Kittatinny Canoe river clean up on July 26.

Volunteers fan out to sweep river

By TOM KANE

RIVER VALLEY — Over 350 volunteers joined the Kittatinny Canoe’s campaign to clean up the Delaware River on July 25, 26 and 27.

“Sixteen years ago, we had no idea that it would turn into such a social and environmental fun party that it has become,” said Ruth Jones, the owner of Kittatinny Canoes, organizer of the event. “The same people come back year after year and have an old-fashioned good time. They’re like family.”

The effort sent volunteers along 70 miles of river from Ten Mile River to the Delaware Water Gap, she said.

“We wouldn’t miss this event for the world,” said John and Sandy Chipman of Accord, NY, who have perfect attendance. “It’s a great time and a necessary work.”

“This is my 16th year,” said Joe Buchel of Sussex, NJ. “I want to support what Ruth Jones is doing on this wonderful river. What an enormous difference the clean up is now to what it used to be. In one day we used to get the same amount of garbage that we get in three days.”

Lisa Hughes of Barryville, NY was one of 10 scuba divers who participated in the clean up. It was her fourth year as a volunteer.

“We go down to the bottom to get garbage that the volunteers in the boats can’t reach,” she said.

“I just want the river to be clean,” said Dale Von Tish of Newton, NJ, who has volunteered for four years along with his father David who has clocked in 10 years.

“When we started 16 years ago, Bud Beer was king of the river,” Jones said. “Now, there are a lot fewer beer cans and bottles.”

Jones was wondering about the total amount of garbage collected this year. “We had two major floods within seven months,” she said. “So far, I have never seen so many tires and so many of those blue tarps. Refuse has collected not only in the river but up in the trees because of the floods. We asked people to bring long poles so they could reach it. We’ll know how much garbage we collected by next Thursday when it will be gathered at our site north of Matamoras.”

Over the 16 years, 6,625 tires and 7,408 pounds of cans were salvaged. Total tonnage during that time was 243.99.

“Can you imagine what it would be like to swim in all that garbage if we hadn’t cleaned it out?” Jones asked.”