RiverLink to host river cleanup as part of statewide Big Sweep event

As part of the North Carolina Big Sweep event, RiverLink will host a Sept. 29 clean up on the French Broad River and her tributaries.

North Carolina Big Sweep, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that plans and coordinates the statewide Big Sweep. North Carolina Big Sweep was founded as Beach Sweep in 1987 by Dr. Lundie Spence of the North Carolina Sea Grant College Program. In 1989, the public-private partnership officially became Big Sweep, the nation's first statewide waterway cleanup. Since its founding, North Carolina Big Sweep has had almost 290,000 volunteers and collected over 9.8 million pounds of trash from our environment in North Carolina.

This event is a collaborative effort intended to make a big impact on trash across the French Broad River watershed in one fantastic day. Volunteer groups will meet Saturday morning to improve the aesthetic and recreational value of Western North Carolina. The event participants strive to set the example for all citizens and businesses across the region to strive for clean streets, streams and rivers.

The groups will meet independently along assigned sections of streams, roads, and rivers early that morning.  The teams will tackle trash, tires and debris, in car, on foot, and in boats at many locations, and conquer designated sections in need of cleaning.

Many of RiverLink's Adopt-A-Stream teams will be participating in the cleanup. The Adopt-a-Stream program is a hands-on way for local residents and businesses to get actively involved in improving the water quality of the French Broad River Watershed. This is a flexible program that gives groups the tools and knowledge to make a difference in your watershed by cleaning up your local stream.

Groups interested in forming an Adopt-A-Stream team should contact RiverLink's volunteer coordinator at volunteer@riverlink.org or (828) 252-8474 ext. 11 to request information and find out which sections of a stream are available for adoption.

There will be a post-cleaning shindig at the RiverLink Performance & Sculpture Plaza for all participants in the day's stewardship activities. Data will be compiled on site to reach a grand total of bags of trash and tires collected to measure the full impact of this year's Big Sweep of the French Broad River.

What: 2012 Big Sweep      

When: Saturday, September 29, 1:00 p.m. -- 4:00 p.m. (post-cleaning gathering)  

Where:  RiverLink Performance & Sculpture Plaza, 144 Riverside Dr. Asheville, NC 28801