Delaware River Clean Up to Occur

Delaware Water Gap NRA News Release
Release Date: July 2, 2019
Contact: Kathleen Sandt, Public Affairs Specialist
Kathleen_Sandt@nps.gov; (570) 426-2472 (O}; (570) 234-9144 (C)

National Park Service Hosts 30th Annual Delaware River Clean-up

BUSHKILL, PA- Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area will host Day 2 of the 30th annual On and Under the Delaware River Clean-up event on July 16, 2019. Milford, PA-based Kittatinny Canoes {KC) sponsors the event that routinely brings together more than 100 dedicated volunteers over the course of two days to help keep the Delaware River clean. Day 1 takes place on July 15 in Barryville, New York, on the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River.
“The National Park Service is thrilled to be able to host this long-standing volunteer event each year for the past three decades. It shows not only how many people it takes to protect the Delaware River and keep it among the cleanest rivers in the country, but also how many people care so much about it that they are willing to give their own time to help keep it that way,” said Sula Jacobs, Superintendent of Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. “This event really captures the spirit of our mission to preserve and protect some of America’s greatest treasures and we are very fortunate to have such great volunteers, community members, and local businesses all partnering together to achieve our shared goals.”
Volunteers will paddle 8- to 10-mile sections of the river picking up trash from the shorelines, islands, and the river bottom along the way. Kittatinny Canoes provides breakfast, dinner, canoes, life jackets, trash bags, and transportation. Volunteers should bring lunch, snacks, plenty of drinking water, sunscreen, work gloves, and a hat and wear sturdy shoes that can get wet.
Check-in begins at 8 am on July 16 at the Dingmans Ferry Access. To register for either day, contact Kittatinny Canoes at 1-800-356-2852. (Rain date: Wednesday, July 17)
Some of the most interesting items retrieved during previous events include:
• 1962 pick-up truck
• 18 sticks of dynamite
• loaded shotgun
• model of a human brain
• bowling ball with a chain
• exercise bike
• several safes- both with and without doors
• hood to a 1960 Ford Falcon
• skis and ski boots
Some of the most common items found include:
• camping gear
• fishing gear
• shoes of all sorts
• food and beverage packaging
• barbecue grills and parts
• lawn chairs/ folding chairs
• balls- tennis balls, golf balls, beach balls, soccer balls, volleyballs
For more information about the Delaware River Clean-up or to register as a volunteer, call Kittatinny Canoes at (800) 356-2852 or visit their website at https://kittatinny.com/news-events/.
For more information on Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area call Park Headquarters at (570) 426-2452, Monday through Friday from 8:30 am until 4:30 pm, except federal holidays; visit our website at www.nps.gov/dewa; or follow us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/DelWaterGapNPS.
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