Each year, volunteers pull, dig and toss thousands and thousands of pounds of other people’s trash from a one-mile stretch of the Eel River. Each year, the “haul” is larger than the previous year.

The Middle Eel River Watershed Initiative is seeking at least 65 ambitious adults to continue the cause and the cleanup on Saturday, Sept. 8. The work is exhausting but the fruits of the labor are immediately obvious as trucks are piled high with tires, bicycles, transmissions, chairs, barrels, lawn mowers … even sewing machines.

“This very same stretch of river was the focus of our annual river clean-up last year as well,” said Terri Michaelis, watershed coordinator. “It is absolutely astounding that we retrieved even more trash from the river this year than last year.”

Volunteers will gather at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 8, at the North Manchester Wastewater Treatment Plant, 510 S. Maple St. They’ll begin with some quick lessons in safety and river quality and end with a hearty lunch prepared by the North Manchester Rotary.

Last year, volunteers worked their way along the shallow mile-long stretch, pulling out 56 tires, 11,520 pounds of trash and 5,000 pounds of scrap metal. Then they pushed the canoes they had filled to the waiting trucks.

Gloves, trash bags and water bottles are provided. Leave good clothes and jewelry at home; tennis shoes or water shoes are smart. No clogs or sandals.

Advance registration is required and participation is limited to adults. For more information, contact Michaelis at 260-982-5101 or [email protected].

Initially funded by a $1 million Clean Water Act Grant, the Initiative is a coalition led by Manchester University of agencies and individuals who seek to improve water quality, enhance recreation and promote conservation of natural resources in the middle Eel River watershed.