Volunteers needed for Carson River cleanup

The Bureau of Land Management, Carson City District-Sierra Front Field Office, and the Kiwanis Club of Carson City invite local residents to join them from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 19 for a cleanup of public land along the banks of the Carson River, Brunswick Canyon and Prison Hill Recreation Area, along Mexican Dam, from Deer Run Bridge to the old stamp mill.

The BLM's Carson City office has celebrated Public Lands Day each year for the past five years with the Carson River Cleanup Day, said Kiwanis organizer Ron Bowman.

"We're expecting probably 40 Kiwanis members from both local clubs," Bowman said, "but we've got some competition this year with the freeway opening."

Other regular participants are Nevada Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps and several Scout troops and packs, he said.

"We're basically looking for people who want to show they care about their community and want to keep it safe and clean. We usually end up with 120-150 volunteers, but we can always use more," he said.

Bowman said the efforts are starting to pay off with help from other groups, such as the local four-wheel drive club, which annually holds its own cleanup.

"Surprisingly, we're starting to make a dent," he said.

Participants should plan to meet at the BLM-Carson City District Office's west parking lot, 5665 Morgan Mill Road at Deer Run Road, three blocks south of Highway 50 East along the Carson River.

This is just one of the many events that will be held around the country in September as part of the 16th annual National Public Lands Day, the nation's largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance public lands.

Groups are asked to register in advance with BLM Public Affairs Officer Mark Struble, 885-6107, to ensure enough tools, event T-shirts, food and supplies are available for all volunteers.

Kiwanis also will provide their own event T-shirts, as well as a morning snack and water, Bowman said. The club also will offer lunch at

1 p.m. including hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and soft drinks

This year's projects include picking up trash along the Carson River, Sedge Road, Brunswick Canyon and in side canyons of the Pine Nut Mountains and Prison Hill.

Volunteers are asked to wear long pants, heavy shoes or boots (no sandals), a hat and sunglasses, and to bring some heavy gloves to protect hands from broken glass, metal and thorns. Yard rakes and boxes also are requested to gather and dispose of broken glass and shell casings.

BLM will be in charge of trash disposal.

Also be prepared for either cool, windy weather, or hot, sunny conditions. The weather in mid-September in Carson City is unpredictable.

For more information or to register, call Bowman at 885-7302 or e-mail Struble at mstruble@blm.gov or call 885-6107 by Sept. 16.