MILLSTONE — Volunteers are being sought as the Millstone Township Environmental Commission prepares to hold its ninth annual townwide stream cleanup 9 a.m.-noon April 18.
Volunteers will meet in the parking lot behind the municipal court building at 215 Millstone Road.
The volunteers will then be dispatched to locations designated for cleanup around the Millstone River.
More than 60 people are expected to join the cleanup, which is being sponsored by the Millstone Township Environmental Commission and the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association.
Michael L. Pisauro Jr., policy director for the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association, is in charge of organizing and coordinating the cleanup with municipalities.
“It takes the combined efforts of citizens, volunteers, neighbors and families working side by side to make a difference in cleaning up our water,” he said.
Pisauro said the watershed association works with residents, municipal, county and state leaders, and local groups on a variety of initiatives and actions to plan smart, grow community, and preserve and protect natural resources.
Since the first cleanup nine years ago, volunteers have removed 14,688 pounds of trash from land adjacent to the Millstone River, according to Pisauro.
Each year, volunteers help haul thousands of pounds of litter, recyclable materials and trash out of the waterways and nearby areas.
Since 2007, the watershed association has teamed up with volunteers throughout the watershed to pick up trash and debris near lakes, rivers and streams.
Pollution generated by people is one of the biggest contributors to contaminating water in the region. When it rains, storm water carries excess fertilizers, pet waste, animal waste, trash and more to lakes and rivers and eventually to the Atlantic Ocean, harming aquatic life and polluting the water, according to Pisauro.
“I think our stream cleanup is a significant day,” he said. “It is a time when the community is focused on the impact to our waters. People take a few hours to connect with these places and protect them.
“The highlight is experiencing the public coming together and stewarding their waters. Ideally, the goal is to bring people together with their waters and demonstrate that what we do on land has a serious impact on the health of our waters.
“We do not actually get into the water to remove trash, but work from the banks and the land surrounding the waters,” Pisauro said. “It is important to work together to clean up water pollution. By taking individual action, we can keep our water and environment clean and healthy.”
Volunteers should wear long pants and boots, and bring work gloves and water. Children must be accompanied by an adult. An event T-shirt and light refreshments will be provided. The event will count toward volunteer hours for students, and they should bring the required forms.
Registration is not required and volunteers may show up on April 18. If there is a group with more than 10 people planning to attend, Pisauro asked that a representative of the group contact him before April 18 to let organizers know. He may be reached via email at [email protected] or by calling 609-737-3735, ext. 18.