Volunteers help clean the Rock River during sweep

By Chris Johnson

cxjohnson@oglecounty

news.com

Volunteers spread out along the Rock River on a cool Saturday morning to do their part to keep a natural resource clean.

The seventh annual Rock River Sweep was held to clean debris from the river and the shore from the Horicon Marsh in Wisconsin through the Mississippi River in Moline.

“I want to thank all the volunteers,” said Oregon section coordinator Mark Nehrkorn. “This is what really makes this event. We are always pleasantly surprised with the turnout. It always helps makes the river a better place.”

More than 35 volunteers participated in the Oregon Area Sweep this year.

They walked the banks of the river and paddled down the river to pick up trash.

This year the Illinois Department of Natural Resources was represented and had a large boat to help with the cleanup.

“We have grown fond of this river,” said Nehrkorn.

The idea of cleaning the river during an annual organized event was introduced by Frank Masterman, Oregon in 2008.

“This was his idea and his baby and he brought it to life. Thank you for initiating this,” Nehrkorn said to Masterman.

The event started in Oregon and each year organizers are hopeful the event will expand to include the entire Rock River.

“More areas are getting involved,” said Ogle County Solid Waste Management Department Director Steve Rypkema. “There are 14 different sections this year from Wisconsin to Moline. The river is a great environmental and tourist attraction for this region. Having it healthy makes it aesthetically pleasing and helps the ecosystem.”

While the idea of the event is to pick up all the trash along the river, safety was actually the number one priority.

“First and foremost we want to be careful. We want to be safe. Do not take chances,” said Nehrkorn. “We are collecting everything that is manageable. If it is to big, do not try to grab it. Do not put yourself in a bad position.”

Some of the largest visible deposits of trash were just north of the dam at Oregon Park East. Trees stuck on the dam have helped pool trash along the shore under the deck at the park.

That area was one that might have to wait to be cleaned.

Rypkema was heading over there Saturday morning with long hooks to try and grab some of the debris, but knew some of the heavier items, like car tires still on wheels, may not be safely removed at this time.

After the trash was collected it was sorted at Kiwanis Park in order to recycle the plastic bottles, cans, and scrap metal.

Rock River Sweep.org is a grass roots, not-for-profit organization founded in 2008 by Masterman, and is dedicated to preserving the health and ecosystem of the Rock River and its tributaries.