NO MORE
TRASH

The 2009 Byrnes Mill Clean Stream Team removed about 90 tires, a wave runner hull and lots of other litter from the Big River on August 22, 2009. Here are some of the '09 Team members with some of the trash they removed. Byrnes Mill Public Works will take it from here on Monday. Here's the portion of the Big River we covered today. Thanks to Jerry Kirk, owner of Twin Rivers Canoe Rentals, who provided two canoes for the 2009 Byrnes Mill Clean Stream Team! (many others brought boats, too. We had plenty of boats to use in cleaning up Big River from Rockford Beach to Byrnes Mill City Park -- and the "Trashmanian Devils" cleaned up the park area. Thanks, guys! THANKS TO ALL THE VOLUNTEERS! (Some not pictured here.)

For information about the area wide Operation Clean Stream, call 636-452-3588. Also, visit this CLEAN STREAMS website for more information.

See you on the river!

Workin' on the river
Byrnes Mill Operation Clean Stream effort seeks hands, boats for event Saturday

By Kevin Carbery
Tuesday, August 18, 2009 3:13 AM CDT

If you can spend some time Saturday morning helping beautify the Big River, you will be welcomed by those involved with the Byrnes Mill Clean Stream effort.

The 17th annual Big River Cleanup in Byrnes Mill is set to begin at 8:30 a.m. when volunteers are asked to meet at Byrnes Mill City Park, which is located at the intersection of Upper Byrnes Mill Road and Lower Byrnes Mill Road. The project is to run until noon.

"It's a community involvement for Operation Clean Stream," :Byrnes Mill Mayor Terry Oberer said. "We had good involvement last year."

Those organizing the cleanup are seeking volunteers and boats, particularly john boats and canoes.

Oberer said that it is not hard to see the impact that Operation Clean Stream has made on the Big River over the years.

"There is a noticeable difference since this started. We still have a legacy of discarded tires, but the river is noticeably better than it used to be.

"It's done my heart good to see the younger participants."

Julie Wacker is the Operation Clean Stream coordinator of the lower Big River cleanup. She said that many groups will be pulling trash out of the waterway on Saturday.

"There will be 11 teams working on the lower Big River that day," Wacker noted. "The efforts have made an impact. Everybody has noticed a difference over the years.

"It's a fun way to spend your day and, afterward, you feel like you've gotten something accomplished."

Oberer is urging those who would like to participate in the Byrnes Mill effort to register with Byrnes Mill City Hall at 636-677-7727 in order for organizers to have an idea on how much equipment and supplies they will need to provide.