PRESS RELEASE
05/5/2011
For Immediate Release
Media Contact:  

Sue George
630-428-4500, Ext. 22
sgeorge@theconservationfoundation.org
 
Volunteers Needed for 20th Annual DuPage River Sweep
May 21st Event Celebrates 20 Years of Cleaner Water
(Naperville, IL) (May 5, 2011)
The Conservation Foundation and its partners are seeking volunteers for the 20th Anniversary of the DuPage River Sweep on Saturday, May 21st from 9 a.m. to noon at various locations along the DuPage River and its tributaries!  The Foundation's goal is to make this the biggest DuPage  River Sweep yet - more communities, more volunteers, more trash removed and more land restored.

The River Sweep is an easy and fun way to "Go Green" this spring.   Volunteers may pick up trash on land or in the water; those wanting to work in the water are encouraged to bring their own canoe or kayak.  Volunteers can also participate in the restoration of natural areas through removal of invasive species as a part of the Sweep. "Tools of the trade" will be provided for everyone to make the work easier including garbage bags, work gloves and trash pokers.  Water and snacks are provided as well.
  
The annual DuPage River Sweep is a county-wide self-coordinated stream cleanup held each spring that encompasses the East and West Branches of the DuPage River and Salt Creek, as well as many tributaries.    The purpose of the River Sweep is to encourage volunteers to help "sweep our rivers clean" by picking up debris in and along their local waterways and by restoring nearby land back to its natural state. More than 7,560 volunteers have removed nearly 200 tons of garbage from DuPage County streams since 1991.  Since adding restoration to Sweep activities in 2009, more than four acres of land near waterways have been stewarded by volunteers removing invasive species such as buckthorn, garlic mustard, honeysuckle and multiflora rose.   Overall, the event covered just under 40 miles of shoreline in 2010.  More than 7 tons of trash were removed by a record 570 volunteers, including items like tires, mattresses, plastic bottles and more. 
        
Those interested in participating should visit www.theconservationfoundation.org/sweep  for a complete list of cleanup and restoration sites and to register for the Sweep.

The DuPage River Sweep is sponsored by the DuPage County Stormwater Management Division, The Conservation Foundation, the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, and Waste Management, Inc. The DuPage River Sweep is also supported by an Illinois Environmental Protection Agency grant and by American Rivers and Cascadian Farms Organic.  Drinking water for the event has been donated by Ice Mountain® Brand Natural Spring Water.
  
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The Conservation Foundation, a nonprofit land and watershed protection organization, is dedicated to preserving open space and natural lands, protecting rivers and watersheds, and promoting stewardship of the environment in northeastern Illinois. Established in 1972 by business and community leaders, it is the only environmental organization to receive the 2008 Annual Award for Business Excellence from The Business Ledger. Working closely with citizens, elected officials, developers, land use planners, park districts and forest preserves, The Conservation Foundation and its 5,000 members have helped protect more than 30,000 acres of open space. Its main office is at the 60-acre McDonald Farm in Naperville, Ill., with a program office located at the Dickson-Murst Farm in Montgomery, Ill. For more information about activities, programs and membership, visit www.theconservationfoundation.org or call 630-428-4500.