SAXTONS RIVER- Volunteers in Vermont and New Hampshire are needed to get their feet wet, hands dirty, and the river cleaner. The Connecticut River Watershed Council (CRWC) will hold its 13th annual Connecticut River Watershed Source to the Sea Cleanup on Saturday, October 3. From the Connecticut Lakes to Long Island Sound, anyone interested is encouraged to either organize or join a group and help pick up trash in their area of the Connecticut River watershed.

CRWC holds the cleanup to celebrate how great it is that the Connecticut River is cleaner now than 40 years ago, but unfortunately the rivers are still treated like dumping grounds in some places and the council would like to do something about it. The cleanup reminds people that trash hurts the enjoyment of all the people who use the river.

Last year just over 3,000 volunteers hauled in nearly 100 tons of trash from the four-state Connecticut River watershed. They pulled out all sorts of things, including barbecue grills and bicycles and hundreds of tires and rims. In addition to sponsors like lead sponsor NRG Energy Group, some 40 civic, school, watershed, scout and service groups joined with CRWC to make the Cleanup successful.

To volunteer, be referred to a local cleanup effort in the area, or to obtain more information about the Source to the Sea Cleanup, call Christine at (413) 772-2020, ext 201, e-mail cleanup@ctriver.org or visit www.ctriver.org.