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Volunteers needed for river cleanup
by Anna Meadows, Wake Weekly Co-editor
Dean Naujoks doesn't get to cruise the upper Neuse River as often as he'd like.
He's the official Upper Neuse Riverkeeper, but that often means making phone calls, finishing up reports and lobbying folks to help out. On Saturday, April 3, Naujoks will get a full day on the waterway he loves so much, and he's inviting everyone to join him. That's the day individuals and civic groups are asked to participate in the Neuse River Spring Clean Up. "The biggest thing is to get people more connected to the river," Naujoks said. "This river belongs to the public and that's something I think people forget." The Neuse provides drinking water for the city of Raleigh (which sells a portion of their allocation to Wake Forest and Rolesville) as well as several other communities downstream, such as Smithfield. In addition, the river offers a recreational outlet for kayakers and boaters. Raleigh has ambitious plans for walking and biking along the banks of the river, and the trails will eventually tie in with Wake Forest's proposed greenway system. "With ownership of the river comes responsibility," Naujoks said. "This requires citizens to get involved." Last year, the first year of the event, at least 100 volunteers pulled more than 7,000 pounds of trash from the Neuse waters and from its banks. Along with the aesthetics of having a river clean of trash, garbage in the water and on the banks allows toxins to leach into the river. For instance, a leaking bottle of engine oil can pollute thousands of square feet of waterway or even get into the ground water. "It's harmful to fish and to wildlife and to aquatic habitats," Naujoks said. Those interested in volunteering for the cleanup have several options. Get: Outdoors, formerly Pro Canoe, on Falls of the Neuse Road at the Falls dam, is providing free canoe or kayak rentals and shuttle service from Falls Dam down to Capital Boulevard and Buffaloe Road. Volunteers must meet at the shop by 8 a.m. Call Get: Outdoors at 866-1954 for more information. Volunteers who want to participate by picking up trash along the banks of the river should meet at the Falls dam site or at the Neuse River on Capital Boulevard at 10 a.m. after the boats have launched. Gloves and trash bags are provided. Call the Neuse River Foundation at 856-1180 for additional information.
Last Updated On: March 25, 2004
Copyright 2004 The Wake Weekly