More than 230 volunteers in kayaks and rafts of all kinds launched from the banks of the South Platte River Saturday afternoon to collect trash along the river.
The 11th annual South Platte River Clean-up kicked off at noon. The event was hosted by Colorado Whitewater, a non-profit organization that promotes paddling and boating across Colorado.
“In years past, we’ve seen over two tons of trash removed from the river, so we’re hoping to get around that today,” said Lauren Nance, Conservation and Access Director for Colorado Whitewater.
Volunteers like Marc Erickson pumped up their rafts and hit the water with empty trash bags.
“We’re out here picking up the South Platte, cleaning up the trash,” Erickson said. “Part of having a hobby is stewardship, and that’s what we’re doing here today.”
Erickson, a former river guide, participated in the clean-up efforts along the South Platte River for the second year in a row.
“You find everything,” Erickson said. “I think the big catch last year was a Target shopping cart.”
Volunteers were given gloves and trash bags to collect the trash. Marc Erickson expected his raft to serve as a barge of sorts.
“A barge full of trash, taken from all the other smaller ones, the kayakers – things like that,” Erickson said. “Just pile it in here.”
Trash collecting aside, the volunteers enjoyed good kayaking and rafting conditions Saturday afternoon.
“With all the rain we had and snow we had last week, it’s pretty good flows,” Lauren Nance said. “Hopefully, it didn’t wash all the trash away and we can still have an impact.”
Volunteers launched into the South Platte near Ruby Hill and floated for about three hours down to Fishback Landing Park. A dumpster was waiting for all those bags full of trash.
Colorado Whitewater teamed up with American Whitewater, Confluence Kayaks and Down River Equipment to put on Saturday’s event.
