GREATER BOSTON VOLUNTEERS PREPARE FOR CHARLES RIVER SPRING CLEANING

Area colleges, organizations and businesses come together for Earth Day clean-up

April 13, Newton, MA … More than 1,000 volunteers from communities, universities, and businesses along the Charles River are set to participate in an areawide Earth Day river cleanup on Saturday, April 21^st, starting at 9am.  Following the success of last year’s inaugural event, the 2001 clean-up will span more than 20 sites along the 67 river miles from Boston to Bellingham.  Organizers include: Massachusetts Community Water Watch, Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA), Clean Charles Coalition, State Senator Steven A. Tolman’s Office, Charles River Stream Teams, and the Metropolitan District Commission.

“Everyone has a favorite spot on the Charles.  It’s heartening that so many diverse constituencies connected by the Charles are committed to sprucing up those special places,” said CRWA Executive Director Robert L. Zimmerman Jr.  “Volunteers help broadcast the message that keeping the Charles clean is everyone’s responsibility.”

Students from 15 area colleges and universities, boathouse groups, neighborhood associations, scouts, company employees, and civic activists will be picking up trash from riverbanks.  (See chart for locations and group names.)  In addition, motorboats from Community Rowing in Brighton and Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge will gather floating debris.  The Metropolitan District Commission will provide trash bags and other supplies, as well as pick up the bundled trash after the event.

“Clean-up events play an important role in raising awareness about water quality issues and gathering together all those interested in making a difference for their local waterways,” added Katie Baltus of Massachusetts Community Water Watch.  “I’m thrilled that more than 1,000 volunteers will show their support for cleaning up the Charles.”

All volunteers will receive t-shirts designed by Massachusetts College of Art student Althea Chen.  Snacks will be provided by Stop & Shop at a post-cleanup party held at Herter Park in Brighton.  Providing financial support and volunteers are Boston University, Brandeis University, Community Rowing, Genzyme, Harvard University, Ionics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northeastern University, Polaroid, Royal Sonesta Hotel, and Triumvirate Environmental.

Groups or individuals interested in volunteering for any of the site cleanups should call Katie Baltus at (617) 747-4409 or visit CRWA’s website at www.crwa.org.