River Cleanups

	OBRHS, in a partnership with Keep Manatee Beautiful, conducts three cleanups of the BradenRiver each year. The first, usually in January, is launched from King Ranch Manatee. During this event we remove debris from the river between the SR 70 dam and the Manatee River. The second is conducted in April, launched from Jiggs Landing Preserve and focuses on the river between the SR 70 dam and upriver halfway to Linger Lodge. The third, in October, launches from Linger Lodge and we clean both up and down river from there.
	The cleanups are conducted from kayaks and canoes with one or more power boats for cleaning as well as transporting debris collected by the persons in the smaller vessels. OBRHS provides a few kayaks but participants are encouraged to use their own. Cleanups are from 9:00 a.m. to noon on a Saturday.
Since our first cleanup in October 2007, we have removed thousands of pounds of debris. The largest amount removed during one event was 1,855 pounds collected from the stretch of river below the dam. During more recent cleanups the amount collected has typically been much less. We believe our efforts have been responsible for this but we also believe people are being more responsible and not discarding their trash in the river. The next river cleanup is The Great American Cleanup which usually is the first Saturday in April. That cleanup will be from Jiggs Landing Preserve.

river cleanups