Boone River site of Project AWARE river clean-up
Now in its 17th year, Iowa Project AWARE is a one of a kind, multi-day, family-friendly river clean-up. It is one of the only opportunities in Iowa for outdoor recreation and environmental education that is fully coordinated by volunteers, for volunteers.
Registration is open for the 2019 event scheduled for July 7-12. It will begin about 100 miles north of Des Moines in Goldfield, Iowa, and finish at the Boone Forks Wildlife Area near Stratford in Hamilton County. Participants may register for as few, or as many days as they choose. Paddling equipment, boats and daily meals are included with daily registration fees.
“We are excited to be part of this year's project on the Boone River,” said Hamilton County Conservation Director Brian Lammers. “Not only will the clean-up directly benefit our local river ecosystem and improve water quality and recreation potential, the event also brings awareness to the community and brings volunteers together to work on the effort.”
By day, volunteers paddle canoes down the river, collecting trash from the waterway and its banks. At night, they may camp in local campgrounds or in communities along the Boone River. Throughout the week, volunteers may also attend educational programs that highlight the area’s history, culture and nature.
N-Compass, Inc., is a nonprofit organization that manages Iowa Project AWARE. The group is working with the Webster City-based Boone River Cleanup Committee, which has organized local clean-ups in Hamilton County since 2007. Despite years of successful local clean-up efforts, county organizers report there is always trash to be found.
With the expedition starting in the Wright County town of Goldfield, volunteers will traverse nearly the entire navigable portion of the Boone River.
In the past 16 years, more than 2,610 volunteers from across the country have participated in Iowa Project AWARE. This includes paddling 1,200 river miles in Iowa and removing 436 tons of trash. More than three-quarters of this trash has been recycled.
Check the Iowa Project AWARE website for more information and to register as a river clean-up volunteer. For media inquiries, contact Brian Soenen at (319) 538-6970 or by email at brian@iowaprojectaware.org.
