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Project AWARE announces Tama Co. Iowa River route

Register March 13 for annual July river clean-up

Iowa Project AWARE is heading to the Iowa River this summer! From July 9-14, hundreds of volunteers from across the nation will embark on the six day, five night river cleanup adventure down sixty-five miles of the Iowa River from Marshalltown to Koszta.

Registration is required to participate. Due to resource and space restrictions, participant numbers will be limited. Organizers expect a sellout, potentially within a matter of days, and interested participants are advised to register early. Online registration will be available starting at 7:00 a.m., Monday, March 13.

Iowa Project AWARE, which stands for A Watershed Awareness River Expedition, is a river cleanup event during which volunteers paddle down the river in canoes, picking up trash along the way. In 19 years of the event, nearly 6,000 volunteers have removed 479 tons of trash from 1,400 miles of Iowa rivers, 78% of which has been recycled. This year, the cleanup is expected to exceed one million pounds!

“We are excited to be part of this project that includes the Iowa River,” said Kendall Jordan, Toledo City Administration. “We look forward to the opportunity for better water quality as well as better recreation activities on the Iowa River.”

Despite being the state’s largest river cleanup, Iowa Project AWARE, is much more than a simple river clean up event. It is a rejuvenating experience that brings out the nature-loving adventurer in all of us. From moments of camaraderie with fellow volunteers to seeing the piles of trash at the end of each day, everywhere on AWARE are reminders that a conglomeration of small actions can lead to remarkable results.

In the evening, educational programs are held to broaden watershed awareness and strengthen community understanding. Program topics range from geology, ecology, natural resources, local history and archeology of the watershed to interactive activities where participants can better their outdoor skills and get hands-on experience with water quality testing and nature identification. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend in-camp programs, which require no registration (Registration required for on-river cleanup only).

Whether joining for an evening program, one day on the river, or the whole week of cleanup, Iowa Project AWARE volunteers can expect to leave with a better understanding of the Iowa River, the beautiful communities who call it home, and a renewed appreciation for their own local watersheds.

Iowa Project AWARE is coordinated by N-Compass, Inc. For more information about Iowa Project AWARE, or to register for the event visit www.iowaprojectaware.org.