Beautifying the Rio: National River Cleanup Day
When: May 15th 2010 from 8:00am – 1:00pm
Where: Northwest side of the Central Avenue Bridge. Parking is available on the west side of the river on the north side of Central Ave. Parking spaces are limited, so please carpool!
PRE-REGISTRATION: Please pre-register with REI by calling 247-1191, or stop by 1550 Mercantile Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM 87107.
“Most visitors to the Rio Grande Valley State Park already know to pick up their garbage after a visit to our beautiful riverside cottonwood forest, but not everyone has gotten the message to not trash our Major Public Open Space lands,” says Mayor Richard Berry. “As our city grows, citizen stewardship of the river and its Bosque becomes more and more important. Participating in the National River Cleanup is a great way to help spread the word that we care about our Rio!”
Each May the City of Albuquerque Open Space Division along with other local organizations host National River Cleanup Day. This year the River Cleanup is taking place on May 15th 2010 from 8:00am – 1:00pm on the northwest side of the Central Avenue Bridge. Parking is available on the west side of the river on the north side of Central Ave. Parking spaces are limited, so please carpool!
RIVER CLEANUP ACTIVITIES:1. Community Bosque cleanup at the Central Avenue Bridge: Cleanup activities for all ages in the Bosque along the Central Avenue Bridge including trash pickup and graffiti removal.
2. Clean the river in your own boat: People with their own rafts, kayaks, and canoes are encouraged to clean up the river on this day. You must provide your own transportation and shuttle for your boat. The Open Space Division will provide you with trash bags and will dispose of the collected trash. Call the Open Space Division at 452-5200 or email kswanson@cabq.gov for more information.
3. Organize your own Bosque cleanup: Have a favorite area of the Bosque? Consider hosting a Bosque cleanup of your own! The Open Space Division will supply trash bags and dispose of the collected trash. Those wishing to organize a cleanup must contact the Open Space Division at 452-5200 or email kswanson@cabq.gov .
4. Clean the river in a guided raft: On the day of the event, Kirtland Outdoor Recreation will provide a limited number of guided rafts that help remove trash from the river starting from Montaño Bridge and finishing at Central. Rafts are on a first come first serve basis and space is limited. Arrive early to reserve a space on the rafts. Children 7 years and older may ride on the rafts. Children under 18 must have a parent/guardian (at least one parent per 4 children) with them.
DONATED LUNCH AND PRIZE DRAWING:
All volunteers are invited for a delicious donated meal and prize drawing at the Central Ave Bridge starting at 12:30pm.
A NOTE ABOUT BOATING SAFETY:
It is legal to float down the Rio Grande in kayaks, canoes, rafts and other non-motorized water craft. Home-made craft do not qualify as legal water craft. Volunteers who bring their own canoe, kayak or raft must also follow all New Mexico State Parks boating regulations, which include the following:
- Worn Wearable life jacket for each person on board
- One throwable device for each vessel. (0n a self bailer a throw line is
- acceptable)
- Bow Painter (stout line) the length of the boat
- Spare paddle
- Bailing bucket one gallon in size or hand operated bilge pump
- Whistle or horn
- No alcohol!
Please call State Parks at 1-888-NMPARKS or see www.emnrd.state.nm.us for more information.
For more information about this or other volunteer opportunities in Open Space, please contact Jim Sattler or Kent Swanson at 452-5200 or email kswanson@cabq.gov
National River Cleanup is sponsored in part by the City of Albuquerque Open Space Division, American Rivers, the West Central Alliance of Neighborhoods (WeCAN), the Rotary Club of Albuquerque, Kirtland Air Force Base Outdoor Recreation, and the Open Space Alliance.
National River Cleanup was started in 1992 by America Outdoors, a national association of outfitters and guides, and American Rivers, a North American conservation organization, as a way to assist local communities to keep their rivers, watersheds and shorelines clean.
2009 SPONSORS:Open Space wishes to thank everyone who helped make this day such a success, especially our volunteers !
A special thanks is extended to Kirtland Airforce Base's Outdoor Recreation Services and their crews for bringing the rafts, equipment and expertise to make this event possible.
The magnitude of the event would not have been possible without the help of the Adobe Whitewater Club of New Mexico, the Albuquerque Police and Fire Departments, National Hispanic Cultural Center Docents, the Rotary Club of Albuquerque, and the West Central Alliance of Neighbors (WeCAN).
- Sofia's Place
- Albuquerque Rotary Club
- Open Space Alliance
- West Central Alliance of Neighborhoods
- Kirtland Airforce Base Outdoor Recreation
- I Scream Ice Cream
- REI
- Fat Tire Cycle
- Los Poblanos Organics
- Rio Grande Community Farm
- Trader Joe's
16th Annual DIA DEL RIO
October 16th, 2010
There will be activities appropriate for all ages. Enjoy educational tables from area organizations working to protect and enhance the Rio Grande and bosque, activities for all ages, from trail work to trash pickup.
Details coming soon!
