last year, and helped the Conservancy rid the land and water of Centre County of tons of garbage.

The Cleanup was started in 1997 with the collection and disposal of 17 tons of trash in the Spring Creek Watershed, over 1,000 tons of trash from Spring Creek, Halfmoon Creek, Beech Creek, Penns Creek, and Little Fishing Creek Watersheds with an amazing 410 tons in 2005 and 343 tons in 2006 alone.

To volunteer please call Geoff Smith, ClearWater's new Water Resources Coordinator at 237-0400 or email him at geoff@clearwaterconservancy.org .

In the past, ClearWater has received financial support for this project from the Department of Environmental Protection, Susquehanna River Basin Commission, Centre County Community Foundation, Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy, the MS4 Partners (College, Ferguson, Harris, and Patton Townships; State College Borough; and Penn State University), and several other local municipalities and local/national businesses, including Wal-Mart.

ClearWater thanked The Dansko Foundation for their first-time support of Watershed Cleanup Day!

3/16/2007