Three Rivers Cleanup by Floating Armada
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
18 September 2011
By Lawrence Walsh
Call it a river roundup. Paddle Without Pollution, a new
not-for-profit organization of kayakers and canoeists, will launch
from at least three locations at 9 a.m. Sept. 24 to collect
waterborne trash bobbing along the banks of the Allegheny,
Monongahela and Ohio rivers.
It's an ambitious, first-time self-funded project for the
organization -- there are 26 miles of shoreline within the city
limits.
"We hope to have at least 60 paddlers of nearly any paddling skill
level to get into shallow areas that many boats cannot [enter],
and areas that land-based clean-up crews cannot reach," said David
Rohm, 43, of Scott, executive director of the organization.
Paddlers will enter the Allegheny from the channel side of the
Three Rivers Rowing Association, slide into the Monongahela from
the launch ramp just downstream from the Birmingham Bridge and
slip into the Ohio from the Westhall Street launch near Woods Run.
Rohm, an art director who co-founded the organization with his
wife, Melissa, 43, an editor-writer for a local corporation, said
the goal is to have each paddler collect at least three bags of
trash. The bags will be loaded aboard a pontoon boat and a fishing
boat and unloaded on the Allegheny River side of Point State Park.
The three-hour project is co-sponsored by the state Department of
Conservation and Natural Resources with assistance from Allegheny
Greenways, Three Rivers Rowing Association and Venture Outdoors.
On-shore volunteers also are needed.
"As paddlers, we have an intimate relationship with [the rivers],"
he said. "We see the garbage and other debris that not only
reflects badly on our area, but also poses a threat to human
health, wildlife and the health of our economy. . . . Our
waterways are the lifeblood of our region. They create countless
jobs and provide recreation for thousands of people."
Rohm said the organization will provide trash bags, gloves and a
snack. He asked paddlers to provide their own boats and "a
willingness to get a little dirty, have some fun and make a
difference."
For more information and to register for the event, go to
www.paddlewithoutpollution.com, e-mail
paddlewithoputpollution@comcast.net.